Meet Mountain Heart

Versatile singer/songwriter Josh Shilling boasts an impressive combination of experience and musicianship, belying his youth. Only 24 years-old, Shilling's musical forays have been diverse and considerable, ranging from jazz and funk-tinged ensembles to soul and contemporary country, jam-band and folk projects.

As a teenager, Shilling fielded offers to tour nationally with professional bands, and at 17, he graduated high school one year early to begin his musical pursuits. He began traveling with The Kings, a successful regional band from Roanoke, Virginia. Subsequent gigs soon followed with nationally touring artists including Cimmaron, country star Billy "Crash" Craddock and Chicago's Bill Champlin, who proclaimed Shilling "has the potential to be one of the greats."

Esteemed trumpet and trombone player Mic Gillette also enlisted Shilling's services. Stints with The Funky Loophole that featured members of group Tower of Power, along with Balancing Act and crowd-pleasers The Embers, expanded his musical palate. His collaborations with Gillete prompted the revered musician to dub Shilling the "real deal."

His 2005 collaboration with Detroit-based Balancing Act led to resounding affirmation of Shilling's songwriting skills. In addition to providing lead vocals and keyboard work, he penned several compositions for the group's album. One of the tunes attracted the attention of MTV, who obtained licenses to incorporate the song into episodes of popular shows "Punk'd" and "Making the Video."

2007 found Shilling joining Mountain Heart. His robust vocals, evolving signature piano stylings and nimble guitar work enhance the group's rich acoustic sound. The same year, Shilling wrote or co-wrote all of the four new songs featured on the group's live album, The Road that Never Ends, including project's title track, which reached the forth slot on Billboard's bluegrass chart.

Mountain Heart's January 2007 appearance on the Grand Ole Opry introduced Shilling to an eagerly receptive crowd; after performing one of his original songs, he earned a standing ovation and encore that evening - a rarity and intoxicating distinction for any artist on that revered stage.

Now based in Nashville, Shilling is a full-time songwriter and spends much of his time working in studios as a session musician/vocalist. When he's not writing material for upcoming projects or on the road with Mountain Heart, guest appearances with artists who inspire him also line his schedule. He embraces music in its totality: His fierce immersion in one genre is enhanced by his passion for the others. Young but prodigious, Josh Shilling's future promises both success and tireless innovation guaranteed to delight music lovers all over the world.

At 28, fiddler Jim Van Cleve has already achieved more than many musicians do in a lifetime, and with the release of his solo debut, No Apologies, the dynamic youngster has taken a bold step forward. Producing, arranging, performing, and sharing in the writing credits for more than half of the CD's eleven selections, Jim has created a collection of unusual depth and breadth that can only enhance his reputation as one of the leading musicians of his generation.

No Apologies was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year, garnering a 2006 Grammy Nomination, an IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year Nomination for 2007, and taking "Album of the Year" honors in the Folk Music category of the Indie Acoustic Awards. Following the success of his album, Jim was nominated as IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year.

As one of the most in-demand session musicians in Nashville, Jim has played on countless recordings. He played a prominent role as fiddler on the 2004 Country Album of the Year Livin', Lovin', Losin': The Songs Of The Louvin Brothers, winning him his first Grammy. He also recorded fiddle for a smash-hit single drawn from American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts (2005)-his first participation in a multi-platinum seller.

As one of the original members of Mountain Heart, Jim has become well-known for the intense energy, charisma, and dazzling musicianship he brings to the stage.

Winner of 1997's Banjo Player of the Year award from the Society for the Preservation of Blue Grass Music in America, Barry began his career performing bluegrass gospel with Silver Creek, but first came to national attention as a member of one of the decade's hottest bluegrass bands, IIIrd Tyme Out. From 1994 to 1998, the Georgia-born banjo player/lead vocalist was a featured member of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, recording five albums with the award-winning ensemble.

Barry's heartfelt and earthy vocal tones are in perfect compliment to Josh's soaring tenor lines and his banjo playing defies logic, considering he has no fingers on his left hand. Barry's on-stage demeanor is one of the cornerstones for Mountain Heart's exciting live performances.

Mountain Heart's bassist belies his youth with a deep well of experience and mastery of bluegrass. First introduced to national audiences as a bandmember with an earlier IBMA Emerging Artist, James King, Moore has become a first-call recording musician, gracing the IBMA award-winning Knee Deep In Bluegrass (which also featured Adam Steffey), as well as IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland's solo albums, which have also won recorded event of the year a number of times.

Jason has become one of the genre's premiere bassists and is in high demand in the studio these days. His enthusiastic and spirited demeanor on stage are infectious!

Clay Hess is a Grammy award winner who first burst upon the bluegrass music scene as the red-hot flat-picking guitarist with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, with whom he toured for three years. With his awesome speed and tasty sense of syncopation, Hess has established himself as one of the top flat-pickers in the business.

Clay Hess comes from a family of musicians. Clay's dad taught him how to play guitar when he was 10. His father, brother and uncles played in a country and bluegrass band and were Clay's earliest musical influences. Clay has fond memories of tagging along to watch them play in local clubs, listening to their music and absorbing the ambiance. Clay dreamed that one day he would be up there and they would come see him play. It was soon apparent that Clay had the talent to carry on the family tradition.

As a teenager, Clay studied the innovative style of legendary acoustic bluegrass guitarist, Tony Rice, while continuing to hone his skills and develop his own style. When he was 19, a friend told him about an open audition at Dollywood. Clay landed the gig, playing guitar with the band, True Blue. In 1995, Clay won the Ohio State Guitar Championship and the following year, Clay was the recipient of the Bob Evans Farm Guitar Championship. Fellow musicians were noticing Clay's talents as a country and bluegrass guitarist. One of them was multi-Grammy Award winning country/bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs.

Ricky had heard Clay's work and in January of 1999, he asked Clay to join his band, Kentucky Thunder. Clay was thrilled at the opportunity to play rhythm and lead guitar with these stellar musicians. In 1999, Kentucky Thunder garnered the IBMA (International Bluegrass Musicians Association) "Instrumental Group of the Year" award and continues to receive accolades. Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder won the Grammy Award for "Best Bluegrass Album of the Year" in both 1999 and 2000.

At the age of 23, Aaron Ramsey has been immersed in playing music for over half his life. Bass was his first instrument, but mandolin is his musical love. Aaron began playing mandolin at the age of 12 and by 13 was participating in his Dad's Gospel group, Damascus Road. Then, he won the MerleFest mandolin competition at the age of 17 in 2002. He was a founding member of The Linville Ridge Band, playing mandolin and guitar from 2002 through early 2006. In March of 2006, he became a member of Randy Kohrs' band, the Lites, playing bass. Later that year, he moved to the mandolin and recorded mandolin and bass on several cuts of Randy's two most recent recordings, I'm Torn and Old Photographs. As a member of the Lites, Aaron also got to contribute his mandolin playing to the 2006 IBMA Album of the Year, Celebration of Life: Musicians Against Childhood Cancer.

In the fall of 2007, Aaron was called on to fill-in for Adam Steffey with Mountain Heart. Later, Barry Abernathy said given the short notice, he could not have asked for Aaron's playing to have been any better. Barry was impressed. In December of 2007 Aaron followed Josh Shilling's lead, from earlier that year, as he played his first official gig with Mountain Heart, on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium.