Wilson Banjo Co. - Our Story

Our Story

Steve Wilson - Banjo and Vocals

Steve Wilson started off as most musicians likely did, growing up with a love of playing music with his family. He developed a respect for the sound, look and feel of the instruments themselves. Later in life, he was fortunate to find himself working in Nashville at Gibson, within the Custom Art Shop, designing and building custom art pieces. Many of these were special orders for a long, distinguished list of players. He learned from the best, and this experience would leave an imprint on his life that stayed with him to this day.

While in Nashville, Steve also honed his craft in Bluegrass music, specifically, playing the Banjo, which became his favorite and master instrument. Studying with many of the well-respected teachers in the area, playing countless hours with local bands, and lending his talents in the recording studio from time to time, Bluegrass music was definitely where Steve planned to hang his hat for the long haul.

After moving back to Upstate NY to raise his children closer to their extended family, Steve joined a couple of bands, enjoyed the festival seasons, his friends and did instrument repairs for folks here and there while casually building a custom guitar or banjo along the way. Now that the kids are grown and Steve and his wife, Melanie, have settled back down South in what they see as their “forever home” of South Carolina, he is looking forward to getting back to pickin' the banjo and building instruments on a more than casual level again. Steve has enjoyed playing bluegrass music cutting albums with several bands over the years and looks so forward to a bright future with this strong and professional band both in music and character.

Joey Newton - Guitar and Vocals

Joey Newton was born in Greenville, SC and grew up in a house filled with music. His dad played the guitar but always loved the banjo. He took a few lessons, but then needing a guitar player to pick with him, he started teaching Joey. He was 6 years old then and hasn't stopped playing music since. Joey also plays the banjo and fiddle and loves to sing.

As a teenager and into his twenties, Joey travelled all over the south-east for a total of 17 years with a band call The New Life Singers, based out of his home church. Later, he was also a member of a couple of local Upstate South Carolina bluegrass bands, Silas Creek, Whistlin' Dixie and most recently with a band called Slik Nickel for the last 4 years.

We are privileged to have Joey playing and singing with us, he is super talented and always so much fun to be around!

Sarah Logan - Fiddle and Vocals

Sarah Logan was born and raised in Maine and has been playing the fiddle and singing since she was 5 years old. She currently goes to ETSU (East Tennessee State University) and majors in their bluegrass program. Her major influences include Alison Krauss, Adam Steffey, Jerry Douglas and Stuart Duncan.

When home in Maine, Sarah plays with her Dad's band, Jerks of Grass. Sarah says her Dad is the one who got her started playing fiddle and bluegrass music, as well as kept her playing. "There surprisingly is a lot of bluegrass here in Maine and I grew up in the heart of it all," says Sarah. Her Dad plays the banjo, guitar, and dobro and has been around the music most of his life, growing up in the Charlottesville, VA bluegrass scene. Not long ago, Sarah was able to play a couple of songs with the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band when they opened up for the Earls of Leicester. Another highlight was getting to play on stage with Tim O'Brien at a festival in Maine.

Wilson Banjo Co. is looking forward to picking with Sarah and being a part of what we're sure is going to be a very bright musical future for her!

Darryl Lesh - Resonator Guitar and Vocals

Darryl Lesh grew up in the Fingerlakes Region of New York State listening to traditional bluegrass music. You could say it was in his blood as his Father and Brother were both fine Bluegrass musicians as well. Darryl started out playing guitar, but some years later attended a Jerry Douglas show and had acquired his first Dobro within a week following. Darryl is also a fantastic harmony singer and songwriter. Darryl and Steve played in a couple of different bands together when they both lived in NYS and have known each other for many years. We are so pleased that Darryl and wife, Tammy, have recently relocated to South Carolina making it possible for he and Steve to resume playing music together.

Michael "Porkchop" Branch

"Porkchop" is an original Spirit, AKA, he was our awesome bassman on the SPIRITS IN THE HILLS album and no stranger to Wilson Banjo Co. He has played with the band quite a bit over the last couple of years and we are beyond thrilled to have him on board with us. Porkchop is a man of many talents. Not only is he the best bass player around, he is also the Operations Manager at 92.1 WLHR Lake Hartwell Radio. He and his wife, Connie, live in the Upstate of SC and he takes full advantage of his beautiful surroundings. A great hunter and fisherman, we love to see the pictures of his bounty from a day in the woods or on the water. Porkchop is embedded in his music community, in various genres, and plays in some local bands too and is also a multi-instrumentalist. If you haven't listened to our album yet, once you do, you will know exactly why we are so happy to have Porkchop playing with the band!