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david parmley and
continental divide



A native of southern California, David Parmley is a founding member of the internationally acclaimed, Bluegrass Cardinals. In 18 years, the Cardinals recorded fifteen separate projects, made appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, the Ralph Emory Show and performed at the White House for former President, Jimmy Carter. In 1994 David teamed up with banjo great, Scott Vestal to form Continental Divide. The rest is, as they say, "history". Known for his soulful voice and driving rhythm guitar, and exceptional skills as a producer, David has notched many awards, including: International Bluegrass Music Association's "Recorded Event of the Year" 1991 and 1995. Continental Divide became an instant success claiming IBMA's coveted, "Emerging Artist of the Year" award in 1995.	.
	Ron Spears was born in the thriving bluegrass Mecca of Salt Lake City, Utah. He caught the banjo bug in his late teens while watching The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, Hee Haw and other early 70’s TV shows and movies featuring banjo music. Love for the banjo led him to the music of The Osborne Brothers and the tight three part harmonies they produced. He immersed himself in bluegrass music from that point on. He played banjo in several local bluegrass bands through the early 70’s but switched his main focus to the Telecaster and Country music of that decade to provide a more stable income for his growing family. He always threw in a couple banjo numbers and a fiddle tune or two to stay connected to his bluegrass roots. By the mid 90’s Country music turned towards a direction Ron didn’t enjoy and he began to play mandolin or guitar in several bluegrass bands centered in Utah and the Great Northwest. He came to national prominence as a member of Rhonda Vincent and The Rage in 1999. He started touring with his own band based in Northern California the following year producing three recordings for the Copper Creek Records label. Over the past three years Ron was a member of the Special Consensus and has performed his songs all over the world. Ron is a very accomplished song writer. His tunes have been recorded by Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme Out, Lou Reid and Carolina, The Bluegrass Cardinals Special Consensus and several other prominent bluegrass artists. He sings high and plays hard like Bill Monroe would want it.
Banjoist, Dale Perry, hails from Wayne County, West Virginia. Starting out on a guitar purchased for him by his grandmother, Dale later found his real interest in in the banjo. His first banjo was a Kay, he received at at eleven. Inborn talent and hard work landed Dale with his fist job in music as bass player for the Travelers Quartet, with whom he made his first recording. In 1985 Dale was hired as bass player/bass singer for the Bluegrass Cardinals further honing his now legendary bass singing skills. Dale teamed up with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver in 1994. Now reunited with David, Dale supplies Continental Divide with rock solid banjo and vocals as only he can. Off stage, Dale enjoys time at home with wife, Patty, and fishing. He also owns and operates Lakeside Recording Studio near his home in Moneta, Virginia.
	Mike Parker, bassist, comes from the small college town of Berea, Kentucky. When it comes to musical pedigrees, Mike surely has a great one. His family has impacted bluegrass music in the central Kentucky area for over 40 years. Mike's exposure to bluegrass music began at an early age. Starting with the family band playing in churches and then on to the stages of Renfro Valley as a member of the Parker Brothers band. After working with several local bands, he formed the Wilderness Trail Band in 1995 with his brother Jeff Parker( mandolin player for the Dailey Vincent Band). In 2005 Mike began playing with New River Line, that comes from the musically proclaimed area of Eastern Kentucky. In March 2008, Mike joined Continental Divide. His hard driving bass and strong vocals are a real asset to the Continental Divide sound.
If you’re lucky enough to grow up in the hills of Virginia, there’s no shortage of string music to listen to. And, perhaps no one since July of 1970 has listened and learned more diverse fiddling than Billy Hurt, Jr. of Boone’s Mill. Starting at age of 10, Billy was drawn to the old time fiddling of Clark Kessinger, the western swing of Bob Wills, and bluegrass greats Kenny Baker and Bobby Hicks. Billy listened and learned, adding his own personal tastes, perfecting his technique, the technique that eventually notched him first place in the "bluegrass fiddle" category at the 1994 Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, Virginia. Billy’s professional credentials include stage time with the legendary Jim Eanes and the popular Bluegrass Brothers. Whether providing soulful backup, and old time fiddle tune, or up in your face bluegrass breakdown fiddling, Billy plays what needs playing… no more, no less. Time away from Continental Divide’s tour schedule finds Billy engaged with his other favorite pastimes… hot rod cars and fishing.

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