Biography
Formed in 1976 by Ron Thomason, Dry Branch Fire Squad started out as a bluegrass band featuring strong hints of gospel music. Thomason, who is a virtuoso mandolin player and has a rough-edged yet tuneful singing voice, brought into the band John Baker (guitar), Robert Leach (banjo), and John Carpenter (bass). The quartet made a succession of well-received albums during the late 70s, along the way adding singer Mary Jo Leet to the line-up. Over the years the band’s personnel shifted and among those who contributed to its ranks are Mary Jo’s husband, Charlie Leet (bass), Adam McIntosh (guitar), Dan Russell (banjo), Suzanne Thomas and Hazel Dickens (vocals). From the start, the band attracted a devoted following, mainly through their traditional repertoire. They maintained this albeit moving away from being solely a bluegrass group as they increasingly performed a wide range of mountain music. Thomason and his colleagues are clearly...
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