Caroline Owens is a 2X IBMA nominated Bluegrass Vocalist and recording artist for Skyline Records of Nashville, TN. She has performed alongside many of the music industry's most accomplished artists such as: Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, Suzanne Cox, The Isaacs, Larry Gatlin, Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson, The Malpass Brothers, Darin & Brooke Aldridge and many others.
Caroline's vocal abilities, paired with her down home southern charm, have received critical acclaim from some of the music industry's most accomplished performers, and have enabled her to become one of the most successful, young vocalists in the Bluegrass genre.
"I feel very fortunate to have received the opportunities that have passed my way, and even to those that have passed me by. I am certain that God works all things to the good of those who love Him, and I know that His plans are far greater than mine. I am eternally grateful to Him for the gift of music, and to the wonderful mentors and friends that I have met therein. May all glory, honor, and praise go to Him; He is the reason that I sing."
Spencer Strickland, grew up in a family steeped in music from Lambsburg, VA. His mother sang, and father played guitar in a family gospel band that performed at churches and community events.
Since his first mandolin lesson, Strickland has gone on to win prestigious awardssuch as 1st place mandolin in 2004 and 2008 at the world's largest Old Fiddlers'
Convention held in Galax, VA. 1st place in the 2005 Merle Watson Mandolin Championship held at MerleFest, tthe "Best All Around Performer" award at the
2004 Galax Old Fiddlers' Convention, and 1st place guitar in 2019 at the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention.
In the fall of 2004, Spencer began an apprenticeship through the Virginia Folklife Program with guitar and mandolin builder, Gerald Anderson, who was taught the
craft of "lutherie" under the famous instrument maker Wayne Henderson.
Spencer now works for himself under the name of "Strickland String Instruments", and has built over 88 guitars, 27 mandolins, and assisted Gerald Anderson in the making of over 100 instruments. Strickland is also a lead instructor at the Wayne C Henderson School of Appalachian Arts in Marion, VA where he helps teach three guitar building classes per year, and has assisted students in the making of over 78 guitars in the Gerald Anderson Lutherie Studio.
He has toured with the likes of The Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, The Church Sisters, The Gibson Brothers, and many more.
Strickland was featured on the 2015 album "Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited", along with featured artists: Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, Steve Martin, Marty Stuart, and
many others.
To date, Spencer has opened his case to perform as far from his SW Virginia home as Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, Wales, Canada, France and many other venues in nearly every state across the USA, including the Historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.
Chase Bennett got a rather late start to the bluegrass scene, starting at the age of 17. He picked up the banjo and within a day was able to play a couple of gospel songs. His family can tell you that it was like something had clicked, and they knew he had found his missing piece. Since then, he has quickly developed into a very skilled, hard driving banjo picker. With his inspiration coming from pickers like Jason Davis, Justin Jenkins, and Ron Stewart, he has blended theirs into a style all his own. You would never know he has been playing for only 6 years. He accredits his success and talents to none other than his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Without God, I am nothing and I will do my best to share the gospel and sing (pick) his praises everywhere I go.” He got his start in a Bluegrass Gospel group called New Hope. He then joined a gospel group out of Madison County, NC called Middle Cross, in which he is still a member of today. He is excited for the opportunities he has picking with Caroline and the band, and he looks forward to all the bluegrass music he will get to play and enjoy in the future.