Frank Ray, currently of Hillsboro, MO, has been playing in bluegrass bands since 1964. Mandolin player for the group, he sings tenor and an occassional lead. Frank has written many outstanding vocal songs and instrumentals over the years which have earned him several SPBGMA Songwriter of the Year awards. Naturally, these songs give the group some fine original material.

Kenny Cantrell, native Alabaman, now resides in Fort Gibson, OK. He began playing professionally about 1960 with Bill Box and the Dixie Drifters. Later, he formed the Green Valley Boys; the band won "Recording Of The Year" and Kenny received the award for "Banjo Player Of The Year" many times. He gained a reputation as one of the best with the three T's- timing, taste and tone. Turning down full time offers, he kept his day job and played part-time with his musical sons. Now semi-retired, he is able to enjoy playing full-time with Cedar Hill.

Cedar Hill, from Missouri, are a leading Midwestern band building a national reputation. They have four fine albums out on the Hay Holler label, and their latest CD, Poverty Row, is on Tom T. and Miss Dixie Hall's Blue Circle Records Label. Poverty Row was selected for the "Highlight" Album review of the month for the Jan. 08, addition of Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.

In addition to twenty nominations for SPBGMA awards including five in 2005, ten in 2006 and five in 2007, they received the SPBGMA 2004 #1 awards for male vocalist, vocal group, songwriter, fiddle, and banjo, and were nominated for IBMA's Emerging Artist award. Their CD Stories was among the top ten bluegrass recordings of 2005 on Cybergrass internet bluegrass magazine, and they were #3 in Bluegrass Now magazine's pick for the 2006 Top Ten.

About Cedar Hill:

Formed by its patriarch and mandolin player Frank Ray some 40 years ago, Cedar Hill is a traditional bluegrass band made up of five accomplished musicians and singers who have stayed true to their Ozark roots. Now settled into their own in the mainstream of the National bluegrass scene, Cedar Hill has been pleasing audiences everywhere with their original, emotional, exciting brand of traditional bluegrass!

One listen to Cedar Hill and there can be no doubt that traditional bluegrass music not only exists, but thrives in the Midwest! Honest, emotive Original songs, soulful, heartfelt vocals and great picking with Drive is what Cedar Hill is all about!

Nick Haney, Bass/vocals..... Cedar Hill's latest addition is Nick Haney playing the upright bass and providing harmony and lead vocals. Nick comes to Cedar Hill with a great history in the bluegrass music business. His resume includes stints with Lost Highway, Weary Hearts and The Nashville Bluegrass Band. Nick resides in Altus, Arkansas and in addition to being a fine musician he also has worked as a Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician. Nick also works with computers when he's not busy playing music these days.

Fiddle player Lisa Ray of Blue Eye, MO, grew up in an Ozark musical family living on the MO-AR border. She began singing in church at age three, and by age nine was playing both guitar and fiddle. She formed her own band while in her early twenties. Her group known as Lisa Ray & Old Town, became a national touring group. Further, Lisa's songwriting expertise, begun in her teens, paid off in 2001 when she had a # 1 song on the Bluegrass Gospel charts. Lisa is happily married to Keith Ray and she has two step-sons Aaron and Adam.

Jim Boling, from Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Jim started his playing and singing career at age 17 after hearing Foggy Mountain Breakdown for the first time. In the early 1980's, Jim formed his own bluegrass band "Bound and Determined" with his banjo playing son, Jeremy (Michelle Nixon and Drive) and led that band for 6 years. Health problems forced him to dissolve the band in the early 90's. After receiving a double lung transplant in 2000, Jim joined a band in Kansas City, Green Side Up. Jim filled the role of lead singer and guitar player with the group until 2007 when he came to us. Jim plays the guitar left handed (or in other words, backwards) but we don't hold that against him. A fine singer and good rhythm guitar player,Jim is a welcome addition to Cedar Hill. Jim has been married to his lovely wife Terri for 28 years and they have 2 sons, Jeremy and J R . In addition to the music Jim's other interests include computers, racing, watching J R play baseball and home improvement projects .