Doyle Lawson | Corey Hensley | Dale Perry | Jason Barie | Jason Leek | Josh Swift
I was born on January 2, 1981 in Charleston, West Virginia to John and Ella Hensley, literally being born into music as my mom and dad were part of a traveling gospel band called The Gospel Lights. There was never a time growing up that music wasn't an ever present facet of my life. I picked up the guitar at 6 years old and can vividly remember playing backup to dad on "Steel Guitar Rag" and "Wednesday Night Waltz" and many others. When I was 14 my dad brought a cassette home that his boss had made him of "bluegrass gospel". It was then I was introduced to the music of Doyle Lawson. I remember sitting in dad's pickup truck just blown away by what I was hearing. Never in my life had I heard such music and such harmony, I was hooked! For months (or until I realized Doyle had more than one recording) I played the tape over and over learning every vocal part and listening to how it all fit together. I gained as much knowledge as I could and formed a band with my dad and his long time friend called "The Christian Echoes" We had traveled for a couple of years, when I took a turn to Southern Gospel. After about 7 years in that genere, and about 5 with a group called "Change of Heart" I felt it was time to return to bluegrass. I had been working with a band locally called "The Jim and Valerie Gabehart Bluegrass Show" for about 3 years when I was called about an audition with DL&Q. Somehow Doyle saw something he liked in me and I had the job. Needless to say the job is demanding, but I wouldn't have it any other way working for a true living legend of bluegrass music!</P> <P> </P> <P> I went to a church picnic in August 2001 with some friends, and met Mandie Kuhn in a game of softball. She got away before I could get any info from her and I had all but written it off to bad luck, when I saw her again in Walmart three months later. I left with her number that time! Mandie and I were an instant match and She gave me the honor of being her husband on April 6, 2002. Since then we have had two children. Our oldest child, Trenton Cole is 6 and his sister Alyson Faith is 3. They are the most beautiful children I've ever seen (ok, maybe I'm prejudice!) and I spend every minute I can with them while I'm home. We enjoy go karts, Chuck E. Cheese, movies, traveling (when I'm not traveling) and sometimes just staying home! We still live in the Charleston area in a little town called Sod, Wv, I thank God for the many many blessings that He has bestowed and continues to bestow upon me and my family for we are truly unworthy.