Riley Baugus grew up In the Blue Ridge of Allegheny County North Carolina with a family and in a community of Old-Time music fanatics. Though when he was ready to start playing banjo, his family wasn't in a spot to buy him one, he and his dad were able to drum up some DIY instructions from the Foxfire book series and make one of their own.

Riley then became entrenched in what he found to be the soul of old time music, which are the vast array of stories told by the songs.

While Riley's discography features only two solo endeavors playing banjo, he has collaborated and contributed both as player and vocalist to more than 20 other recordings, making guest appearances on albums by the likes of Willie Nelson, Allison Krauss and Robert Plant

In the holler where John Haywood grew up in Floyd County, KY, he was surrounded by family, aunts and uncles and mostly older boy cousins who worked out their testosterone on sports and roughhousing. John found art, in the form of painting and drawing. Heavy metal music grabbed the attention of his middle school brain, and his parents got him a guitar at age 12. John's journey is a fascinating one, especially what brought him to the banjo and then back to the mountains, in Knott County where he lives now with his wife and kids and also owns and operates a Tattoo shop in Whitesburg.

Riley Baugus and John Haywood know each other, have played together, and also know the history of their instruments and the tunes they play and sing. We can't wait to have them both here to share their music with you. That's the first program of Red Barn Radio's 21st Season.