Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road are known for their fast pickin’ traditional bluegrass sound. The band is fronted by Lorraine Jordan who is a consummate performer, songwriter, emcee, and also a very successful show promoter. The band recently welcomed Jerry Butler to the line-up on lead vocals and guitar. This new configuration has proved to be a perfect fit for the group and has broadened the band’s appeal to even a larger audience . Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road have a brand new album, titled Carolina Road that comes right on the heels of their last release, A Stop in Southport Towne, both on the Blue Circle Records label.
Lorraine Jordan grew up around bluegrass music on the coast of North Carolina and has performed bluegrass music for over twenty years. She plays Monroe style mandolin and is known for her hard driving mandolin chop. As the band's emcee, Lorraine demonstrates an outgoing personality and charisma that draws audiences to the edge of their seats with every word and note. She formed the band in 1998 and continues to be the driving force behind Carolina Road's popularity and longevity. Road Trip For The Lord is the name of latest solo project and the album is continuing it’s climb on the Bluegrass Now Gospel Truth Chart. The album has also received great reviews from both Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Now among other reputable media outlets. Lorraine’s musical skill, personality, energy and charisma go a long way in bluegrass music. ASCAP chose her as a finalist in the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Songwriter Showcase and she was also the first runner up in the prestigious national songwriting contest at MerleFest. Lorraine was recently a finalist for the Female Vocalist of the Year award category at the annual Society and Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) convention held in Nashville, TN. It’s hard to believe the busiest woman in bluegrass has any spare time, but she does enjoy riding her two Honda motorcycles and playing with her two maltese pets, J.D. and Polly.
Josh Goforth was born in Asheville, North Carolina and is a Madison County native. He attended East Tennessee State University where he majored in Instrumental Music Education. Josh is very active in the world-renowned bluegrass and country music program at ETSU. He has played with Appalachian Trail, The ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band, and David Holt & Laura Boosinger. Josh has performed in nine foreign countries and basically every State in the eastern U.S. In 2000 and 2003, he was named Fiddler of the Festival at the nationally acclaimed Fiddler's Grove Competition and he has won numerous awards and honors for his talent. Josh enjoys teaching folklore and sharing his talents with others.
Benny Greene started his music career in 1973 playing with the late Charlie Moore until 1979. He recorded on six albums from 1980 through 1994 and played electric guitar with country & dance bands. In 1995, Ben returned to bluegrass music playing electric bass with the Bluegrass Cardinals and in 1996 went back to playing banjo for four years with Lost & Found. He then performed with Continental Divide from 2000 – 2003 and recorded on two of the band’s albums. For the next three years, he toured with The James King Band and appeared on one their albums. Benny has played in almost every State and toured in seventeen foreign countries. In his spare time he loves to fish and spend time with friends and family.
Jerry Butler began playing music in the Knoxville, Tennessee area when he was only 12 years old performing with The Knoxville Newgrass Boys. That group also included Phil Leadbetter on Dobro. Over the years, Jerry has performed with Lynwood Lunsford and the Misty Valley Boys, The Joe Isaacs Band and many years with the Blue Valley Boys. Most recently he was lead vocalist with Pine Mountain Railroad and is featured on lead vocals on their Bluegrass Unlimited Chart single Beyond the Rain. Jerry has an Associate Music degree from Cumberland College , Lebanon , TN. He proudly endorses GHS Strings, Mike Long Guitars, Custom Inlay and Paige Capos. Jerry currently resides in Knoxville with his wife and four daughters.
One might say, Todd Mead is a young man with an old soul. His fiddling skills evolved through living memory and a life lived at the base of the beautiful Clinch Mountain of Big Moccasin Creek in Scott County Virginia. This young man is his own person, cut from the cloth of old time independent thinking mountain farmers, storytellers and music makers who go way back, while keeping keenly in touch and influencing today’s world. Look at Todd’s hands, watch the bow, and you may recognize some likeness to Todd’s great Grandpa, the legendary fiddle player, Uncle Charlie Osborne. Todd rocks the old tunes into today and you will not forget him once you meet and hear him perform. He is traditional, independent, interpretive, and improvisational and never meets a stranger young or old. Todd organized and played with Twin Springs Bluegrass Band and also toured one year with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys playing fiddle. He has appeared on recordings of Ralph Stanley, Jack Cooke, James Allen Shelton, Anndrena Belcher, Twin Springs and a host of other albums. Todd is involved and shines in ETSUs Bluegrass Music Program and is a scholarship winner, teacher/performer at MECC Home Craft Day and Mountain Music School. This just barely scratches the surface of his talents. Todd currently performs bass with Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road and is featured on twin fiddle every set. He can be seen wearing the newest of American Eagle Clothes and is very popular among Carolina Road fans!
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