Bennie Boling (40 Horse Mule)
Profile
Bennie Boling
- Instrument
- Bass, Banjo
- Genre
- Bluegrass
- Strings
- M3045 Bass Boomers, M7200 Pressurewounds
Bluegrass Today - Ann the Dreadful Snake release
Bennie Boling started his musical career at age 15, picking banjo on Bonnie Lou and Buster’s Smokey Mountain Hayride in Pigeon Forge, TN. He also worked on their local television show on WATE out of Knoxville, TN. at that time. In 1982, Bennie and his friend, Tim Graves, started the band Cherokee; this band became the official bluegrass band of the World’s Fair that was held in Knoxville, TN that year. Cherokee also featured Tony King on guitar, and Doug Campbell on bass.
Soon after that, Boling moved to Nashville where he worked as the bass player for Mike Scott and the All American Band. In 1993 he connected with another east Tennessee friend, Steve Kaufman; Steve is a three-time winner of the National Flatpicking Championship in Winfield, Kansas. Boling assisted on Steve’s 'four-hour bluegrass banjo workout' instruction book and cd for Homespun Tapes.
During the early to mid-90’s Bennie focused on his songwriting talents, becoming a staff writer for the legendary songwriter, producer, and publisher, Buddy Killen. Several of Bennie's songs have been recorded by top names in music, including Gene Watson, Grand Ole Opry star Jeannie Seely, the Oak Ridge Boys,and many others.
He also spent several years working for Gibson Guitars, building and setting up resophonic guitars and working in quality control. For the past 10 years he has been employed at Huber banjos where he is responsible for a number of tasks including buffing, plating, assembly, CNC operation, and, as Steve Huber describes it,serving as shop humorist. Bennie’s performing credits also include guitar player for the Billy Troy band and a 4-year run as the banjo player for the award-winning bluegrass/ gospel band, The Farm Hands Quartet. He has been nominated 3 times for SPBGMA banjo player of the year.