Bill Bynum - PIcks Guitar, Sings, Makes Stuff Happen
Although a Detroit native, Bill’s musical roots are in the South. His parents migrated from Black Oak, Arkansas to work in Detroit’s steel industry in the 1940s, bringing—like many others—their love for bluegrass and country music. Bill grew up listening to artists like Johnny Cash and Buck Owens on Detroit’s country radio station, “The Big D.”
Detroit rock drove Bill’s early musical career. But in 1999, Bill turned on the radio and heard “Yours Forever Blue” by Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band. From that moment on he found himself with a “nonstop desire to hear and play those songs.”
Soon he was writing them too. Bill is a first-prize winner in the Metro Detroit Songwriting Showcase with his song “Lovin’ You.” He has collaborated with bluegrass legend Pete Goble, an International Bluegrass Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Bill lives for the joy of entertaining his audience. A true showman!
Chuck Anderson - Plays Bass, Does Science
Chuck Anderson picked up the double bass in 2001 at the urging of a friend who thought there were too many guitarists at bluegrass jams. Since then, Chuck has played everything from jazz standards to old-time fiddle tune music. The Minnesota native was a sound man at The Ark in Ann Arbor, MI, and has a background in physics. When the band needs someone to troubleshoot the PA or divvy up the tab, they turn to him.
Mary Seelhorst - Fiddles, Sings, Drives Fast
Mary Seelhorst is a powerful and intuitive fiddler from the hills of Athens, Ohio. Not only can Mary play with the best, but she's also a fine vocalist, performing with Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan-based bands for thirty years. She’s also a writer and photographer, shooting the photos for the band’s new CD. She wrote for Popular Mechanics for seven years, so don’t count her out on Jeopardy.
John Lang - Plays Steel Guitar, with a Country Haircut
John's interest in music began around age 10. His professional music career began as the bass player with the Detroit-based pop group, Gallery. While working with Gallery, John became familiar with the pedal steel guitar, which was an important part of the band's sound.
Deciding that country music was his calling, John began playing pedal steel in the late 1970's, and performed with several West Coast artists while living in Southern California for over 20 years.
After re-locating to Michigan in 2002, John performed and recorded with a wide variety of country acts in Southeast Michigan. He now brings his timeless, country-style haircut and pedal friendly loafers to Bill Bynum & Company's lineup. You can spot John at a Bill Bynum show, exhibiting tireless patience answering the never-ending question, "What is THAT instrument"?