Buddy Merriam
celebrates 45 Years in Bluegrass with
Buddy Merriam & Back Roads
1980-2026
IT'S BLUE GRASS TIME!!!
“Virtuoso mandolin playing!” - WKET TV (PBS “Jubilee”)
“Mandolin Master” - Bluegrass Unlimited
***NEW RELEASE!***
Buddy Merriam - 45 Years
20 tracks of Original music all on 1 album!
“The art of bluegrass unfolds over a lifetime spent exploring the stories that can be told through strings” ~Taylor Ackley
Listen
From taking 1st Place in 1982 New York City Band Contest at South Street Seaport to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and the World of Bluegrass shows for the International Bluegrass Music Association
Buddy Merriam and Back Roads have been delighting audiences with the driving sound of traditional Bluegrass for four and a half decades. A close disciple of the great Bill Monroe, Merriam's music provides a continuously fresh take on Bluegrass while remaining deeply rooted in the music's tradition. Important career highlights include:
Performances at The Grand Ole Opry, World of Bluegrass, Grey Fox, Bean Blossom, Kentucky Lakes, Grand Opening of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Museum & Hall of Fame, Tours of Ireland, England & Scotland
Guest appearances with Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys including a performance of Buddy's composition “Monroe Special”
7 CDs released on Lily Pad Records including the all original “Back Roads Mandolin”
Appearances in the bluegrass documentary “Bluegrass Journey, Country Music Television's (CMT) “The Bluegrass Sound” “, PBS's ”Jubilee” & “Farming of the Future” and several soundtracks and other artists recordings.
“Buddy Merriam perfects bluegrass mandolin” - Newsday February 8, 2011
“One might say that becoming a bluegrass virtuoso was simply written in the stars for Buddy Merriam” - Bluegrass Today
“Buddy Merriam has been recognized for decades as among the most authentic practitioners of the mandolin style pioneered by Bill Monroe in the 1940s.” - John Lawless
“… a wonderful Bluegrass Band, that stands for respect for their friends and fans all over the world. I want to thank them for what they've done to help bluegrass music, and I'll always be their friend.” - Bill Monroe, Father of Bluegrass Music
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Buddy Merriam Artist in Residence at Stony Brook University in 2019 with
TAYLOR ACKLEY & THE DEEP ROOTS ENSEMBLE
Witness a great night of collaboration between LI bluegrass legend Buddy Merriam and Stony Brook University teacher and talent Taylor Ackley with his Deep Roots Ensemble! Performing 2 sets of American Roots music, bluegrass and 3 Of Buddy's original works
LONG ISLAND MUSIC HALL OF FAME
Long Island Sound Award for Buddy's OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO LONG ISLANDS MUSICAL HERITAGE
A major award for Buddy Merriam John Lawless | August 24, 2015 | Bluegrass Today
"Buddy Merriam, who has spent the past 39 years performing traditional and original bluegrass music with his band, Back Roads, has been selected by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame as a recipient of their Long Island Sound award, also known as a LISA.
These awards are distributed to musical artists irrespective of genre “for Outstanding Contributions to Long Island’s Musical Heritage.” In many cases, those who have been awarded a LISA have gone on to receive a full induction into the Hall of Fame.
In addition to touring extensively in the US and Europe, Merriam has hosted a popular radio program, Blue Grass Time, this past 27 years on WUSB 90.1 FM in Stony Brook. It airs Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Buddy accepted his LISA on Sunday Sept. 13 during the Fiddle & Folk Festival in Setauket, NY."
Well done, Buddy, and greatly deserved!
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Back Roads Mandolin Vol. 2 Original Compositions
Buddy Merriam's second book of original mandolin compositions, BACK ROADS MANDOLIN Volume Two- 32 Original Compositions, containing all his tunes from his last four recordings along with six new pieces.
BACK ROADS MANDOLIN Volume Two features many of Buddy’s most popular compositions including “Blue Grass Time”- the theme song to his long running popular radio program on WUSB 90.1 fm, “Baldassari”, “Circle of Chiefs”, “Mason’s Restaurant” and tunes written for his family members - “Harmony’s Waltz”, “My Dear Mother’s Waltz”, “DeVine Time” and “Avery Anne’s Reel”. Audio tracks are available as well.
Transcribed by master mandolinist Lou Martin, the book includes notation and TAB along with some photographs from Buddy's private photo collection.
"Celebrating 35 years with his bluegrass band Buddy Merriam & Back Roads he also presents his original music with The Mandolin Experience. Buddy learned bluegrass music and mandolin one to one from the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe. In turn, Buddy has mentored scores of young bluegrass musicians, teaching them “how to play it right.”
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Performing with his bands, hosting “Blue Grass Time” radio, teaching mandolin and composing music Buddy is helping propagate and grow the music that has been his life for over 40 years.
"...Mandolin Master." ~ Bluegrass Unlimited
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CD available
Buddy's latest recording featuring original new instrumentals, original songs by Matt Riley and a special appearance by the Sound Beach Songbird , Kathy DeVine on "In These Hills".
Available for purchase & download on all streaming services or
Send $15 check or money order includes S&H to:
Buddy Merriam PO Box 862 Sound Beach NY 11789
artwork and graphics by Eyeful Power, Raphael DeSoto
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"Buddy Merriam & Back Roads are the real deal. They ... put on a driving bluegrass show that no one I spoke with will soon forget. In addition to being wonderful and easy to work with, exquisite musicianship is the hallmark of this group and I highly recommend them to all venues." ~ Patrick O'Leary, South Country Library, NY
"Buddy Merriam has drawn a wonderful audience to our Discover Music series and our summer concerts in years gone by. His authentic music and
demonstration of "Monroe Style" mandolin music was the highlight of his program in the Discover Music Series at the East Islip Public Library series that we presented with funding from the Bohlsen Foundation. Buddy's superb performance on the mandolin and his coverage of Bill Monroe's tunes along with some of his own compositions completes a program that every audience
loves." ~ Lynda A. Moran, Executive Director, Islip Arts Council
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Past Performances:
The Mandolin Experience at The Patchogue Theater
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Back Roads Mandolin Volume 1 & 2
"These pieces are interesting, some may be difficult, and all are rewarding. I think you will enjoy this book and that it will make you a better mandolinist ~Lou Martin
Hey Buddy,
Thanks so very much for the copies of "Back Roads Mandolin", as well as your latest CD. I can't wait to show this stuff to my kids. The books are beautifully laid out and extremely inviting to students. I am sure that my violinists will find that the mandolin, particularly as you present it, will be fertile ground for exploration. I believe there are lots of fascinating connections between the Classical and Blue Grass worlds. The CD is simply fabulous. Great writing, great playing, great collaboration. It really represents the terrific musician I know you to be. Thanks!
Steve Fayette
North Shore Suzuki School, owner
Shoreham-Wading River HS, orchestra director
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"Buddy Merriam's dynamic, virtuoso mandolin work makes Back Roads a band to be reckoned with." ~Bill Vernon, WXYU-FM, Lynchburg, VA