The Mosier Brothers

Biography

Jeff and Johnny Mosier, brothers raised in Bristol, Tennessee, developed a passion for bluegrass music from childhood, heavily influenced by their grandmother who played bluegrass into her 70s. After moving to Atlanta in the late 1960s, they began performing together in church and local venues, forming the traditional bluegrass band Good Medicine in 1975, which sustained them for 23 years. During this period, they hosted the weekly bluegrass radio show 'Born in a Barn' on WRFG in Atlanta for 14 years, solidifying their roots in the genre.

Johnny Mosier started on bass guitar in school and church bands before shifting to flatpicking acoustic guitar in the late 1970s, inspired by Tony Rice, blending bluegrass with swing, jazz, blues, and rock. Jeff joined the Aquarium Rescue Unit in 1989 with Col. Bruce Hampton, introducing experimental elements that led to Blueground Undergrass (BGU) in 1998, a progressive bluegrass act fusing rock and jam influences, which toured nationally and collaborated with artists like Vassar Clements and Peter Rowan until disbanding in 2010.

In 2010, the brothers formed The Mosier Brothers, returning to a roots-driven bluegrass and Americana sound with electric and acoustic elements, joined by musicians like fiddler David Blackmon, drummer Jack Watson, and bassist Kris Dale. Their style balances tradition with innovation, reflecting decades of brotherhood and musical evolution, continuing to perform at venues like Eddie's Attic.

Fun Facts

• The brothers hosted 'Born in a Barn,' a weekly bluegrass radio show on WRFG in Atlanta that ran for 14 years.
• Johnny Mosier's 'switch-hitting' guitar style equally splits time between acoustic and electric, blending bluegrass, swing, jazz, blues, and rock.
• Blueground Undergrass ended with a final show at Bradfordville Blues Club in Tallahassee, FL, on January 20, 2010, exactly 12 years after forming.
• Johnny appeared on two tracks of Gov't Mule's live collection 'Mulennium' through Blueground Undergrass connections.

Members

• Jeff Mosier
• Johnny Mosier

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Tony Rice - Major influence on Johnny's flatpicking guitar style (Fiddle tunes on Martin guitar, bluegrass flatpicking study) [Late 1970s]
• Grandmother (unnamed) - Introduced brothers to bluegrass music (Family playing banjo, guitar, and harmony) [Childhood in 1960s]
• Col. Bruce Hampton - Influenced Jeff's experimental banjo playing via Aquarium Rescue Unit (Aquarium Rescue Unit) [1989 onward]

Key Collaborators

• David Blackmon - Fiddler in The Mosier Brothers and former Blueground Undergrass (The Mosier Brothers album) [2000s-2010s]
• Peter Rowan - Performed together as old-time string band (Joint shows including The Handlebar, Greenville, SC)
• Vassar Clements - Played with during Blueground Undergrass tours (BGU performances) [1998-2010]
• Jack Watson - Drummer in The Mosier Brothers (The Mosier Brothers album) [2000s-present]
• Kris Dale - Standup bassist in The Mosier Brothers (The Mosier Brothers album) [2000s-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz