The Kevin Prater Band
Kevin Prater, Situated in the hills of Eastern Kentucky, there is a small town of Belcher. Listen closely and you might hear what is first thought to be the angels singing. It is the sweet, crystal clear, high tenor voice of Belcher’s own multi-talented son of Bluegrass "Kevin Jerome Prater, aka Waldo". Add in his powerful and precise Mandolin, a few licks of his Guitar, Banjo, Bass and Dobro, you have the complete package of one of Kentucky's greatest talents.
Kevin began his musical voyage at the age of four. Encouraged and mentored by his Uncle and biggest fan, Boone Estep. At age 10, he formed his first band “Elkhorn Grass” . Elkhorn Grass enjoyed 11 years of touring together. Now, over thirty years later, Kevin has traveled millions of miles, played in 49 States and 24 countries. Kevin has moved from being one of the best sidemen in Bluegrass to leading his own talented and unique band, from the hills of Appalachia, creating that Pure Kentucky Sound of the The Kevin Prater Band.
The Kevin Prater Band grew from a long musical association between Kevin Prater and Tom Timberlake. Beginning with the Timmy Cline Band in 1994 and continuing with Redwing in later years. Years into Kevin's tenure with The James King Band, Tom began encouraging Kevin to do his own music, with his own band. Tom's persistence paid off. He put the fire under Kevin to pursue his dream of fronting his own band. Soon they were forming The Kevin Prater Band. They started picking together again and working on new music with a couple of local musicians, playing their first show as "The Kevin Prater Band" in 2007. Kevin has been blessed to showcase his many talents through out his amazing career. His solid rhythm and lead is a driving force of the KPB sound. His vocals are the backbone of the group, which the music is built around. Kevin has surrounded himself with veterans of Bluegrass Music, enabling them to create their unique style of Bluegrass and Gospel Music they are quickly becoming famous for.
In reward for his musical contributions Kevin has been part of 2-"Album of the Year", a "Song of the Year' and a "Recorded Event of the Year'. Additionally, Kevin has been nominated as "Banjo Player of the Year" and twice has received a proclamation for the State Representatives of the Great State of Kentucky for Preserving and Promoting Kentucky's "Pure Kentucky Bluegrass"
Mallory Hindman, Now in her third year with The KPB. She is muti talented on both fiddle and vocals. She has been an exciting addition to The KPB. Mallory has been blessed to play with many great fiddle players including Eddie Stubbs, Byron Berlin and many others. Mallory is a great fan of Kenny Baker style playing. Kenny Baker once said "I've never met a fiddle player I couldn't learn something from". In Mallory's travels she has found this to be true. She looks forward to learning and participating in every experience that occurs in her musical future. This is Mallory's first touring experience. She has hit the ground running.
Bailey Moore, is a fifth generation bassist, being the great nephew of Allen Mills, founder of “Lost and Found Bluegrass” and nephew of the late, great, Jason Moore, former band mate of Kevin Prater during The James King days and former member of Sideline. Baileys father, Darren, is also a great musician and a huge part o fBaileys love of bluegrass. Bailey plays all the instruments, sings any part and big on recording and engineering. Bailey lives in Chatham, VA. Bailey, hired as bassist, then Kevin heard him on banjo and Bailey found a new place in the band.
Dalton Smith, Currently living out his childhood dream as a road bluegrass musician. He is a former staff musician at Hatfield McCoy Dinner Theater. Dalton is an upbeat, always positive, willing to do anything kind of guy. He even mechanics and drives bus. Dalton plays all the instruments and sings all the parts, was the first man to unseat Kevin Prater to play mandolin for the band. Currently he is filling the guitar position allowing Kevin to return to mandolin. Dalton is from Alderson, WV. where he has a huge following of supporters.
Jacob Northern, A 19 year old bass player from West Virginia with a huge bluegrass background. He began his bluegrass journey playing electric bass in church. Soon he picked up the upright bass with encouragement from his older brother. Playing music became natural for Jakob and his siblings. Taking first place in "Hinton's Got Talent", kicked off a 18 month stretch playing local and regional gigs.
Jacob became a member of Streamliner Bluegrass Band, playing at "Hills of Home" festival in Coeburn, VA. Jacob met The Po' Ramblin' Boys, The Alex Leach Band, Ralph Stanley II, Kevin Prater and his favorite bass player Jasper Lorentzen. Since then he has played with The Alex Leach band at The World Famous Station Inn and with Seth Mulder & Midnight Run at Ole Smokey Distillery.
The Kevin Prater Band sound comes from a wide range of influences and musical heroes. The Original Seldom Scene, The Country Gentlemen, Osborne Brothers, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Red Allen, The Stanley Brothers, Boone Estep & The Ramblin' Grass are among the different styles of music they have all admired and studied together throughout the years. Also steeped in the tradition of Gospel music, they pride themselves on the a capella hymns and great gospel songs that people have come to enjoy. The band also includes Classic Country and Vintage Rock in their repertoire, insuring no two shows of The Kevin Prater Band are the same.
Members of the band are great friends, enjoy making great music and look forward to a long future together. The band enjoys traveling, reconnecting with old friends, making new fans and hope their music will bring attention to the "Pure Kentucky Bluegrass & Gospel Music" they have become known for. Watch for Kevin Prater and The Kevin Prater Band at a show near you. Great things are happening and they want you to be a part of it.