The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band that formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland. The band's original lineup comprised John Starling on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom Gray on double bass, and John Duffey on mandolin; the latter three also provided backing vocals. Together they released their debut studio album, Act I, in 1972, followed by both Act II and Act III in 1973.

In 1977, Starling left the group and was replaced by singer-songwriter Phil Rosenthal. Starling and Rosenthal shared lead vocals on the group's sixth studio album, Baptizing, released in 1978. Around the same time, the group switched record labels from Rebel Records to Sugar Hill Records. In 1986, Rosenthal and Gray left the band, and were replaced by Lou Reid and T. Michael Coleman, respectively; Reid and Coleman first appeared on the band's 1988 album A Change of Scenery. Reid left the band in 1992, and Starling briefly returned to the group, performing on their 1994 album Like We Used to Be. Starling was replaced by Moondi Klein as the band's lead singer.

During 1995 and 1996, Klein, Coleman, and Auldridge left the Seldom Scene to form a new band called Chesapeake. Duffey and Eldridge recruited guitarist Fred Travers, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, and guitarist and singer Dudley Connell into the Seldom Scene, and together released the album Dream Scene in 1996. That same year, Duffey died of a heart attack. Reid returned to the band to replace Duffey on mandolin, and the group released the album Scene It All in 2000. The group's 2007 album Scenechronized was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. The band's original members (Auldridge, Duffey, Eldridge, Gray, and Starling) were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

History

Formation and early career (1971)

The Seldom Scene was established in 1971, and they would practice in Ben Eldridge's basement. These practice sessions included John Starling on guitar and lead vocals, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, and former Country Gentlemen member Tom Gray on bass. The mandolinist John Duffey, who had also performed with the Country Gentlemen, was invited to jam sessions at the time when Mike Auldridge arranged for the group to play as a performing band.

Another member of the Country Gentlemen, Charlie Waller, is responsible for the band's name. Expressing his doubt that this new band could succeed, Waller reportedly asked Duffey, "What are you going to call yourselves, the seldom seen?" The band had weekly performances at clubs and performed regularly at the Red Fox Inn, a music club in Bethesda Maryland. The band switched over to the Birchmere music hall in Alexandria, Virginia, which resulted in a residency.

Rise to popularity (1972–1976)

The progressive bluegrass style played by the Seldom Scene had become increasingly popular during the 1970s, especially Duffey's high tenor and the vocal blend of Duffey/Starling/Auldridge.

John Starling's departure and Phil Rosenthal as lead singer (1977–1986)

In 1977, John Starling left the group to focus on his medical career, and was replaced by singer and songwriter Phil Rosenthal, whose song "Muddy Water" had been recorded by the Scene on two earlier albums. Starling and Rosenthal shared their lead vocals on the group's sixth studio album, Baptizing (recorded in 1978). Around the same time, the group switched record labels from Rebel to Sugar Hill. Starling recorded a solo album for Sugar Hill in 1980 called "Long Time Gone" and another in 1982 called "Waitin' On a Southern Train", on both of which Mike Auldridge played.

The lineup of Rosenthal-Duffey-Gray-Auldridge-Eldridge recorded five albums of a comparable popularity to the ones with the founding members, including John Starling. Rosenthal proved to be as good lead singer as Starling and his baritone voice contrasted well with Duffey's high tenor extravaganzas. He also wrote typically two to three songs on each of the albums and also added acoustic guitar solos to the group.

More changes in lineup (1986–1996)

In 1986, Phil Rosenthal and Tom Gray both left the band to focus on other pursuits, and were replaced by Lou Reid and T. Michael Coleman, respectively. Coleman proved to be very controversial, as many purists objected to his use of an electric bass in what is nominally an acoustic genre, but the albums produced by the band after Coleman's arrival maintained the traditional appeal of any of the Scene's earlier albums.

Reid left the band in 1992, and Duffey convinced former member John Starling to return to the band for the next year. During that year the Scene recorded the album Like We Used to Be, but Starling did not wish to stay with the band long term. He was replaced in 1994 by lead singer Moondi Klein.

John Duffey's death, return of Lou Reid, and Scene It All (2000–2006)

In late 1996, band leader and founder John Duffey suffered a fatal heart attack.

Banjoist Ben Eldridge, the sole remaining original member of the Seldom Scene, assumed leadership of the band. Former guitarist Lou Reid rejoined the band, replacing Duffey on mandolin.

