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Flag Pond native Lincoln Hensley recently performed with the band for the Nolichucky Opry, a summer music series sponsored by the Erwin Kiwanis and held Fridays at the Gathering Place in downtown Erwin.

“I love playing the Nolichucky Opry, for several reasons,� he shared. “It feels sort of like a homecoming show. I get to see all my local friends and mentors that I grew up with in the audience, and some of them I only get to see once a year!�

Hensley said the local Opry stage is where he first remembers seeing a live bluegrass band play when he was a kid.

Hensley has another special attachment to the Nolichucky Opry stage.

“Last year, on July 12, they officially named that stage the “Lincoln Hensley Stage,� during The Tennessee Bluegrass Band’s performance there,� Hensley said.

Hensley graduated from Unicoi County High School in 2016. During his time as a Blue Devil, he was part of the UCHS Bluegrass Band. In addition, he graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2020, majoring in bluegrass and getting a minor in Appalachian studies.

Hensley’s earliest memories of becoming interested in bluegrass music developed at the age of 7 or 8 years old.

“I heard what I now know was a Flatt and Scruggs original recording of ‘Foggy Mountain Breakdown’ come over the loudspeaker at the Gray Station Fair in one of their farm and antique exhibits,� he recalled. “I didn’t know what exactly I was hearing, but I knew I liked it.�

Hensley started playing banjo with a stern determination when he was a freshman at UCHS, practicing 8 to 10 hours a day.

During his young years Hensley developed a list of favorite banjo players.

“My top five banjo players would be Earl Scruggs, Sonny Osborne, Allen Shelton, Wynn Osborne and George Buckner,� he shared. “There’s plenty more I’m leaving out, but those are the Top 5.�

He also has other favorite musicians, including Ray Charles, Curly Chalker, Chet Atkins, B.B. King, Merle Travis and Benny Martin.

“My favorite vocalists would be The Osborne Brothers, Lester Flatt, The Louvin Brothers, Mac Wiseman, George Jones, Hank Thompson, Ray Price, Jerry Lee Lewis, Teea Goans, Tommy Duncan, Keith Williams and Frank Sinatra,� Hensley said.

“I’d also like to mention that the guys I’m getting to travel with right now – Jacob and Josiah Sheffield, Michael Feagan and Tim Laughlin are some of the finest singers and musicians I’ve had the privilege of making music with,� he noted. “They are top notch, and great folks on top of that.�

Hensley offered advice for budding musicians.

“Learn how to listen to a melody, pick it apart and find those notes on your instrument,� he said. “Slow it down and make sure you have all the notes and aren’t skipping over anything. The more you do that, the easier it will get to play new melodies on the fly.�

He also suggested that musicians get a player that they really like and get all of their recorded material that you can get your hands on and learn it.

“Every note… Their breaks, backup, kickoffs, fills, etc. Take it day by day and chisel away until you’ve learned their style,� he added. “That will teach you discipline as a player, train your ear to listen and build your vocabulary on your instrument to help create your own style, all at the same time.�

The Tennessee Bluegrass Band will have an active 2025, according to Hensley.

“We will be busy all through the rest of the year up until about December is when things slow down for a few weeks,� he said. “Then we will get started back in January. We are already booking shows as far out as 2027.�

Follow Hensley and The Tennessee Bluegrass Band on their Facebook page, tennesseebgb on Instagram and their YouTube channel.

On the band’s YouTube channel I encourage you to listen to the song “Nolichucky.�

I encourage everyone to support Unicoi County musicians and artists in their efforts to bring their talents to local, regional and national audiences.

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Ken Silvers is the office manager and staff writer for The Erwin Record.