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Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass The Kennedy Center

Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

International veterans of stage, screen and television, "Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass" performance highlights include a screen appearance in Chris Rock's "Head of State," a live television gig with Earl Scruggs, multiple Kennedy Center concerts and a residence at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. At the request of the U.S. Department of State, "Big Hillbilly Bluegrass" has toured Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the Dominican Republic over the past several years, thus crowning BHB as America's defacto Bluegrass Ambassadors. Their recordings have achieved widespread critical acclaim. International veterans of stage, screen and television, "Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass" performance highlights include a screen appearance in Chris Rock's "Head of State," a live television gig with Earl Scruggs, multiple Kennedy Center concerts and a residence at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. At the request of the U.S. Department of State, "Big Hillbilly Bluegrass" has toured Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the Dominican Republic over the past several years, thus crowning BHB as America's defacto Bluegrass Ambassadors. Their recordings have achieved widespread critical acclaim. Look for them again in the Ruth Oxenberg-Rob Schumer bluegrass documentary film "Bluegrass Journey," which is available nationwide.

"Big Hillbilly Bluegrass" has been entertaining music fans for over 12 years on three continents. The ensemble boasts over 100 years of combined musical experience. An exciting blend of hard-driving bluegrass along with country, folk and original material will please even the most discriminating listeners and make easy converts of those unfamiliar with bluegrass music, one of America's unque art forms. The band can be heard in their home venue at Madam's Organ in Adams Morgan, Washington, DC, every Wednesday. There are also numerous festival and dates that help complete BHB's busy schedule. Click on About Us to learn more about Big Hillbilly Bluegrass.

Mike Munford, vocals, banjo
Mike is a fiery soloist, yet simultaneously a real team player. His powerful technique, quicksilver improvisations, and seemingly inexhaustible reservoir of musical ideas have won him high-visibility gigs with the likes of Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, and Mark Newton. In a lifetime devoted to bluegrass, Mike has won innumerable friends and fans while acquiring an encyclopedic capability with all things banjo; tone, repertoire, set-up and repair. Talent of Mike's magnitude is truly rare.

Tad Marks, vocals, fiddle
Tad won his bluegrass spurs by touring with Del McCoury, Lynn Morris, Kate MacKenzie and James King. His playing reveals a grand knowledge of bluegrass, old-time, swing, Celtic and classical music and he can always be counted on for spontaneous, sly musical humor. With four solo discs to his credit, Tad is a prolific composer and an expert violinmaker. Marks may have more danceable rhythm in his bow than a "Soul Train" class reunion.

Elizabeth Day, vocals
Raised in Morehead, Kentucky, and educated in Abilene, Texas, this country girl is the daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter of Kentucky fiddlers. As the "Big Hillbilly's" official good-will ambassador, her searing vocals and warm demeanor make her a genuine crowd pleaser everywhere she goes. If you hear Elizabeth sing only one song it can never be enough.

Bob Perilla, vocals, guitar
Bob was reared in rural Maryland and honed his craft by playing with the Baltimore bands Satyr Hill and Jackstraw, among others. He is a consummate entertainer and an in-demand MC. Perilla is a 'fire & brimstone' rhythm guitarist in the grand tradition of Jimmy Martin and Vernon McIntyre. He has performed with Don Stover, Buzz Busby, Kenny Smith and Al Jones & Frank Necessary. He wrote the song "May's the Man," which "Big Hillbilly Bluegrass" performed on screen in the 2003 Dreamworks movie "Head of State." Bob composed and recorded the musical score for the hit play/TV movie "T-Bone & Weasel."

Craig Hopwood, sound
Craig has over 29 years experience in the world of sound, lighting, concert production and stage & road management. His current associations are with the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival where he has worked for 8 years as Lighting Designer & Stage Production Contractor. He does the recording and is the Live Sound Engineer for Cerridwyn's Coffeehouse in Silver Spring MD. Craig is also a specialist at Live Location Recording, Direct-to-Disc and Digital Multitrack in real-time. When he's not recording other folks, Craig plays the Dobro and the lap steel guitar.

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Watch Past Performances

Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

11/26/09: Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

America's de facto Bluegrass Ambassadors have been entertaining music fans for more than 12 years on three continents with an exciting blend of hard-driving bluegrass along with country, folk, and original material.

Bob Perilla's Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

America's de facto Bluegrass Ambassadors have been entertaining music fans for more than 12 years on three continents with an exciting blend of hard-driving bluegrass along with country, folk, and original material.

Comment, rate, and more...

Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

12/14/08: Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

This group has been entertaining fans for more than 10 years with their original bluegrass, country, and folk music.

Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

This group has been entertaining fans for more than 10 years with their original bluegrass, country, and folk music.

Comment, rate, and more...

Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

12/19/07: Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

The bluegrass band has been entertaining music fans for more than 10 years with its exciting blend of hard-driving bluegrass, country, folk, and original material.

Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

The bluegrass band has been entertaining music fans for more than 10 years with its exciting blend of hard-driving bluegrass, country, folk, and original material.

Comment, rate, and more...

Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

12/27/06: Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

Having entertained music fans for over 10 years, the band continues with its exciting blend of hard-driving bluegrass, country, folk, and original material.

Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass

Having entertained music fans for over 10 years, the band continues with its exciting blend of hard-driving bluegrass, country, folk, and original material.

Comment, rate, and more...

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