Terry Baucom, an American bluegrass singer The Duke of Drive, dies at 71

May 2024 · 3 minute read

American Bluegrass Singer, Banjo player, and Band Lead of ‘The Dukes of Drive,’ Passed Away After Brief Illness

Terry Baucom, an American bluegrass singer, banjo player, and band leader, passed away at 71 after battling illness on Thursday, December 7, 2023. He was nicknamed ‘The Duke Drive’ for his unique banjo style. He was a founding member of several renowned bluegrass bands and led his band ‘The Dukes of Drive.’

Who was Terry Baucom?

Terry Baucom was a renowned American bluegrass legend. He was born on October 6, 1952, and began playing Banjo at age 10. He was drawn to Banjo because of the Beverly Hillbillies television show. He started playing fiddle at age 14. He belonged to a musical family, and it had a great influence on him. His father played guitar, his grandfather played clawhammer banjo, and his great-grandfather played fiddle.

Baucom began his professional career with a banjo in his father Lloyd Baucom’s band ‘The Rocky River Boys.’ He played fiddle with Charlie Moore from 1970 to 1973. He was a founding member of Boone Creek, which produced two albums, Boone Creek (1977) and One Way Track (1978), and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver (from 1979-2007), creating nine albums, and Illrd Tyme Out (1991-1992).

After nearly forty years of musical career, he formed his first band in 2013, ‘Dukes of Drive’ with Joey Lemons, Will Jones, and Joe Hannabach. Their 2015 single ‘The Rock’ was a Hit and most played song on the Bluegrass Today Chart. He also released two solo albums ‘In a Groove’ (2010) and ‘Never Thought of Looking Back’ (2013).

He won over a dozen awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), once in 2013 for his single ‘What I’ll Do.’ He was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

What happened to Terry Baucom?

Earlier this year, Baucom was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a disease in which protein deposits form in the nerve cells of the brain, affecting important life functions like thinking, memory, and movement. He fought bravely with the disease, but his condition worsened with time, and he passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2023, leaving family and friends aggrieved and the entire bluegrass music community grappling with a profound sense of loss.

The Community Mourns Terry Baucom

The bluegrass music community stands in solidarity with the family and friends during this difficult time. They have expressed their sorrow over losing the bluegrass legend, leaving touching messages of condolences and sharing their fondest memories of him on social media.

The overwhelming support the community has shown for the grieving family is heartwarming. We express our sincerest respects to the family and friends. May he rest in peace.

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