IIIrd Tyme Out

IIIrd Tyme Out

Success for IIIrd Tyme Out was nearly an overnight occurrence for this group following its formation in 1991. They have carried on since then as one of the most beloved and best-selling acts in the genre. To this day, founding member Russell Moore (guitar), along with Steve Dilling (banjo), Justen Haynes (fiddle), Wayne Benson (mandolin), Edgar Loudermilk (bass) and their excellent sound technician, Donnie Carver, are creating a new tradition in modern bluegrass music.

As the saying goes, “The proof is in the pudding,” and there is no greater proof of the band’s status as one of the world’s top bluegrass groups than its seven consecutive IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) awards for ‘Vocal Group of the Year’ and Russell Moore’s two IBMA ‘Male Vocalist of the Year’ trophies. All in all, IIIrd Tyme Out has garnered over 50 industry awards, the last two being ‘Bluegrass Band of the Year’ and ‘Male Vocalist of the Year’ (Russell Moore), both from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA). As a band, their vocals define them, and their a cappella renditions of many songs can barely be matched. Their superb instrumentation provides a strong lead and supportive contrast to the rich vocal blends. Stir all of this together, throw in a heavy touring schedule, including many performances on the Grand Ole Opry and other GAC and RFD channel programs, over fourteen recordings to date, and an unending desire to present their fans with the best music they can, and you’ve got something quite tasty for the ears.

But where did the name IIIrd Tyme Out originate? The name winkingly references that this was the third time out for founding member Moore, and consequently the third professional bluegrass band association for him. No doubt, the third time proved to be a charm. From 1995 through 2001, IIIrd Tyme Out released a string of acclaimed albums for Rounder Records, that represent the band’s finest efforts to date. Available in January, 2008, Footprints: A IIIrd Tyme Out Collection documents the soaring heights the band reached in the Rounder years, with the added bonus of two newly-recorded performances. Songs like “John and Mary,” “Giving My Soul Back To Him,” and their crowd-pleasing a capella take on “Only You” remain staples of their repertoire to this day, and number among the very best bluegrass performances of theirs or any other era.

Writes bluegrass musician, songwriter, and journalist Chris Stuart in his perceptive liner note for Footprints, ““IIIrd Tyme Out has their own brand of bluegrass: unmatched quartets and trios, masterful lead singing, dead-on rhythm, tasteful fills, lyrical solos, and great songs. From stage left to right they are a complete band - perhaps the most complete band of the past two decades.”

Click here for individual biographies of each IIIrd Tyme Out member.

Here are IIIrd Tyme Out's accomplishments to date...

1992 SPBGMA Male Vocalist of the Year - Russell
1993 SPBGMA Bluegrass Band of the Year Overall
1993 SPBGMA Male Vocalist of the Year - Russell
1994 SPBGMA Male Vocalist of the Year - Russell
1994 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year - Russell
1994 IBMA Vocal Group of the Year
1995 IBMA Vocal Group of the Year
1995 SPBGMA Vocal Group of the Year
1996 IBMA Vocal Group of the Year
1997 IBMA Vocal Group of the Year
1997 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year - Russell
1998 SPBGMA Vocal Group of the Year
1998 SPBGMA Gospel Group of the Year (Contemporary)
1998 SPBGMA Song of the Year "Working on the Road to Gloryland"
1998 BN Fans Choice Awards Vocal Group of the Year
1998 BN Fans Choice Awards Instrumental Group of the Year
1998 BN Fans Choice Awards Male Vocalist of the Year - Russell
1998 BN Fans Choice Awards Tenor Vocalist of the Year - Russell
1998 BN Fans Choice Awards Mandolin Player of the Year - Wayne
1998 BN Fans Choice Awards Song of the Year "Working on the Road to Gloryland"
1998 BN Fans Choice Awards Album of the Year "Living on the Other Side"
1998 IBMA Vocal Group of the Year
1999 SPBGMA Vocal Group of the Year
1999 BN Fans Choice Awards Vocal Group of the Year
1999 BN Fans Choice Awards Male Vocalist of the Year - Russell
1999 IBMA Vocal Group of the Year
2000 SPBGMA Vocal Group of the Year
2000 SPBGMA Bluegrass Album of the Year - Live at the Mac
2000 SPBGMA Bluegrass Mandolin Performer of the Year - Wayne
2000 SPBGMA Bluegrass Fiddle Performer of the Year - Mike
2000 SPBGMA Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary) - Russell
2000 IBMA Seven Time Vocal Group of the Year
2001 SPBGMA Vocal Group of the Year
2001 SPBGMA Contemporary Gospel Group of the Year
2001 SPBGMA Mandolin Player of the Year - Wayne
2002 SPBGMA Vocal Group of the Year
2002 SPBGMA Mandolin Player of the Year - Wayne
2003 SPBGMA Male Vocalist of the Year - Contemporary - Russell
2003 SPBGMA Entertaining Group of the Year
2004 SPBGMA Gospel Group of the Year - Traditional
2004 SPBGMA Entertaining Group of the Year
2004 SPBGMA ‘Master's Gold Award’ Recipient - Russell
2004 IMA Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year - Singing on the Streets of Gold
2005 SPBGMA Bluegrass Band of the Year - Overall
2007 'Telly' Award (P. Williams video production)
2007 SPBGMA Male Vocalist of the Year - Contemporary - Russell