James Alan Shelton
James Alan Shelton is an American bluegrass guitarist. Shelton is a solo musician, having releasing 10 albums,[1] and also performs with the Clinch Mountain Boys.[2]
Life
James Alan Shelton was born in Kingsport, Tennessee and was raised in Gate City, Virginia. A major influence musically on Shelton as a youth were the Stanley Brothers, who were from nearby Dickenson County, Virginia. When he was 12 years old he saw Ralph Stanley perform and was inspired to learn the guitar and banjo. His father bought him his first guitar which cost $89.95. Shelton worked for his father, at $1.25 an hour, to repay him for the instrument. He also found influence in the Carter Family, Flatt and Scruggs, and Bill Monroe. It was in the records of the Stanley Brothers where Shelton heard the guitar playing of George Shuffler, who had developed a style of crosspicking. Shelton would go on to idolize Shuffler, and eventually play with him during his professional career. Today, Shelton lives in Church Hill, Tennessee.[2]
Professional career
Shelton would go on to play with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. Shelton's guitar playing is considered unique, as it mixes aspects of George Shuffler's crosspicking style, Doc Watson's flatpicking and a blues finger-style of picking.[2] He later played dobro and guitar with the Flint Hill band.[3]
References
- ↑ Johnny Lawless (2010). "James Alan Shelton – Where I’m Bound". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 John Lupton (2002). "James Alan Shelton clinches his dream". Country Standard Time. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ↑ James Shelton at Allmusic.com