Ginger Boatwright

Given Name: Ginger Kay Hammond
Instruments: Vocals, Guitar
Date of Birth: September 21, 1944
Place of Birth: Columbus, Mississippi
Home: Birmingham, Alabama

Ginger Boatwright is one of the most influential women in bluegrass and acoustic country music. Ginger Boatwright was a pioneer in (country/bluegrass). Raised in Pickens County, Alabama, Ginger learned bluegrass from her father and put together Red, White & Bluegrass in Birmingham when she was a college student.

Red, White & Blue(grass) was probably the most eclectic bluegrass act of the time and was noted for its fancy production touches, off the wall antics and pop influence. But Ginger's band won a Grammy nomination with its 1972 album, charted in 1973 and won "Most Promising Vocal Group" from Billboard magazine in 1974. At that time one reviewer cautioned, "the acceptance of their album will depend largely on how one feels about the role of the female voice in bluegrass".

Following the breakup of the band in 1979 she formed the all-female bluegrass group the Bushwhackers. The Bushwhackers began playing the college circuit and released their eponymous debut in 1980. In 1981, the group broke up and Boatwright was prepared to quit the music business when Rodney Dillard informed her that his brother Doug was putting together a new band.

She began fronting for the Doug Dillard Band in 1981 and was nominated for another Grammy with the Band's "Heartbreak Hotel" album.

In 1991she recorded "Fertile Ground" as her first solo CD with backing by Doug Dillard and other star pickers. 1994 saw the release of "Sentimental Journey", a CD with Woody Herman and Vassar Clements. She has a new CD out entitled "Sipsey", a swamp located near her Alabama home.

Ginger's come a long way and has established herself as a strong and powerful singer/songwriter.There's no mistaking the rich earthiness of her vocal talent.

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