GRASSOLOGY

Grassology is a three-piece bluegrass ensemble. Formed in 1996, this group performs regularly in elementary and middle schools all over San Diego County.

Members of Grassology

Tom Cunningham: fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, vocals. Tom has performed with many local bands for the past 25 years and has also performed in such musical productions as "Fire on the Mountain." He is also a member of the Lighthouse bluegrass band.

Loren Smith: string bass player and vocalist. Loren manages his own Loren Smith Productions, a booking agency, and is the leader of the Jackstraws, one of San Diego's busiest entertainment ensembles. 

Wayne Rice: banjo player and vocalist has been involved in bluegrass music since the 1960's.  He was an original member of Brush Arbor, a popular country-gospel group of the 1970's. While Wayne was with Brush Arbor, the group recorded two albums for Capitol Records, played Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, and was voted "Vocal Group of the Year" by the Academy of Country Music (1973).  For the past 30years, Wayne has hosted "The Bluegrass Special" a radio program heard weekly on KSON-FM in San Diego.

The purpose of Grassology is to teach children about bluegrass music its origins, the instruments and songs that make it a unique American musical style. Every Grassology performance is a lively and entertaining program that not only features great music, but also involves students by allowing children to actually come on stage and play guitar with the band. The kids draw us a lot of pictures. Here are a couple of my favorites.

BACK TO TOM’S HOME PAGE