Wayne Benson

IIIrd Tyme Out won seven consecutive International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards for ‘Vocal Group of the Year’ (1994-2000).

Benson recorded Mandolin Chronicles with Alan Bibey in 2013, an album of mandolin duets. Supporting artists included Ron Stewart (banjo, fiddle), Wyatt Rice (guitar), and Harold Nixon (bass).

In 2006, Benson performed with the Wreckers, a duo featuring Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp. Assisting with their publicity tour, he appeared on The Tonight Show, CBS This Morning, The Late Late Show, and other shows.

In 2004, Benson released Wayne Benson - A Mandolin Anthology, a music instruction DVD.

In 2003, Benson released his solo album An Instrumental Anthology on Pinecastle Records. The album featured 12 original compositions, and guests included Vestal, Cowan, Aubrey Haynie, Rob Ickes, Mark Schatz, Ron Stewart, and Jim Van Cleve.

As part of their Artist Signature Series, Gibson issued the Wayne Benson Signature mandolin in 2003, based on the F-5 scroll body design. Only 50 we're made available.

Benson earned the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) Mandolin Player of the Year award for five consecutive years (1999-2003).

In 1993, Benson joined the band Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out. Benson left IIIrd Tyme Out in 2004 to play with the John Cowan Band, recording two albums with them. In 2007, Benson returned to IIIrd Tyme Out and has remained with them since. Besides Moore and Benson, the current lineup includes Nathan Aldridge (fiddle), Keith McKinnon (banjo), and Dustin Pyrtle (bass).

In 1989, Scott Vestal invited Benson to join the band Livewire with Ernie Sykes (bass) and Robert Hale (guitar). Benson played with Livewire for three years, recording one album Wired in 1990 on Rounder Records. Benson also participated when Livewire reunited in 1999 for one show.