The North Carolina-based Steep Canyon Rangers are Mike Guggino (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Woody Platt (guitar), Nicky Sanders (fiddle) and Graham Sharp (banjo). The group first formed during their college days at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The band is committed to roots music performing with fierce instrumental prowess, but also providing deeply moving songwriting and harmonies. The band infuses traditional bluegrass with contemporary themes and arrangements.
In 2010 the Steep Canyon Rangers released “Deep in the Shade.” The following year, The Steep Canyon Rangers released its first collaborative record with comedian and banjo player Steve Martin.
Nobody Knows You released April 1, 2012 is the seventh album from group and their Rounder Records debut. It was named Best Bluegrass Album at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards held February 10th 2013 in Los Angeles.
Further collaborations with Steve Martin continued in 2014 and 2017.
In 2019, Steep Canyon Rangers recorded an album at MerleFest, the leading American roots music festival in the USA. Throughout eight songs, Steep Canyon Rangers performed across North Carolina musical history – recreating the work of cross-generational North Carolina icons like Elizabeth Cotten, Doc Watson, Ben E King and James Taylor in their own distinctive style. The live album was ‘North Carolina Songbook’ (Yep Roc Records).
On ‘North Carolina Songbook,’ one of the Rangers’ bravest covers is a take on Thelonious Monk’s “Blue Monk” where they swapped Monks grand piano and tenor sax for banjo and mandolin. As the band explained it on stage at MerleFest, “we’re not sure if Bill Monroe and Thelonious Monk ever met on the road, but if they did, it might’ve sounded like this.”
In April 2022, guitarist and vocalist Woody Platt announced his departure after 25 years.
Discography:
Old Dreams and New Dreams (Steep Canyon Music 2001)
Mr. Taylor’s New Home (Bonfire Records 2002)
The Steep Canyon Rangers (Rebel Records 2004)
One Dime at a Time (Rebel Records 2005)
Lovin’ Pretty Women (Rebel Records 2007)
Deep in the Shade (Rebel Records 2009)
Rare Bird Alert with Steve Martin (Rounder Records 2011)
Nobody Knows You (Rounder Records 2012)
Tell The Ones I Love (Rounder Records, 2013)
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, featuring Edie Brickell Live (Rounder Records, 2014)
Radio (Rounder Records, 2015)
The Long-Awaited Album, with Steve Martin (Rounder Records, 2017)
North Carolina Songbook (Yep Roc Records, 2019)
Be Still Moses (Yep Roc Records, 2020)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.