Johnny Campbell is a third generation fiddler hailing from Nashville, Tennessee. He grew up listening to Bluegrass greats such as Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys, and the Stanley Brothers. Johnny’s long-bow fiddling style is modeled after the late and great Kenny Baker, as well as his brother Jimmy Campbell, who played extensively with both Jim & Jesse and Bill Monroe. To Johnny, Bluegrass is not just a genre of music, but a lifestyle. Sticking
Johnny Campbell is a third generation fiddler hailing from Nashville, Tennessee. He grew up listening to Bluegrass greats such as Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys, and the Stanley Brothers. Johnny’s long-bow fiddling style is modeled after the late and great Kenny Baker, as well as his brother Jimmy Campbell, who played extensively with both Jim & Jesse and Bill Monroe. To Johnny, Bluegrass is not just a genre of music, but a lifestyle.
Sticking strictly to the roots of first generation bluegrass musicians, Johnny brings enthusiasm and charisma to an ever changing musical category. Johnny has won several fiddle competitions over the years, including Uncle Dave Macon Days, LaGrange Fiddle Competition, and Yeehaw Junction. He is a founding member of the Volunteer String Band (a Nashville Jamgrass band), has toured with James Monroe and helped San Francisco based band Windy Hill win several band competitions, including Emerging Artist in The California Bluegrass Association, First Place at Yonder Mountain String Band’s String Summit and Second Place at Rocky Grass. Johnny started the Bluegrass Drifters in Santa Cruz, California with his wife Whitney, who holds down the doghouse bass and has her own musical side project as well.
