Curtis Burch

Curtis Burch first got interested in music from his dad Curtis Sr. who taught him to play the guitar. His dad was a great rythm guitar player that knew hundreds of songs. For many years they had a family band along with his brother Ricky. While Curtis was yet a teenager he had the honor of guesting with the Stanley Brothers, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, & the Osborne Bro's. In 1971, Curtis moved to Nashville, Tennessee in search of a musical career. After doing odd jobs for George Gruhn and Randy Wood at "GTR." he teamed up with Sam Bush, Courtney Johnson, and John Cowan to form the New Grass Revival.

Curtis played with New Grass for 10 years. During that time, they made six albums and toured all over the United States, Canada, Japan, Austrialia, and New Zeland. They toured extensively with rock singer and musician, Leon Russell, which led to two albums and a video with him. They recorded and toured with others such as John Hartford, Buddy Emmons, Vassar Clements, Chuch Cochran, Garth Fundis, Rich Adler, Ronnie Dunn, Willie Nelson, John Starling with Lowell George and Bill Payne of Little Feat, Tut Taylor, Norman and Nancy Blake, and Kenny Malone, just to name a few. In 1987, Curtis performed with Doc Watson and Jack Lawrence on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" show on The Disney Channel. That same year he toured with Leon Redbone.

In 1993 Jerry Douglas &Tut Taylor produced "The Great Dobro Sessions" featuring Jerry, Tut, Mike Aldridge, Josh Graves, Rob Icks, Oswald Kirby, Stacy Phillips, Sally Van Meter, Gene Wooten and Curtis Burch. This recording won a "Grammy" in 1995 and also won "Instrumental Recording" and "Event of the Year" at the 1995 IBMA in Louisville Ky.

Also that same year Curtis & Tut Taylor were invited to the Dobro Fest. in Trnava, Slovakia. Curtis returned in 1997 to be awarded the "John Doprera Award for Achievement and excellence in the art of Dobro playing."

In 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005 & 2006 he was an intructor at Steve Kaufman's guitar camp at Maryville, Tn. college. And also at the 2005 Rocky Grass Academy in Lyons, Colo.

Curtis recorded with Norman Blake on the sound track CD for the movie "O' Brother Where Art Thou"? which won 5 "Grammys".

And 2005 Curtis recorded with Texas singer-songwriter Willis Alan Ramsey co-produced by Jamie Oldaker ( Eric Claptons's drummer ) He is currently performing and recording with David Via of Virginia who is a great singer and original songwriter. Curtis freelances touring and recording with different performers including his wife Ruthie and brother Ricky. Curtis, Ruthie & Ricky recorded a live performance with the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jeffrey Reed in 2003 of 8 bluegrass songs and 2 New Grass Revival songs including 2 original pieces written for bluegrass band & Chamber Orchestra by Charles Smith of Western Ky. University. He owes a lot of thanks to his father Curtis Sr. who taught him to play guitar when he was 10 years old.

Born in Montgomery Alabama, Curtis Burch learned to play guitar from his father at the age of 10. Growing up they had a family band that included his brother Ricky. As a teen Curtis sat in with the Stanley Brothers, Jim & Jesse McReynolds & the Osborne Bro's.
Burch joined and left the Bluegrass Alliance in 1971 to form New Grass Revival with bandmates Sam Bush, Courtney Johnson and Ebo Walker. He stayed with New Grass for 10 years, putting out 6 albums and touring worldwide with many notable performers including Leon Russell, John Hartford, Buddy Emmons, Vassar Clements, Chuch Cochran, Garth Fundis, Rich Adler, Ronnie Dunn, Willie Nelson, John Starling with Lowell George and Bill Payne of Little Feat, Tut Taylor, Norman and Nancy Blake, and Kenny Malone.

In 1987, Curtis performed with Doc Watson and Jack Lawrence on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion on The Disney Channel and toured with Leon Redbone.

In 1993 Jerry Douglas & Tut Taylor produced The Great Dobro Sessions featuring Jerry, Tut, Mike Aldridge, Josh Graves, Rob Icks, Oswald Kirby, Stacy Phillips, Sally Van Meter, Gene Wooten and Curtis Burch. It won a Grammy in 1995 and also won Instrumental Recording and Event of the Year at the 1995 IBMA in Louisville Ky.

Also that same year Curtis & Tut Taylor were invited to the Dobro Fest. in Trnava, Slovakia. Curtis returned in 1997 to be awarded the John Doprera Award for Achievement and excellence in the art of Dobro playing.

In 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005 & 2006 he was an instructor at Steve Kaufman's guitar camp at Maryville, Tn. college and at the 2005 Rocky Grass Academy in Lyons, Colorado.

Curtis recorded with Norman Blake on the sound track CD for the movie O' Brother Where Art Thou? which won 5 Grammys.

In 2005 Curtis recorded with Texas singer-songwriter Willis Alan Ramsey.  He is currently performing and recording with David Via of Virginia. Curtis continues touring and recording with different performers including his wife Ruthie and brother Ricky. Curtis, Ruthie & Ricky recorded a live performance with the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jeffrey Reed in 2003. They performed 8 bluegrass songs and 2 New Grass Revival songs as well as 2 original pieces written for a bluegrass band & chamber orchestra by Charles Smith of Western Ky. University.

