Out of the Blue

Music:

Member Since: 5/9/2006
Band Website: www.outofthebluebluegrass.com
Band Members: Roger Cole - Rhythm Guitar and Lead Vocals
Jeff Lawless - Upright Bass and Tenor Vocals
Brad Benedict - Mandolin
Mike Marrs - Banjo, Lead, Tenor and Baritone vocals
George Laker - Dobro

Roger Cole is a true lover of bluegrass! You can see why when you learn that Roger has eight albums, twenty four t.v. shows and experience forming four bluegrass bands to his credit.
Back in 1987 Roger started a band known as Cross Country Bluegrass. That was a true learning experience for him, but with band members like Charles Patrick and Alex Chopper on board, he was definitely learning from some of the best.
In 1991 John Blankenship, Loon White, Rich Pniewski, and Ron McKeever, a group of great musicians and fine friends, were auditioning for a lead singer. Roger tried out and got the job. This group of friends were under way and formed the Flint River Boys. Roger says that it was really great working with this group of guys. They were so talented in so many ways.
Then, in 1996, Roger joined forces with his very good friend and hard-driving banjo player, Kenny Lyons, to start a band that they named Cedar Creek. Roger's brother, Mark, played bass. Second cousin Delmer Hackworth (nicknamed Bosco) sang tenor. They also saw their good friend Ron McKeever (from the Flint River Boys) come on board to pick, and this group had a ton of fun! This group stayed together until 1999 before they called it quits.
After Cedar Creek called it quits, Roger was able to start a little home recording studio which kept him occupied and connected to the music. Roger did not really think about starting a new band until August of 2000 when he and great musician (and very good friend) Scottie Hamilton, ran into each other at the Leslie bluegrass festival. Scottie and Roger got to talking and it wasn't long before the talk turned to forming a new group. The idea stuck, and they soon formed a group with Kenny Lyons (from Cedar Creek) on mandolin, and mutual friend Jeff Lawless on bass. About a year or so later they added Bobby Elkins on mandolin and George Laker on resonator guitar. This group soon evolved into the current staff roster of Jeff Lawless, Roger Cole, George Laker, Brad Benedict, and Mike Marrs.

Jeff Lawless is a husband, father of five (three sons and two daughters and one grandson) and a founding member of "Out of the Blue". Jeff was born in Gary Indiana and grew up in Portage, Indiana.
Jeff moved to Michigan when he was 21 and started playing guitar in church and singing a little tenor, but it was Bluegrass Gospel that sparked his interest. After playing guitar for about two years he became interested in the bass, and it wasn't long before he purchased his first bass (a 1974 Fender Jazz bass) and an old Peavey TNT 100 amp. Jeff then started playing a little Country and Old Time Rock and Roll with friends. In 1991 Jeff started a factory job which required long hours and seven day weeks, so the music was set aside for a while.
In 2000 Jeff received a call from a couple long time friends, Roger Cole and Scottie Hamilton, about picking a little Bluegrass. He couldn't pass up an offer like that, so after a few jam sessions he decided that he would give upright bass a try. He loved it!! The bass bug bit him and he started the search to purchase and old Kay. It wasn't long until he found and bought a beautiful Old 1952 Kay M1 bass and started hitting the Bluegrass Festivals, and here we are today..."living to play Bluegrass"!!

Mike Marrs:
I grew up south of Detroit and always had a passion for music as long as I can remember. My first influences came from my parents, Chuck & Donna, both of who were good musicians. My early lessons of music came from country music (real country).
At the age of 14 I bought my first guitar. I played rock & roll and blues through the 70's. By accident, I ended up at a Bluegrass festival and discovered the music I would love forever. I still played guitar but really liked the banjo and bought one. My main influences on the banjo were Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe and anyone one who personified them. My favorite band, though, was Flatt & Scruggs.
Today, 40 years from my first guitar and 27 years from my first Bluegrass festival , I still love the heart and soul of Bluegrass music. Now I have the good fortune to play with Out Of The Blue. They are a group of musicians who work hard at playing good music but first, they're a bunch of great guys that I am glad to know, pick and sing with. Thanks boys!
Mike Marrs

George Laker was born and raised on a farm in southwest Michigan. He started playing guitar at age 15 on an old flattop his grandfather gave him. After purchasing an electric guitar from Montgomery Wards he and 3 friends started a rock 'n roll band called The Scavengers, patterned after the instrumental band The Ventures. While still in school The Scavengers wrote and released one record, and played many area school functions.
After a tour in the Navy George settled in playing country music with his brothers, Mitch and Scott. In about 1975 a friend invited George to a local bluegrass jam and he was hooked. He started playing nothing but bluegrass, and in 1987 he and his wife opened a bluegrass music store near Wayland, Michigan.
George, Mitch, Scott, and Scott's wife Coleen started performing at festivals as The Laker Family. They also recorded eight TV shows and cut two CD's. Around this same time a pickin buddy of George's named Tim Scheerhorn decided to start building resonator guitars in his garage. When Tim brought his first four guitars into the music store George was amazed at how much better they sounded than the original Dobro brand that he carried in the store. George bought one on the spot and started learning the resonator guitar. After Tim became the top builder of resonator guitars in the world George decided the first Scheerhorn sold should be put away, so he purchased another one to play and retired his original.
Since then George has played resonator guitar and cut CD's with Bluegrass Harmony, Mountain Memories, and Jim Evans. He says he feels very blessed to be a part of Out Of The Blue, and is thankful for the gift of music and those he gets to share it with.

Bradley Benedict:
I started off playing mandolin at a young age of 6 years. My grandfather (Cy Misner) gets all the credit for me playing. He's the one who got me interested in bluegrass.
Growing up I have had alot of musical influences in my life. With my grandfather being a musician, and my mother putting on concerts. I've been able to meet and even play music with some of the best musicians. So I think that has helped my playing tremendously.
I took lessons from a mandolin player named Brian Oberlin for a couple years, and He's the one that truly got me turned on to the mandolin. He opened up so many doors for me, showed me alot of great stuff. He has made it so I'm open to all kinds of music on the mandolin. Not just bluegrass. And I really thank him alot.
Besides all the lessons from Brian I learned alot from different people festivals. Going around to different Jams meeting new people. They would take the time to show me new chords,scales, licks,and tags. And I really appreciate all the people I've been able to pick with and that have helped me in the past. Way to many to name off.
I've been playing with the band Out Of The Blue lately. A great group of guys. Amazing pickers. They can play anything from traditional bluegrass, to anything new. I've really been enjoying playing with them. So make sure you come check out the band "Out Of The Blue". I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Brad, Burnin" up the strings on "Get Up John"