Phillip Steinmetz & His Sunny Tennesseans

Phillip Steinmetz & His Sunny Tennesseans are dedicated to carrying on the tradition of old time mountain music. The group entertain audiences with forgotten favorites from such musical pioneers as Grandpa Jones, The Carter Family, Sam & Kirk McGee, The Coon Creek Girls, Uncle Dave Macon, and Stingbean.Phillip Steinmetz (old-time banjo, guitar, lead vocals) was taught claw-hammer style banjo by his great Uncle, Grandpa Jones at age eleven and has been performing since age thirteen. In 1989 and 1990, Phillip shared the stage with Grandpa in Christmas, Florida. Phillip won the Florida State Banjo Championship in 1996 he was the only clawhammer picker that competed. In 2000, Phillip won the Old-Time Banjo National Championship at the annual Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with his rendition of Kirk McGee's "Snowdrop" by picking it two-finger style. In recognition, he was invited to perform at "Opry Fest" to celebrate the 75th Birthday of The Grand Old Opry. When Phillip won the title again in 2002, he was included as a feature performer on WSM's "Opry Star Spotlight" and was broadcast live on WSM "Macons Memories" where he played one of Uncle Dave Macon's banjos. Phillip went on to win the Championship again in 2005. In 2006, he appeared on PBS Television's Tennessee Crossroads. Phillip and the Sunny Tennesseans have appeared several times as guests on RFD-TV's Cumberland Highlander Show filmed in Rosine, Kentucky. Phillip has two children, Madalynne and Jacob and makes his home in Waverly, Tennessee.Mike Fulkerson (guitar) began playing guitar at age twelve. He compliments the bands' old-time sound with his smooth, subtle guitar harmonies. Mike learned to play bluegrass banjo in 1975 and has been performing in various bluegrass bands for over 20 years. He was a member of the Barnyard Bluegrass Orchestra and later played banjo with Silvercreek and the Green River Bluegrass Band. Mike currentyly picks banjo for traditional bluegrass band, King's Highway. Mike has five children and resides in Panther, Kentucky.Mark Hargis (bass, tenor vocals) grew up just a few miles from where Grandpa Jones was raised. Mark's solid bass playing and true tenor harmonies round out the group's authenic mountain sound. He has been playing bluegrass music for over fifteen years and has played mandolin for Green River Bluegrass, Blue County Line, Above the Blue, and the Allison Embry Band. He and Mike performed for Presiden Bush in 2004 as members of Ally White and Reynolds Station. As well as performing as a Sunny Tennessean, Mark sings lead and plays mandolin for King's Highway. Mark and his wife Monica have two sons and live in Zion, Kentucky.