Band Affiliations: [Michael Gough Group, Curtis Burch Acoustic Trio, Curtis Burch & Friends, Soulgrass, The Deadnecks, The Hays Brothers, New Grass Revival, The Bluegrass Alliance]

Michael Gough Group (1989 - present) [Michael Gough (vocals, bass), John Martin (guitar), Ed Danserau (keyboards), Rodney Williams (drums), Roy Carter (saxophone) | previous members: Curtis Burch (dobro), Jeff "Smitty" Smith (guitar, keyboards), Gordy Deems (guitar), Ernie Raymer (guitar), Mitchell Plumlee (drums), Tom Cerone (drums)]

Curtis Burch Acoustic Trio [Curtis Burch - dobro, John Martin - guitar, Michael Gough - bass]

Bluegrass Alliance (1968-1978) [Dan Crary (guitar | 1968-1970), Danny Jones (mandolin | 1968-1970), Buddy Spurlock (banjo | 1968-1971), Lonnie Peerce (fiddle | 1968-1978), Ebo Walker (bass | 1968-1971), Sam Bush (mandolin, guitar | 1970-1971), Tony Rice (guitar | 1970-1971), Courtney Johnson (guitar | 1971-1971), Curtis Burch (guitar, dobro | 1971-1971), Steve Maxwell (bass | 1971-1974), Chuck Nation (mandolin | 1971-1974), Garland Shuping (banjo, lead vocals | 1971-1974; 1976), Jack Lawrence (guitar | 1971-1974), Marshall Billingsley (upright bass | 1974-1976), Glenn Lawson (mandolin, lead vocal | 1974-1975), Bill Millet (banjo | 1974-1976), Marty Hallum (guitar | 1974-1975), Vince Gill (guitar, lead vocal, electric mandolin | 1975-1976), Al White (mandolin | 1974-1975), Thayne Bradford (mandolin, lead vocal | 1976-1976), John Jump (guitar | 1976-1976), Bob Briedenback (dobro | 1976-1976), Robert Poole (upright bass | 1976-1976), Tony Williamson (mandolin | 1976-1976), Mike Williams (bass | 1976-1976), Keith Sanson (guitar | 1976-1976), Danny Jones (mandolin, lead vocal | 1977-1978), Steve Cooley (banjo | 1977-1978), Ricky Burch (bass | 1977-1978), Dennis White (guitar, vocals | 1977-1978)]

New Grass Revival (1971-1989) [Sam Bush (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, lead vocals | 1971-1989), Courtney Johnson (banjo, guitar | 1971-1981), Ebo Walker (upright bass | 1971-1972), Curtis Burch (guitar, Dobro | 1971-1981), Butch Robins (bass | 1972-1974), John Cowan (bass, lead vocals | 1974-1989), Bela Fleck (banjo | 1981-1989), Pat Flynn - (mandolin, guitar | 1981-1989)


The Deadnecks

Soulgrass

Curtis Burch & Friends: members: Paul McCoy, Joel Whittinghill, Curtis Burch, Ruth Burch, Ricky Burch, David Roemer

The Hays Brothers

Discography:

Grass Roots: The Best of New Grass Revival (Capitol, 2005)


The Cumberlands: Bridging The Gap (Copper Creek, 2003)


Tommy Johnson: Echoes From The Past (2003) - [Tommy Johnson (writer, guitar, lead vocals), Chris Carmichael, Mark Hendricks, Marc Owens, Curtis Burch, Arthur Hatfield, Amy Willis, Shane Johnson, Hunter Colson, Jevon and Megan Paschall, Tyrone Dunn, Jessika Henbest, Robert Pinson]


Soundtrack: O'Brother Where art Thou? (Buena Vista Pictures, 2000)


Burchland


Larry Keel, Curtis Burch, and The Experience (Little King, 2000)


Antietam: Antietam (1996)


Dan Crary: Lady's Fancy (Rounder Select, 1994)


Various Artists: The Great Dobro Sessions (Sugarhill, 1994)


John Starling: Long Time Gone (Sugarhill, 1990)


Sam Bush: Late As Usual (Rounder Select, 1985)


Michael Gough: Soul Tuggin'


Tut Taylor & Norman Blake: Flat Picking in Kitchen


Memphis Blues Stock 99


Moral Chain of Custody: Circus in Heaven (Moral Chain of Custody Music, 1995)


Kenny Thacker: Dancin ' with the Angles

Dead Necks: Tornados and Trailers


Kyle Yule: Radiate


Tut Taylor: Flash Flood


Brenda Stuart: He Calms the Storm in Me


Dennis Holt: Bluegrass Gambler


Union Trio: I'd Rather Have Jesus


Pat Haney: Wrong Rite of Passage


DobroFest Trnava '97


Kurtis Matthew: Ice Cream Man


Kurtis Matthew: Everything I Love


SoulGrass


Graham Hudspeth: A Yank and a Prod


In a Hollar on a Mountain (Little King Records)


The Cumberlands: The Best of the Cumberlands, Vol. 1


The Cumberlands: Reflections


New Grass Revival: Common Wealth (Flying Fish 1981)


Telluride: The Festival Tapes (1979)


New Grass Revival: Barren County (Flying Fish 1979)


Bryan Bowers: The view From Home (Flying Fish Records, 1977)


New Grass Revival: When the Storm is Over (Flying Fish, 1977)


New Grass Revival: Too Late to Turn Back Now (Flying Fish, 1977)


New Grass Revival: Fly Through the Country (Flying Fish, 1975)


New Grass Revival: Today's Bluegrass