Daniel Grindstaff Releases New Single Honoring Rod Stewart

Daniel Grindstaff has released an instrumental track that pays homage to Rod Stewart’s legacy and was first heard on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction program. Three Arrows is scheduled for inclusion in Bonfire Music’s Heroes & Friends project.

East Tennessee native Marty Raybon boasts an impressive career, having graced the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and performing at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival alongside Jim, Jesse, and Marty McReynolds and Marty Raybon. Now living in Elizabethton TN where he runs an insurance agency.

Early Life and Education

Jeanette Ferguson Grindstaff was born September 27th 1936 in Old Fort, North Carolina to James L. and Victoria Patterson Ferguson and raised in McDowell County where she attended schools and churches in her community. A member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church she worked as both Sunday school teacher and youth director during this time.

Grindstaff taught and directed the basic speech course at his university, with research that focused on rhetorical studies such as identity construction and queer theory. Most recently, his research examined how legal discourse surrounding same-sex marriages may inhibit or enable political emancipation and social justice claims.

Three Arrows is an upbeat instrumental single recording from Tennessee native Adam Holcomb that fits seamlessly onto modern bluegrass playlists. It draws heavily upon Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe and Sonny Osborne as influences while also raising funds for FRIENDS — an organization providing assistance for families of children living with Down syndrome. A portion of proceeds from Three Arrows will benefit FRIENDS as part of its proceeds are going directly back into supporting families who care for those affected by Down syndrome.

Professional Career

Daniel Grindstaff is an internationally acclaimed banjo player and has graced the Grand Ole Opry stage on several occasions, performing also at Smithsonian Folklife Festival and CMA Music Fest; also making television appearances including Fox News morning show Fox & Friends.

Grindstaff hails from East Tennessee and has performed with some of bluegrass, acoustic, and country music’s premier artists; touring and recording with such groups as David Peterson & 1946; Jim & Jesse McReynolds; Osborne Brothers; David Davis and the Warrior River Boys; Rhonda Vincent; Marty Raybon and Full Circle are just a few examples.

Grindstaff currently tours with Merle Monroe, an all-star band featuring Tim Raybon, Eli Johnston and Derek Deakins – as well as operating a family-owned Farm Bureau insurance agency in Elizabethton.

Achievement and Honors

Grindstaff has performed across North America and Canada with many of the top bluegrass, acoustic, and country artists in each genre imaginable, such as numerous appearances at national music venues like Grand Ole Opry or Fox News Morning show Fox & Friends in Nashville or numerous live performances and studio recordings. He has even won two Grammy awards during this career span!

Grindstaff has published extensively on topics of communication and rhetoric, such as writing a book on political discourses surrounding gay identity construction/reconstruction as well as articles focusing on using argumentation theory to analyze social justice rhetoric. His efforts in these areas earned him multiple top paper awards from Lesbian/Gay Communication Studies division of NCA as well as second place honors in Kenneth Burke Prize in Rhetoric competitions.

Personal Life

Grindstaff has graced the Grand Ole Opry stage numerous times and performed all over the globe, touring and recording with Jim & Jesse, The Osborne Brothers, Marty Raybon and other internationally acclaimed musicians.

Grindstaff has two sons with whom he shares a home. When free time allows, he enjoys playing golf and attending basketball games. Recently retired from music to focus on family life and other interests.

Daniel Grindstaff first began touring with Marty Raybon in 2006 and for five years was an integral member of both his band and studio recordings. Since this past April he and brother Tim have formed Merle Monroe and their first release is an instrumental version of Rod Stewart’s classic song with a Bluegrass flair called Three Arrows; proceeds from which will benefit FRIENDS (an organization dedicated to Down Syndrome support) that Daniel is particularly fond of supporting.

Net Worth

Daniel Grindstaff is an accomplished musician widely considered one of the premier banjo players today. Born and raised in Elizabethton, East Tennessee, Daniel has traveled throughout North America performing with some of the top bluegrass and acoustic acts like Jim & Jesse McReynolds of Osborne Brothers fame.

He currently tours with Marty Raybon and Merle Monroe (which features his brother Tim). Although he has an impressive musical resume, these days he prefers being a family man and operating an insurance agency in Elizabethton.