For The Outlaws, it’s always been about the music. For more than 40 years, the Southern Rock legends celebrated triumphs and endured tragedies to remain one of the most influential and best-loved bands of the genre. Today, The Outlaws have returned with new music, new focus and an uncompromising new mission: It’s about a band of brothers bound together by history, harmony and the road. It’s about a group that respects its own legacy while refusing to be defined by its past. But most of all, it’s about pride.

It’s About Pride was also the title of the band’s acclaimed 2012 album, universally hailed as their victorious comeback. “Because The Outlaws had been out of the public eye for so long, it was almost like starting over,” explains founding singer/songwriter/guitarist Henry Paul. “But because of the band’s history, we dig deeper, write better, perform stronger. Everything we do is to reinforce the notion that The Outlaws still matter, and that Southern Rock will always matter. It’s a message we’re proud to bring into the 21^st century.”

History lesson: Formed in Tampa in 1972, The Outlaws – known for their triple-guitar rock attack and three-part country harmonies. The Outlaws earned a formidable reputation as an incendiary live act touring with friends The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band and The Charlie Daniels Band as well as The Doobie Brothers, The Who, Eagles and The Rolling Stones

Along with founding member Paul, the band features several of Southern Rock’s most respected players: Keyboardist/vocalist Dave Robbins is a co-founding member of Blackhawk and has written hits for artists that include Restless Heart, Kenny Rogers and Eric Clapton. Longtime bassist/vocalist Randy Threet has performed with Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis and Blackhawk, and is familiar to audiences from USA Network’s ‘Nashville Star’. Lead guitarist Jimmy Dormire has played to millions with Confederate Railroad, Colonel Bruce Hampton, and The Luke Wheeler Band on the TV series Nashville. Drummer Michael Grando – who replaces the band’s retired/beloved co-founder Monte Yoho – has powered the beat for artists that include Joe Diffie, Jason Aldean and Chris Knight. And vocalist/co-guitarist Jeff Aulich brings new fire to the band’s harmony arrangements and six-string pyrotechnics. The Outlaws have not only re-emerged as what fans now call ‘Southern Rock’s Last Band Standing’, but as a dedicated band of brothers who still write, play and perform with the skill, grit and fire of acts a fraction of their age.

Henry, Dave, Randy, Jimmy, Michael, and Jeff, it’s also about a band of brothers who love playing their own brand of rock, and who 40+ years ago first got the chance to share it with the world.

For The Outlaws, it’s still about the music. And now more than ever, it’s about pride.

Fredonia Bluegrass

Kim grew up in Palmer, Tennessee. Kim’s mother and her siblings were always singing in churches around the local area. Gospel and classic country music was always a part of her childhood memories. It wasn’t until she was in her early 20’s that she started going to bluegrass festivals and found herself amazed at the lonesome sound and talent of the music and musicians. From that point on she found the music she loved to sing and eventually play. Kim started playing upright bass around 2002. Kim started playing with her husband Brian Price and Danny Griffith forming Fredonia Bluegrass Band in 2003. Woode and Bob joined along the way. It has been such a fun, adventurous 23 years playing all the churches and events in and out of the surrounding areas with these great guys.

Brian Price is the banjo picker for Fredonia Bluegrass Band. Brian started out watching his father Rufus play guitar on Sunday mornings and sometimes at church. Brian’s parents bought him a banjo for his 13th birthday and sent him to Ed Brown for lessons. Brian played banjo sometimes along with his father in his uncle Cletus’ former band, The Tennessee Bluegrass Boys. Brian met his wife Kim at a local Thursday night jam and the two along with Danny Griffith (guitarist) are founding members of Fredonia Bluegrass Band. Brian has been influenced by Ed Brown, Bill Monroe, Tony Rice, Earl Scruggs, Don Reno and JD Crowe.

Woode Hawkins took an interest in playing music at an early age, but the truly life changing event was the first-time hearing Lester and Earl play the soundtrack to “Bonnie and Clyde.” Since that time, Woode has been active playing a variety of styles ranging from Merle Haggard to Santana, but bluegrass has always been the first love. While playing bass with a local bluegrass band in Lebanon Tn, Woode became interested (maybe obsessed) with learning mandolin. After honing his skills with a couple of local bands, Woode took what he considers a big step up when he was asked by Charles Geesling to join his band, “Clear Creek.” Perhaps an even bigger step came when Jamie Dailey asked Woode to come with him to form the band “Highland Rim.” A series of outings with other bands followed when Jamie disbanded Highland Rim to take a job with Doyle Lawson. In the fall of 2013, almost by accident, Woode was asked by Fredonia to “fill in” on some shows that their current mandolin player couldn’t make. Now, almost 12 years later, Woode considers himself to be in the happiest of situations playing mostly mandolin and occasionally dobro or guitar with Brian, Kim, Danny, and Bob.

Bob Townsend grew up in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, learning guitar and developing an interest in old time fiddle music after hearing local musicians play. Beginning in the late 1970’s, he played fiddle with numerous local bluegrass bands in the North Alabama, Sand Mountain, Sequatchie Valley and Chattanooga areas playing churches, festivals, fiddler’s conventions and square dances. He has taught local old time square dance tunes in regional workshops across the Southeast and as far away as Fort Worden, Washington. Bob continues to teach through Grundy Jam Kids, an affiliate Junior Appalachian Musicians program serving Grundy and surrounding counties and private lessons. He was awarded the 2023 Heritage Award from the Nashville Old Time String Band Association for a lifetime of preserving local fiddling traditions. He also joined the Fredonia Bluegrass Band in 2023 and has enjoyed playing local and regional churches and other events with the group since.

Danny Griffith grew up in Whitwell Tennessee and at the young age of 10 years old become interested in the acoustic guitar. During his teenage years he began to attend local jam sessions with his two uncles who contributed to his love of old-time mountain music. . After graduating high school, he found his passion in Bluegrass music and began to attend local Bluegrass jams and festivals. Danny contributes his love and sound to Bluegrass greats like Lester Flat and Earl Scruggs and the Bluegrass Album Band. In 2002 Danny was introduced to Banjo enthusiasts Brian Price and Bass Player Kim Price at a local musical festival. They began playing at local churches and get together and in 2003 formed the Fredonia Bluegrass Band. .A few years later, mandolin player Woode Hawkins and Fiddle player Bob Townsend joined the band. Danny has been a member of Fredonia Bluegrass for 22 years and enjoys traveling and playing music festivals and other engagements in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.