Life’s Mysteries is the first nationally distributed release for the Charlottesville, Virginia-based East Coast Bluegrass Band. Though their name will most likely be new to most bluegrass fans, the group has been quietly honing their talents for a long time. They formed in 1985 for the purpose of entering a regional band contest. They didn’t even have a name and hastily chose East Coast Bluegrass Band. They won the contest (and quite a few more since) and the name stuck! With thirteen years of performance activity under their belts, they have achieved a professional and cohesive sound that is usually reserved for performers of headliner status. Life’s Mysteries ably displays the band’s approach to music: well-crafted original material blended with deftly chosen tunes from classic bluegrass and country traditions. Counted among their many fans was Dave Thomas, the mild-mannered CEO of the Wendy’s food chain.

East Coast Bluegrass Band (ECBB) is definitely a collaborative, group effort. The band consists of: Mike Andes / vocals and mandolin. He’s a founding band member and is a Virginia state mandolin champion. As a budding songwriter, he contributed four new tunes to this project. Darin Lawrence / vocals, rhythm and lead guitar. He is steeped in the traditions of the bluegrass masters and comes by his music honestly; his father played professionally in several string bands in the 1940s. Darin served for a number of years as a master luthier for Stelling Banjos. Frankie Hawkins / vocals, rhythm and lead guitar. A life-long listener to bluegrass, Frankie has the keen ability to turn out innovative and awe-inspiring leads with his guitar. He also supplies “just the right parts” to the group’s trios and quartets. Buster Sexton / bass vocals, banjo and dobro. A native of southwest Virginia, Buster spent much time in the DC area in the company of groups such as the Country Gentlemen and the Seldom Scene. Though well versed on both banjo and dobro, Buster gets little opportunity to stretch out on dobro; the group misses his phenomenal banjo playing when he does! Bill Ledbetter / acoustic bass and sound technician. Bill’s first professional job was with ECBB. A long-time fan of the bluegrass, the mathematics of music inspired him to learn to play. A quick study, Bill was in his first jam session literally the day after deciding to learn to play bass. Chris Sexton / fiddle. Trained as a violin player, Chris is a graduate of the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. Also a quick learner, he is applying his classical training to the art of bluegrass fiddle. The band is force-feeding him a steady diet of Kenny Baker and Curly Ray Cline music.