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!

Kylie Anderson - Mandolin and Vocals

You may not have heard of Kylie Anderson....yet. That's all about to change. She was actually seen and heard performing at ETSU auditions this past Fall by our own Sarah Logan, who immediately called Steve Wilson to tell him about her. Little did the band know that eventually the stars would line up enough to where Kylie's schedule and the band's needs would match and the two would come together in perfect harmony.

Kylie Anderson was born in Oregon and later moved to Utah with her family where she would grow up and follow her love of bluegrass music throughout her high school years. Her parents were very supportive of her musical abilities. Her Dad drove her to lessons and could even be caught listening to bluegrass music on the stereo on family chore days at the house. Kylie has many picking championships to her credit, including 1st place in the 2012 Utah State Mandolin Contest for Mandolin and 1st place in the 2017 Utah State Flat Pick Guitar Championship, just to highlight a couple.

Kylie first attended Utah State University after High School, but later ended up at East Tennessee State University, enrolled in the famed Bluegrass and Old-Time Country Music Program. We are so glad she did.

Audiences will enjoy not only Kylie's crisp, clean mandolin style, but also her vocal as we are excited to add yet another strong singer to the band. Welcome aboard Kylie!