Ed Ferris (now with Bill Harrell & the Virginians) replaced Tom Gray. Ed McGloughlin replaced him, and in 1970 Bill Yates took over. Bill, who had previously played with Jimmy Martin and Bill Monroe, is more than a bass player. A mechanic by trade, Bill (who has remained with the band since joining Dec. 3, 1969) has kept the band's bus in top running condition. He also does most of the driving, and often must get by on limited sleep on busy summer weekends that finds the band cris-crossing the country. he also handles some of the scheduling, road management, media interviews and other behind-the-scenes work necessary for an active performing group.

Says Bill: "It hasn't always been like this but has worked into a real good thing. I don't thingk I'd trade it. If I had to do it all over again, I would probably do the same thing. It's been an enjoyable 12 years working with Charlie because we get along real good; he understands me and I understand him." Looking back over the dozen years as a Gentlemen, Bill remarks, "I've got a few more wrinkles, gone a few more miles, my hairs' a little longer and I've got a few more wild tales."

The Country Gentlemen and the decade of the 1960's found themselves as firmly established superstars of bluegrass. Their home was the Shamrock Club on M Street in Georgetown, Washington's wealthiest area, and they played there every week for over 12 years. The mid-1960's also brought the first bluegrass festival, in Fincastle, Va. The Gentlemen weren't included in the first one in 1965 because they had strayed too far from tradition with their music. They appeared the following year, however, and have been among the top festival attractions ever since.

In recordings, the band signed with the Rebel label in the '60's, after having recorded for Folkways, Mercury, and Starday. In 1966, the band recorded what was to become one of their most requested songs: "Bringing Mary Home."

John Duffey was the first to become aware of the song when he received the words in the mail from someone named Joe Kingston. John liked the lyrics and wrote a melody for it. He showed it to singer Bill Clifton in 1963, whe the band was backing him on an album. John told Bill he would give him a year to release the song, then the Gentlemen would like to try their hand at it. Bill's album was delayed and the Gentlemen recorded the song. Before the Gentlemen's version was released, however, Bill Clifton's album came out. But on his album the song was rarely noticed. The Gentlemen, on the other hand, titled their album "Bringing Mary Home," which attracted the attention the band thought the song deserved. It was a wise choice. Last year, (1981) radio station WAMU-FM, Washington's top bluegrass station, conducted a survey to compile a top-40 list of its listeners' favorite bluegrass songs, "Bringing Mary Home" was No. 1.

Doyle Lawson, James Bailey, Bill Yates, Charlie Waller

The 1960's was a productive decade for The Country Gentlemen, but it ended on a dreary note when John Duffey announced his retirement in 1969. He was tired of the travel and wanted to work regular hours. He opened an instrument repair shop in Arlington, Va., and planned to play bluegrass only as a hobby in the future. As a co-founder of the band, he is credited with giving it its name. "I said, 'We're not going to be Mountain Boys, we'll be something else.' Everybody was 'Mountain Boys' then. I said, 'We'll be Gentlemen.' "

A replacement for John was sought, and Jimmy Gaudreau was found. A Yankee from Rhode Island, Jimmy was just 22 when he joined the band. His mandolin style was much like John's, and he also added the same wit, intelligence, and stage presence of his predecessor.

The following year, Eddie Adcock left. Yearning to try something new, Eddie moved to the West Coast, adopted the stage name of Clinton Kodak, and started a country rock band. A year later, however, he was back in the Washinton area, playing festivals as a single. Soon afterwards, he formed an experimental bluegrass band, II Generation, in 1972. Jimmy Gaudreau quit the Gentlemen to join the band, but later left to form his own group, Country Store.

Eddie Adcock was replaced in 1970 by Bill Emerson. Bill had recently been performing with Cliff Waldron, and that band had recorded a catchy tune Bill brought to the group which was written by English rock singer Manfred Mann. When The Country Gentlemen were searching for material for their "Sound Off" album for Rebel, Bill suggested they also do the song. They agreed, and "Fox on the Run" became one of their biggest hits.