In July 2008, Seldom Scene performed at a White House dinner honoring the 2008 U.S. Olympic team as well as previous U.S. Olympians. Seldom Scene also played the National Folk Festival July 11–13, 2008, representing bluegrass music.

On April 22, 2014, the band returned with Long Time... Seldom Scene, via Smithsonian Folkways. The collection features interpretations of 16 oft-requested tunes and is the band's first studio album since the Scenechronized in 2007. In 2015, "Long Time...Seldom Scene" and "Mean Mother Blues" won awards in the "Bluegrass" Album and Song categories at The 14th Annual Independent Music Awards.

In January 2016, Ben Eldridge retired after 44 continuous years with the band. He was replaced by Rickie Simpkins.

In 2017, Ron Stewart joined the Seldom Scene, replacing Rickie Simpkins.

In 2019, the Seldom Scene released the album Changes, featuring songs by songwriters of the 1960s and early 1970s, through Rounder Records.

The band currently consists of Clay Hess (guitar/lead vocals), Ron Stewart (banjo/fiddle/guitar), Lou Reid (mandolin/tenor vocals), Fred Travers (dobro/lead vocals), and Ronnie Simpkins (bass/baritone vocals). Ben Eldridge's son, Chris, also frequently performs with the group.

Personnel

Members

;Current members

  • Lou Reid – mandolin, guitar, vocals <small>(1986–1993, 1996–present)</small>
  • Clay Hess - guitar, vocals (2024–present)
  • Ronnie Simpkins – bass <small>(1995–present)</small>
  • Fred Travers – Dobro, vocals <small>(1995–present)</small>
  • Ron Stewart – banjo, fiddle <small>(2017–present)</small>

;Former members

  • John Duffey – mandolin, vocals <small>(1971–1996; died 1996)</small>
  • Mike Auldridge – Dobro, vocals <small>(1971–1995; died 2012)</small>
  • Tom Gray – bass <small>(1971–1986)</small>
  • John Starling – guitar, vocals <small>(1971–1978, 1993–1994; died 2019)</small>
  • Ben Eldridge – banjo, guitar <small>(1971–2016; died 2024)</small>
  • Phil Rosenthal – guitar, vocals <small>(1977-1986)</small>
  • T. Michael Coleman – bass <small>(1986–1995)</small>
  • Moondi Klein – guitar, vocals <small>(1994–1995)</small>
  • Rickie Simpkins – banjo, fiddle, guitar <small>(2016–2017)</small>
  • Dudley Connell – guitar, vocals <small>(1995–2024)</small>

Lineups

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: width: 375px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;" width=99%

|-

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1971–1977

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1977–1978

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1978–1986

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1986–1993

|-

| valign=top |

  • Mike Auldridge – Dobro, vocals
  • John Duffey – mandolin, vocals
  • Ben Eldridge – banjo, guitar
  • Tom Gray – bass
  • John Starling – guitar, vocals

| valign=top |

  • Mike Auldridge – Dobro, vocals
  • John Duffey – mandolin, vocals
  • Ben Eldridge – banjo, guitar
  • Tom Gray – bass
  • John Starling – guitar, vocals
  • Phil Rosenthal – guitar, vocals

| valign=top |

  • Mike Auldridge – Dobro, vocals
  • John Duffey – mandolin, vocals
  • Ben Eldridge – banjo, guitar
  • Tom Gray – bass
  • Phil Rosenthal – guitar, vocals

| valign=top |

  • Mike Auldridge – Dobro, vocals
  • John Duffey – mandolin, vocals
  • Ben Eldridge – banjo, guitar
  • T. Michael Coleman – bass
  • Lou Reid – guitar, vocals

|-

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1993–1994

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1994–1995

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1995–1996

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1996–2015

|-

| valign=top |

  • Mike Auldridge – Dobro, vocals
  • John Duffey – mandolin, vocals
  • Ben Eldridge – banjo, guitar
  • T. Michael Coleman – bass
  • John Starling – guitar, vocals

| valign=top |

  • Mike Auldridge – Dobro, vocals
  • John Duffey – mandolin, vocals
  • Ben Eldridge – banjo, guitar
  • T. Michael Coleman – bass
  • Moondi Klein – guitar, vocals

| valign=top |

  • John Duffey – mandolin, vocals
  • Ben Eldridge – banjo, guitar
  • Dudley Connell – guitar, vocals
  • Ronnie Simpkins – bass
  • Fred Travers – Dobro, vocals

