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Roger Newman Mandolin, Lead & Tenor Vocals Inspired by his Father's guitar playing and high tenor singing, Roger started playing at age 11 and grew up listening to his parents sing duos at home and in church in his native Phenix City, AL. He took on the bass and guitar duties at age 15 with the "Joyful Heart Quartet", and performed with them on and off for 10 years until eventually, the name was retired. A chance meeting with Ronnie Hall ensued when both of them were to play at a local "Hee Haw" production. Plans to form a band followed, and Paul Greene was enlisted to round out a group which performed country and southern rock throughout high school. |
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While in his early
20's living with his wife Donna in Montgomery, he took up the mandolin
and landed his first bluegrass job with the "Blue Valley Boys" of
Eclectic, AL. By 1989, he'd moved back to Phenix City and was
called to fill-in at a local restaurant and bluegrass venue, "Country's
Barbecue". This became a regular gig, and here he
became friends with George Miles and brought Paul into the
picture…with the idea of forming a new band of their
own. Eventually, this "idea" became the Eastwind
Bluegrass Band. |
