Wilson Banjo Co.

Steve Wilson’s musical journey began like many others — surrounded by family, falling in love with the joy of making music. But for Steve, the passion ran deeper. He developed a reverence not just for the sound, but for the instruments themselves — their look, their feel, and the craftsmanship behind them. That reverence would ultimately shape his career and define his artistry.
Early on, Steve found himself in the heart of Music City, Nashville, TN, working at the renowned Gibson Custom Art Shop. There, he designed and built custom art instruments for a distinguished roster of players. The experience left an indelible mark — Steve learned from some of the very best, refining his skills as both a craftsman and a musician.
While in Nashville, Steve also deepened his connection to Bluegrass music, focusing his talents on the banjo — the instrument that would become his lifelong signature. He studied with revered banjo masters, played tirelessly with local bands, and lent his talents in the studio. Bluegrass wasn’t just a genre — it became home.
Later, Steve returned to Upstate New York to raise his children close to family, where he stayed active in the local music scene: performing, teaching lessons, repairing instruments, and building custom guitars and banjos. When the time came, he and his wife Melanie relocated to their “forever home” in South Carolina. There, he returned to instrument building with renewed energy and vision.
Steve’s banjos — known for their custom-designed inlays, each hand-cut with a jeweler’s saw — began attracting attention. Soon, Wilson Custom Banjos were being played by top-tier artists like Dale Perry (Fast Track), Gena Britt (Sister Sadie), and Tony Wray (Tyminski). His signature models, The Warrior and The Guardian (a no tone ring banjo), solidified his reputation as a respected luthier.
In 2014, Steve recorded a home-studio EP, The Guardian, to showcase the sound of his banjos. With contributions from musician friends in the Westminster, SC area, the EP gained radio traction and inspired Steve to launch his band, Wilson Banjo Co. Their debut full-length album, Spirits in the Hills, was released in 2017 on Bonfire Records, a sister label to Pinecastle Records.
At the same time, Steve took on a major role as Lead Recording Engineer and Producer at Bonfire Recording Studio. There, he engineered projects for artists including Dale Ann Bradley, Flashback, Gena Britt, Shawn Lane & Richard Bennett, The King James Boys, and many others — further cementing his impact on the modern bluegrass sound.
Steve’s career as a touring musician took off, joining full-time with Dale Ann Bradley and later Deeper Shade of Blue. He also began writing lyrics — a new chapter after years of composing instrumentals. In 2021, he released Six Degrees of Separation on Pinecastle Records. The album was a celebration of Steve’s vast musical network — featuring 30 collaborators he’d worked with in the studio, on stage, or in the shop. It received widespread acclaim, remaining in the Top 15 on the Roots Music Contemporary Album Chart for nearly two years, and producing the #1 hit “Issaqueena.” The album earned multiple nominations from the Upstate Music Awards and made the second ballot for three IBMA Award categories, including Album of the Year.
In 2024, the band released Memory Lane on Pinecastle Records — their most successful album to date. It held the #1 spot on the Roots Music Report Bluegrass and Contemporary Album Charts for five consecutive weeks, with multiple singles in rotation on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction. Featuring standout musicians including Sarah Logan (lead vocals, fiddle), Glen Crain (resophonic guitar), Clay Hess (guitar), Deanie Richardson (fiddle), Tony Wray (guitar), and many more, the album showcased Wilson Banjo Co.’s creative versatility and musical depth.
With no desire to be boxed into a specific sound, Steve sums up the band’s mission clearly:
“We’re all about the song. If it moves us, and we think we can make it special, we go for it.”
That spirit led to the 2025 release of Lonely As It Gets — a short-form project that once again raced to the top of the Roots Music charts. Singles like “If You Don’t Climb The Mountain” continue to reach national and international audiences via radio, streaming, and SiriusXM.
Currently, Wilson Banjo Co. is hard at work on a new full length Pinecastle Records album, featuring a mix of new special guests and familiar collaborators from past projects. Whether through custom craftsmanship, chart-topping recordings, or meaningful musical connections, Steve Wilson continues to push the boundaries of tradition — forging a sound and legacy uniquely his own.