Welcome

The Bluegrass Gentlemen, with their acoustically driven sound, have their roots in the upstate area of South Carolina. The Ensemble is comprised of four individuals with a deep passion for delivering a mix of traditional, contemporary and gospel bluegrass, blended with a little classic country. The harmony in these voices is second to none.

Jeff Barnett, leader and founding member of The Bluegrass Gentlemen is somewhat of an ambassador of preserving and promoting Bluegrass Music in the upstate of SC. He has been honing his skills of playing and singing bluegrass/gospel music and entertaining audiences across the southeast for the past decade. Jeff was also a founding member of a local group, Cane Creek, from Anderson, with whom he played upright bass. Jeff sings lead and plays a driving rhythm guitar. He draws his singing style from the the likes of Tony Rice, David Parmley, Jimmy Martin, Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Waller , and many other bluegrass greats. Jeff was born and raised in Greenville, SC where he makes his home.

Joey Newton is an accomplished seasoned musician who plays banjo and guitar, sings lead, baritone and tenor. He is also developing his skills on the fiddle to add to the band. Joey started playing violin at an early age; by age 14 he had moved on to the guitar and eventually to the banjo. At 16, Joey joined a family bluegrass gospel group, New Life, and performed for churches across the US for 24 years. Joey brings an exciting new sound to The Bluegrass Gentlemen with his style of singing and musicianship. Joey is originally from Greenville, SC and now makes his home in Pickens County on the outskirts of Liberty, S.C.

Jackie Wooten plays upright bass, sings lead, baritone, tenor, and bass. He is one of the finest and most diverse harmony singers around. Jackie was raised in a musical family and having played bluegrass for nearly 40 years, he has become a veteran of the local bluegrass scene in S. C. In the mid 80's, Jackie was a member of Skyline Bluegrass Express, a group of local musicians who entertained audiences at bluegrass shows and festivals across the southeast. He also played the great Grand Ol Opry, invited by none other than the father of Bluegrass music, Mr Bill Monroe. Jackie is also a fine mandolin player who has written and recorded several songs. He is from Anderson County, and now makes his home in Pendleton, S.C.