Biography:

Terry Baucom (October 6, 1952 – December 7, 2023) was an American bluegrass singer, banjo player, and band leader. He was nicknamed “The Duke of Drive” for his propelling banjo style. He led his band, The Dukes of Drive, and was a founding member of Boone Creek, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and IIIrd Tyme Out.^[2] Baucom suffered complications from a severe and rapid form of Alzheimer’s, causing his death on December 7, 2023.^[3]

Early Years

Baucom began playing banjo at age 10, drawn to banjo because of the Beverly Hillbillies television show. He started playing fiddle at age 14. His father played guitar, his grandfather played clawhammer banjo, and his great-grandfather played fiddle. Baucom played banjo in his father Lloyd Baucom’s group The Rocky River Boys.^[4][5] Baucom played fiddle with Charlie Moore from 1970 until 1973.^[6]

Boone Creek

In 1976, Baucom was a founding member of Boone Creek at age 22 years old with Ricky Skaggs, Wes Golding, Jerry Douglas and Steve Bryant.^[7][8]

Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver

After two years, Boone Creek disbanded, and Baucom became a founding member of Doyle Lawson‘s original Quicksilver combo from 1979 until 1985.^[9] From 2003 until 2007, Baucom re-joined Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver for a second stint.^[10]

The New Quicksilver and BlueRidge

In 1986, Baucom formed the short-lived band The New Quicksilver with Randy Graham (bass), Alan Bibey (mandolin), and Jimmy Haley (guitar). In 1998, Baucom formed BlueRidge, which was a reunited New Quicksilver. In 2001, the ensemble recorded the album Baucom, Bibey, Graham & Haley on Rebel Records.^[4]

IIIrd Tyme Out[edit]

Baucom was a founding member of IIIrd Tyme Out in 1991 with Russell Moore (guitar), Mike Hargrove (fiddle), and Ray Deaton (bass).^[11][12]

Carolina and Other Opportunities

From 1993, Baucom until 1996, Baucom was a member of Carolina with Lou Reid who started the band named Carolina. In 1996, Baucom stopped touring so he could freelance and teach music in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area.^[13]

He was a part-time member of the Mark Newton Band and the Kenny and Amanda Smith Band. In 2009, Baucom joined Dale Ann Bradley‘s band, then the Mashville Brigade. He also occasionally performed with Mountain Heart with Tony Rice.^[5][14]

Dukes of Drive

Baucom’s band, “Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive” consists of Joey Lemons (mandolin, vocals), Will Jones (guitar, vocals), and Joe Hannabach (bass). Their 2015 single “The Rock” was bluegrass radio’s most played song on the Bluegrass Today chart.^[15]

Solo albums

For his first solo album In a Groove, Baucom put together a core band of Wyatt Rice (guitar), Barry Bales (bass), Adam Steffey (mandolin), and Jason Carter (fiddle). Russell Moore, John Cowan, and Ronnie Bowman make vocal appearances.^[6][16]

2013’s Never Thought of Looking Back featured guest vocalists Buddy Melton, Larry Cordle, Sam Bush, Marty Raybon, John Cowen, and Tim Stafford. The instrumentalists include Bush (mandolin), Jerry Douglas (resonator guitar), Wyatt Rice (guitar), Aubrey Haynie (fiddle), and Steve Bryant (bass).^[17]

Music Instruction

Baucom produced instructional materials and Baucom taught banjo privately and at camps and workshops.

Awards

In 2001, Baucom won the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Instrumental Recording of the Year award. He also won the 2013 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year award for “What’ll I Do.”^[18]

Deering Terry Baucom Model Banjo

The Deering Terry Baucom banjo has a red walnut frame and bronze 20-hole tone ring with an 11/16″ bridge and slightly wider string spacing.^[4][19]

Personal life

Terry’s wife Cindy Baucom hosts a syndicated radio show Knee Deep in Bluegrass.^[14] She has been named Broadcaster of the Year by the IBMA in 2005 and 2017, and was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame in 2012.^[20]

Credits:

Wikipedia