Not Too Bad Bluegrass Band

Bloomington, Indiana is well documented as one of the country’s best places for a rich variety of music. The Not Too Bad Bluegrass Band shares this heritage and continues to provide local audiences with quality Bluegrass music.

The NTBBB began in 1987 playing local venues. Original members included: Jeff White (who went on to play with superstars like Alison Krauss and Vince Gill and currently has his own blossoming bluegrass career), singer/songwriter Bob Lucas (John Mellencamp's fiddler), Lisa Germano, and bass player Rick Ferguson. Brian Lappin on banjo and mandolin player Doug Harden are the band’s remaining original members.

Brian Lappin has traveled a long and varied musical road. From playing and recording with bluegrass legends Jimmy Martin and Earl Taylor to playing bass with local icons as the Ragin’ Texans and The Crawdads, Brian has a wealth of musical influences. His love for bluegrass was formed in the early 60’s when he was fortunate enough to attend legendary folk and bluegrass festivals all over the country. The 70’s found Brian and Bob Lucas in the Goldrush band, a popular Colorado bluegrass variety band. His tasteful banjo playing reflects the solid influences of Earle Scruggs and J.D. Crowe.

Doug Harden has played mandolin since 1969. His early years were spent at the old Bean Blossom Jamboree barn. Along with his two brothers and future brother-in-law, they played festivals all over the Midwest as the Brown County Band. Doug has also spent time in his father-in-law’s band, bluegrass legend Bryant Wilson and the original Kentucky Ramblers. In 1983, he helped form the widely acclaimed bluegrass band, Pine Mountain and went on to play all over the country. They had a large following and played such venues as the Grand Ol’ Opry and Country Music’s Fan Fair.

Greg Norman started playing country music as a youngster. In 1992, after being invited to a bluegrass jam session near his home in Heltonville, he was hooked. The following year he became part of the Off the Line bluegrass band. A few years later, he joined the award winning singer/songwriter Janne Henshaw’s band along with David Steele, Jason Wilber and Doug Harden.

Kent Todd is an extremely talented musician and singer. Trained in classical violin, it doesn’t seem to have impaired his fiddle playing at all! His father Scott, also a bluegrass musician, has steered him on the right path. An accomplished guitar player and song writer, Kent has played with Bill Grant and Dehila Belle, fiddle great Michael Cleveland and the Blue Hollow Band, Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers and with the Troubled Waters Band.

Brady Stogdill is the youngest member of the NTBBB. A member of the original IBMA’s Young Acoustic All Stars, Brady plays the guitar like a seasoned veteran. His father Dean was a great banjo player and Brady has learned to play almost anything with strings on it.

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10/13/10: Not Too Bad Bluegrass Band

The group from Indiana, some of whose past members have gone on to play with Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, and John Mellencamp, perform some of their favorite bluegrass tunes and original songs. Part of Homegrown: The Music of America.

Not Too Bad Bluegrass Band

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Not Too Bad Bluegrass Band

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