| valign=top |

  • Ben Eldridge – banjo, guitar
  • Dudley Connell – guitar, vocals
  • Ronnie Simpkins – bass
  • Fred Travers – Dobro, vocals
  • Lou Reid – mandolin, guitar, vocals

|-

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2016–2017

! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 2017–2024

!2024–present

|-

| valign=top |

  • Dudley Connell – guitar, vocals
  • Ronnie Simpkins – bass
  • Rickie Simpkins – banjo, fiddle, guitar
  • Fred Travers – Dobro, vocals
  • Lou Reid – mandolin, guitar, vocals

| valign=top |

  • Dudley Connell – guitar, vocals
  • Ronnie Simpkins – bass
  • Ron Stewart – banjo, fiddle
  • Fred Travers – Dobro, vocals
  • Lou Reid – mandolin, guitar, vocals

|

  • Clay Hess – guitar, vocals
  • Ronnie Simpkins – bass
  • Ron Stewart – banjo, fiddle
  • Fred Travers – Dobro, vocals
  • Lou Reid – mandolin, guitar, vocals

|

|}

Timeline

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bar:Lou&nbsp;Reid from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1993 color:guitar

bar:Moondi&nbsp;Klein from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995 color:guitar

bar:Dudley&nbsp;Connell from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/2024 color:guitar

bar:Clay&nbsp;Hess from:01/01/2024 till:end color:guitar

bar:Tom&nbsp;Gray from:01/01/1971 till:01/01/1986 color:bass

bar:Michael&nbsp;Coleman from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1995 color:bass

bar:Ronnie&nbsp;Simpkins from:01/01/1995 till:end color:bass

bar:John&nbsp;Duffey from:01/01/1971 till:01/01/1996 color:mandolin

bar:Lou&nbsp;Reid from:01/01/1996 till:end color:mandolin

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bar:Rickie&nbsp;Simpkins from:01/01/2016 till:11/01/2017 color:banjo

bar:Ron&nbsp;Stewart from:11/01/2017 till:end color:banjo

bar:Mike&nbsp;Auldridge from:01/01/1971 till:01/01/1995 color:Dobro

bar:Fred&nbsp;Travers from:01/01/1995 till:end color:Dobro

</timeline>

Discography

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! Year

! Title

! Label

! Number

! Notes

|-

|1972||Act I||Rebel||REB-1511||

|-

|1973||Act II||Rebel||REB-1520||

|-

|1973||Act III||Rebel||REB-1528||

|-

|1974||Old Train||Rebel||REB-1536||

|-

|1975||Live at The Cellar Door||Rebel||REB-1547/8||live double album

|-

|1976||The New Seldom Scene Album||Rebel||REB-1561||

|-

|1978||Baptizing||Rebel||REB-1573||

|-

|1979||Act Four||Sugar Hill||SH-3709||

|-

|1981||After Midnight||Sugar Hill||SH-3721||

|-

|1983||At the Scene||Sugar Hill||SH-3736||

|-

|1985||Blue Ridge||Sugar Hill||SH-3747||with Jonathan Edwards

|-

|1987||The Best of The Seldom Scene, Vol. 1||Rebel||REB-1101||compilation from 1972–74

|-

|1988||15th Anniversary Celebration||Sugar Hill||SH-2202||live double album

|-

|1988||A Change of Scenery||Sugar Hill||SH-3763||

|-

|1990||Scenic Roots||Sugar Hill||SH-3785||

|-

|1992||Scene 20: 20th Anniversary Concert||Sugar Hill||SH-2501/02||live double album

|-

|1994||Like We Used to Be||Sugar Hill||SH-3822||

|-

|1996||Dream Scene||Sugar Hill||SH-3858||

|-

|2000||Scene It All||Sugar Hill||SUG-3899||

|-

|2007||Scenechronized||Sugar Hill||SUG-4003||

|-

|2007||Different Roads||Rebel||REB-7516||compilation from 1973–76

|-

|2014||Long Time... Seldom Scene||Smithsonian Folkways||SFW40199||

|-

|2019||Changes||Rounder||1166100485

|

|-

|2025

|Remains To Be Scene

|Smithsonian Folkways

|SFW40248

|

|-

|}

References

  • John Duffey/Seldom Scene biography http://johnduffeybook.com/