To say that Miss Megan got an early start in music is no exaggeration—she attended her first bluegrass festival at Renfro Valley, Kentucky at the age of 4 months. By age 5, she was playing the fiddle. If anyone was surprised by this, it certainly wasn’t her parents, Dusty and Elaine Murphy, both of whom play stringed instruments and come from musically inclined families. By the time she was a teenager, Miss Megan had developed a passion for the mandolin, an instrument she continues to favor today. An avid performer, she has shared the stage with many pioneers and legends of bluegrass, including Ralph Stanley, Earl Scruggs, Bobby Osborne, Ronnie Reno, Melvin Goins, and The Lewis Family. If you ask her about the most important thing she’s gained from touring and performing at festivals for the last 20 years, she’ll quickly tell you it’s understanding the significance of preserving the bluegrass culture. She also served as The West Virginia State Folk Festival President for three years.

Miss Megan is grateful to have the support of her husband, Luke McKnight and their three daughters; Joey Mae, Presley Jewell and Piper Jade, all of whom enjoy performing and attending festivals and various venues as much as their parents do.

You are likely to catch this mandolin pickin’ momma performing at venues with husband and family at places such as The Grey Fox Festival, IBMA, Bean Blossom, Indiana, SamJam, SPBGMA, Jerusalem Ridge, the WV Wheeling Jamboree, The Station Inn, Poppy Mountain and other nationally recognized festivals and venues.

You are certain to catch her (and family) working with youth, hosting a series of children’s bluegrass music camps including Bean Blossom, Indiana, Buffalo, Wyoming, and more than a dozen other states across the nation. In her free time, Miss Megan enjoys teaching private lessons and educating young and old alike about the importance of caring for instruments.

Miss Megan first lent her talents to academia in 2010 when she took the reins of the Bluegrass Music Degree Program as its director at Glenville State College, West Virginia. Under her guidance, students are immersed in traditional and roots music; placed in recording, engineering, and internships; provided opportunities to join Hospice Bedside Singing; asked to play for RFD TV and showcases; and invited to tour. The program has been recognized at the Grand Ole Opry, the World-Famous Station Inn, The Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree, and, on several occasions, WSM Radio. In 2011 and 2016, students in the program recorded at Tom T. and Miss Dixie’s, and Rickey Wasson’s state of the art studios.

In 2017, Miss Megan collaborated with the program’s founder, Buddy Griffin, to record a fund-raising album. All proceeds from the album benefit students of the bluegrass program. In 2018 she founded and hosted a grand ppening of The Pioneer Stage, Bluegrass Music Education Center on Main Street of Glenville, West Virginia.

In 2019, she hosted a bluegrass community event held at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee where Glenville State College bestowed Honorary Doctorates to the last living bluegrass Legends including Jim and Jesse, Mac Wiseman, Bobby and Sonny Osborne. That weekend she debuted on The Grand Ole Opry with the oldest living legend of the Opry; her husbands’s “DeDaddy” Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys.

2020; Dr. McKnight rallied enough funding, including donors such as Barry Blank and Gus Arrendale to “regime” The Eddie Stubbs Archives in Central, West Virginia.

In 2021 Mr. & Mrs. McKnight announced an open invitation of their wedding ceremony held at Uncle Pen’s Cabin at Bill Monroe’s Music Park; Bean Blossom, Indiana. (More info at Bluegrass Today& Bluegrass Unlimited.)

Current projects include writing a 4- year degree curriculum of Appalachian Studies for Glenville State, writing an illustrated youth storybook based on growing up in Appalachia; and collaborating with her husband on establishing a nonprofit; Archiving Appalachia Inc.

Luke McKnight, grandson of Jesse McReynolds, of Grand Ole Opry “Jim and Jesse” fame, began life traveling with family members on a tour bus. McKnight credits his passion for song from this early exposure, and his family musical career has continued ever since.

At just eight years old, McKnight was handed a Flatiron A-style mandolin from his grandfather Jesse, and at that time was taught three major chords and the basics of his grandfather’s legendary cross-picking style. McKnight continues to preserve that style of picking today. Perhaps having been born into this legendary musical family, is what encouraged and inspired McKnight to pursue a career in the music industry.

By age 14, McKnight was professionally touring with Jim and Jesse and other legends. In 1999, he recorded his first solo album, SUPERGRASS 2000. In addition to his musical career, in the early 2000’s, McKnight pursued his childhood passion of firefighting and literally climbed the ladder in Gallatin, Tennessee, for the next eight years. Simultaneously, he realized one of his life’s ambitions and earned a regular spot on the Grand Ole Opry with Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys.

McKnight recorded his self-released album, LEADER OF THE BAND, in 2008, in Steve Thomas’ Gain Train Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The next year, he joined forces with cousins Amanda and Garrett McReynolds and Uncle Darin Lyons to officially establish the family group “The McReynolds Tradition.”<?p>

In 2011, having relinquished firefighting in favor of his music career, McKnight accepted a job as a full-time tour bus driver with All Access Coach in Gallatin, Tennessee. Among the artists whom he has accommodated are country and bluegrass stars Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Ricky Skaggs and Alabama. In addition, McKnight has toured with American rock artists 38 Special, Better Than Ezra, Avril Lavigne and George Thorogood. Through working with these various performers from 2011 through the present, McKnight has broadened his insight into the music business and industry.

McKnight’s style appeals to a wide range of music lovers. His brand of music reflects his early background, his experience with a wide range of performers, and his own creativity and personality. At the bottom of all of this excitement is a sincere and sensitive artist who has the ability to translate lyrics into feelings.

Luke McKnight continues to build a name that already signifies quality. Each are Lifetime members of the International Bluegrass Music Association.

Together, they are especially excited about the recent endorsement by GHS. Strings and is honored to be working with them as they tour and share their music/ education online. Follow them online for more information!