Buddy Merriam

Born November 17, 1978, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  Grew up most of his early years in a Lutheran church where his father was the Minister.  His mother was a Registered Nurse.  Brought up by his father on big band jazz and his mother on classic country but still loved the harmonies from church.  His first experience with bluegrass from memory was seeing a bluegrass band performing at a shopping mall.  As the Waylon Jennings lyric goes he "got his first guitar when he was 14."

 He learned chords and theory from Ralph Tobias at a small music shop outside of Reading, PA.  Eventually he moved to Long Island for college.  After taking a few years off of music he started working at a restaurant - Shandon Court in East Islip, NY.  Listening to the live bands every night got him interested again in performing.  He started playing guitar and singing again and honing his craft.  

10 years later Buddy Merriam asked if he would be interested in joining his bluegrass band - playing upright bass - something he had done jamming with some friends a couple times.  Jumping at the chance he bought a 1937 blonde Kay upright and fell in love.  

He is also an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church and has performed multiple weddings.  Studying bluegrass bass and upright bass in general his influences include:  Barry Bales, David Spicher, Mike Bubb, Travis Book, Willie Dixon, Larry Taylor, Jack Bruce, Marshall Grant and Tony Palumbo.  

He finds performing with Buddy's band inspiring.  "The guys in the band are nothing but top-notch musicians and the kindest people."  In nothing less than 4 months of being in the band he's already has radio play for a song that he wrote and finds that very humbling.  And he's looking forward to nothing but great things for the group.  "Thank you Buddy!"

Born in Smithtown New York in 1971 and raised in Setauket New York. Music was always being played around the house as far as can be remembered. His oldest brother had guitars around the house so the learning process started around the age of 10. Beau developed his own style of guitar however through the years of practice on acoustic guitar the influences of the early pioneers of flatpicking and modern players alike are presented in the delivery of the music.

Nicole bring her powerful voice to the band this season. 

Adam Becherer is a Long Island based multi-instrumentalist who has been playing mandolin & fiddle on and off for the past 30 years. He was introduced to Bluegrass and Old Time music at an early age while watching his father’s band compete at bluegrass festivals at South Street Seaport in New York City in the 1970’s. He currently plays fiddle with Buddy Merriam and Back Roads, and mandolin and fiddle with banjo player & singer, Maria Fairchild.  He is an active member of the Grafton Street Irish Sessions that meet at various venues around Long Island, and when time permits he attends the Eastern Long Island Old Time Jam