Bobby Powell is the lead singer and guitarist for Carolina Blue. He got his start playing bluegrass gospel, where he first met Tim Jones. In 2001, Bobby began playing guitar in Roy Chapman's True Blue Grass Band, and soon, brought Tim in on mandolin. It was with Roy Chapman's band the Bobby and Tim developed their distinct vocal styling. Some of his influences are Bill Monroe, Larry Sparks, Doyle Lawson, Flatt & Scruggs, and The Johnson Mountain Boys. When he isn't playing bluegrass, Bobby enjoys watching baseball, playing golf, fishing, and spending time with his family. Bobby lives in Rosman, NC with his four children, Kristen, Zachary, Joseph, and Emma.
Tim Jones is a small town country boy and proud native to Transylvania County, North Carolina. He began playing music around the age of eleven with his family gospel group. He has been playing mandolin and singing tenor ever since. It has been well stated that Tim cut his teeth on Bill Monroe’s music. Tim has a way with his hard-hitting style and driving mandolin rythym to capture your attention. He is also blessed to have a clear and most pure, high tenor voice as well as lead. Timmy is currently playing a Hutto mandolin that was given to him by Mr. Charlie Hutto, who is responsible for showing him some of his first chords on the mandolin. Aside from his music, Timmy is an avid farmer. He and wife Lakin spends most of there time tending to the livestock and other chores that farming has to offer. He attends the Full Gospel Baptist Church and proudly claims Christ as Lord and Savior of his life.
Reese Combs is the bass player and sings the baritone for Carolina Blue. He grew up in Mills River, NC playing piano, bass, and guitar in his youth. His influences include Flatt & Scruggs, Jimmy Martin & The Sunny Mountain Boys, Bill Monroe, and too many others to name. Reese joined The Lonesome Road Band in 2005 which recently toured for 2 weeks in Austria. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife Michele, his daughter Kennedy, hunting deer with his beagles, and playing golf, basketball, and baseball.
Don Austin plays banjo for Carolina Blue. Don became interested in the banjo while still in high school after hearing live bluegrass for the first time. Besides the many local musicians, Don's main influences were Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe, and Tom McKinney. Don, his wife Denise, and daughter Hannah reside in Penrose, NC. Other than music, Don enjoys hunting whitetail deer with his father.
