Born in
Bowling Green, Kentucky, Bush was exposed to country and bluegrass music at an early age through his father, Charlie's, record collection, and later by the
Flatt & Scruggs television show. Buying his first mandolin at the age of 11, his musical interest was further piqued when he attended the inaugural Roanoke, VA Bluegrass Festival in 1965. As a teen, Bush took first place three times in the junior division of the National Oldtime Fiddler's Contest in Weiser, ID. He joined guitarist and vocalist Wayne Stewart, his mentor and music teacher during Sam's teen years, and banjoist
Alan Munde (later of Country Gazette) and the three recorded an instrumental album, ''Poor Richard's Almanac'', in 1969. In the spring of 1970, Bush attended the Fiddlers Convention at
Union Grove, NC, and was inspired by the rock-flavored
progressive bluegrass of the New Deal String Band. Later that year, he moved to Louisville and joined the Bluegrass Alliance. In the fall of 1971, the band dissolved and reformed as the
New Grass Revival. The New Grass Revival went through numerous personnel changes, with Bush remaining as the sole original member. Bassist and vocalist
John Cowan joined in 1974, with
banjo ace
Béla Fleck and acoustic guitarist
Pat Flynn being enlisted in 1981. From 1979 through 1981, the group toured with
Leon Russell, opening the shows and backing Russell during his headlining set. Beginning in 1980, Bush and Cowan periodically jammed with the Nashville-based Duckbutter Blues Band, whose other members were blues guitarist Kenny Lee, drummer Jeff Jones, and bassist Byron House. Bush recorded his debut solo album,
Late as Usual, four years later. In 1989, Bush and Fleck joined
Mark O'Connor,
Jerry Douglas, and
Edgar Meyer in an all-star bluegrass band,
Strength in Numbers, at the
Telluride Bluegrass Festival in
Colorado. When the New Grass Revival dissolved in 1989, Bush joined
Emmylou Harris' Nash Ramblers, touring and recording with Harris for the next five years. In 1995, Bush worked as a sideman with
Lyle Lovett and Bela Fleck's
Flecktones. He formed his own band, featuring Cowan and ex-Nash Ramblers Jon Randall and Larry Atamanuick, shortly before recording his second solo album,
Glamour & Grits, in 1996. He released his next album, ''Howlin' at the Moon'', in 1998, with many of the same players and special guests, including Harris, Fleck and
J. D. Crowe. In the winter of 1997, Bush and the New Grass Revival reunited for an appearance on
Late Night with Conan O'Brien as the backup band for
Garth Brooks. On March 28, 1998, Bush's hometown of
Bowling Green, KY, honored him with a special "Sam Bush Day" celebration. Following ''Howlin' at the Moon
in 1998, he released Ice Caps: Peaks of Telluride in 2000'', which was a live recording. In 2004, Randall left Bush's band and
Brad Davis took over harmony vocals and guitar duties. In 2006, Bush released
Laps in Seven. The release was significant because it marked the return of the
banjo to Bush's recordings, played by
Scott Vestal. The guitarist, Keith Sewell, performed on the recording, but shortly after took a job with the
Dixie Chicks. Bush sought a new guitarist for his recordings and road band and found
Stephen Mougin. In 2007, Bush released his first
live concert DVD, titled
On The Road. 2007 also marked the first time he had been chosen to host the
International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. Bush contributed to two bluegrass
tribute albums to the British
Progressive Rock band
the Moody Blues – 2004's
Moody Bluegrass: A Nashville Tribute to the Moody Blues, and 2011's
Moody Bluegrass TWO...Much Love. Bush provided the lead vocal for the
Ray Thomas song "Nice To Be Here" on the latter album. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee. ==Awards and honors==