Bill Emerson left the band in 1972, largely due to to an incident outside a club. The band had finished a show at the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Md., and were walking to their cars. Suddenly, a car sped by and a shot rang out. Bill grabbed his arm in pain where the bullet had pierced it. He recovered fully, but it caused the band to cease playing clubs for a long period of time as a safeguard against their own lives. Bill later joined the U.S. Navy to help start a new bluegrass/country band, The Country Current.

Doyle Lawson replaced Jimmy Gaudreau in 1972, and remained with the band until 1979, when he started his own group, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. He was replaced by Jimmy Gaudreau in 1972, and remained with the band until 1979 by newcomer Rick Allred, who left in 1981 and was replaced by Jimmy Gaudreau. (Anybody confused yet?)

A succession of banjo players followed Bill Emerson: Mike Lilly, James Bailey, Bill Holden, James Bailey (he came back), Kent Dowell, and currently, Dick Smith. Dick was formerly with Del McCoury & the Dixie Pals. But in 1974, he played with Jimmy Gaudreau in Country Store. He has also performend with Night Sun and the Goins Brothers.

Mike Lilly, Charlie Waller, Jerry Douglas, Doyle Lawson, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Yates

Through the years a number of musicians have been a part of The Country Gentlemen journey. Occasionally they used a fiddler. These included John Hall, Pete Kuykendal, Carl Nelson, and Ricky Skaggs. The dobro was also used, featuring John Duffey, Kenny Haddock, and Jerry Douglas. And one banjoist who played breifly was Walt Hensley.

It becomes obvious that The Country Gentlemen not only launched a new wave of bluegrass music and established Washington, D.C. as a bluegrass hotbed, but they are also responsible for the creation of numerous other bluegrass bands, thus spreading the music to wider audiences. When some of the former Country Gentlemen felt it was time to leave, they utilized the experience gained from being associated with the band to form their own groups. Boone Creek, Country Store, and Quicksilver were formed by ex-Gentlemen.

But perhaps the most significant band to grow out of The Country Gentlemen, John Duffey and Tom Gray, are members. John had been retired from the music for two years. Len Holsclaw, a local bass player and old friend of The Country Gentlemen, was planning to attend a big-picking party at banjo player Ben Eldridge's house. Thinking John might enjoy the informal session, Len invited John. There John Duffey met John Starling, a singer/guitar player who was also an Army doctor just returning from Vietnam. Among others also present was Mike Auldridge (a dobro player formerly with Cliff Waldron).

As the combination of the John Duffey and Charlie Waller clicked in 1957, it happened again in 1971 with John Duffey and John Starling, only this time Mike Auldridge was there to add the baritone part. It was music too good to hide from the public. The men decided to form a little band: "Our weekly card game," according to Mike. Len Holsclaw was asked to play bass, but he declined, knowing that it would interfere with his career as a police officer. Also, he had just accepted the job of managing The Country Gentlemen. "And that didn't seem to be a legitimate working arrangement," says Len on the prospect of playing bass for The Seldom Scene and managing The Country Gentlemen. Tom Gray was coaxed out of retirement to play bass, and the Seldom Scene was born.

Len Holsclaw formed the Lendel Agency in September of 1971 and has managed The Country Gentlemen since. The agency is out of his home in Warrenton. By day, Len works as the deputy police chief in charge of the major crimes division for Arlington County Virginia.

This brings us to 1982 and 25 years with The Country Gentlemen. Charlie Waller can still belt 'em out as he did as a feisty 22-year-old. Bill Yates is rock-solid on the bass after a dozen years with the band. Veteran Dick Smith brings another element of polished professionalism to the group, and it's good to have Jimmy Gaudreau back after 10 years.

There was another listeners' poll taken recently by WAMU-FM. The top-10 favorites confirm the incredible influence and popularity of The Country Gentlemen. The listeners' most favorite song was "Rebel Soldier." They voted for "Fox on the Run" as their second most popular song in bluegrass, "Bringing Mary Home" came fourth. "The In Crowd" was seventh, and "Casey's Last Ride" was in tenth place of all-time favorites.

Eddie Adcock best summed it up in a 1976 interview: "The bluegrass music that people listen to today did not come from Kentucky; it came from the rolling hills of Washington, D.C."

Thanks to The Country Gentlemen.