Biographies
Bill Jenkins - Guitar and Lead Vocals
Born in Newport News and raised in Hayes, Virginia, Bill got his first guitar at seven years of age, a used instrument he bought for $4. As a young man, Bill performed on the OLD DOMINION BARN DANCE. In the early 60's, Bill played with the COTTINGHAM BROTHERS and briefly with the CAROLINA BUDDIES. Bill met Bernie Wright, who was playing the mandolin for the STANLEY BROTHERS, and they later formed the renowned band, THE VIRGINIA GENTLEMEN. Bill has played music from Pennsylvania to Georgia at many festivals, schools, college hootenannies and night clubs. He has appeared at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, a White House Lawn party, and the Cellar Door. He has played in the same shows as RED ALLEN and the KENTUCKIANS, the STANLEY BROTHERS, DON RENO, RED SMILEY and many of the other great names in folk and Bluegrass music, including MAC WISEMAN, BILL EMERSON, and CHARLIE MOORE. Bill’s unique lead guitar style, called “cross-picking”, was influenced by the great guitarist GEORGE SHUFFLER, who was the lead guitarist for Ralph and Carter Stanley for many years. Bill has reached down deep into his roots to perform the old traditional songs found in the mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee. This soulful and sometimes mournful sound is instantly recognizable with its haunting harmonies and traditional lyrics. It is the sound of the Louvin Brothers, Ralph Stanley and Roy Acuff all thrown together. The result is pure and raw, and the very essence of Virginia's early bluegrass and mountain music. Bill was inducted as a member of the Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2014.
Ken Worrell - Guitar and Vocals
Born in Edenton, North Carolina, Ken developed a love for music at a very early age. He sang his first solo in church at the age of 4. At the age of 12, he learned a few song on an old Silvertone baritone ukulele, which belonged to his uncle, Sam Morris, who was one of his biggest inspiration to become a musician. Although bluegrass and country were his favorite music, in high school Ken played in “THE SOUNDS UNLIMITED BAND”, playing the top tunes of the day. When he moved to Gloucester Virginia, bluegrass fever took over, and his passion for this type of music has never waned. The 40 year friendship with his mentor Bill Jenkins has helped Ken run full circle in the bluegrass field from playing banjo and guitar with “J.D. GILLEY and the EAST VIRGINIA STRING BAND” to being a promoter in the Tidewater area. He, along with Jean Pearce, brought many talented local and regional bands to local venues. The urge to sing and play returned just in time for Ken to join Bill Jenkins and Bill Collier as “ BILL JENKINS and the VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN BOYS”. This band takes the traditional and bluegrass fans for a ride down memory lane. Ken’s smooth singing style and harmonies makes him a driving force in the band’s soulful sound.
Steve Hunley - Mandolin and Vocals
Steve comes from a family of bluegrass musicians. He played his fist bluegrass festival as the bass player in his father's bluegrass band at the age of twelve. After learning to play guitar, he decided to switch to rock and played in several bands throughout the years. After graduating medical school he decided to return to his roots and picked up the mandolin this time. Mostly playing at local jams and bluegrass music associations, he decided to get more serious about his mandolin playing and attended the Mandolin Symposium in Santa Cruz, California. Energized by this experience he decided to join Sawgrass Revival, a Florida panhandle bluegrass and gospel band that went on to win multiple instrumental and vocal contests in Alabama and Florida. In 2008, he won the Florida state mandolin championship. His desire to continue to grow as a musician resulted in the formation of the band Trugrass, composed of some of his favorite local musicians and quickly became one the most popular bluegrass bands in the Pensacola, Florida area. A career change brought him to Williamsburg, Virginia, where he met Bill Jenkins and found a new home with the Virginia Mountain Boys.
Joe Gilley - Bass
Born in Newport News, Virginia, Joe’s roots are in Henry County, VA, where his Father’s family still lives. Joe’s Father, J.D. Gilley, played mandolin and was well versed in Bluegrass and mountain music. Joe played bass in his Father’s band, “J.D. GILLEY and the EAST VIRGINIA STRING BAND”. Before assuming his current role as the bass player, Joe played guitar for the Band. He is a noted and gifted artist.
Jim Andersen - Banjo and Vocals
Jim Andersen is the newest member to “Bill Jenkins and the Virginia Mountain Boys”. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Jim has been playing the five string banjo since his high school days .
A graduate of the University of Virginia, Jim found his bluegrass roots in Charlottesville. After graduation, Jim accepted a commission in the Navy and after earning his “Wings of Gold”, where he flew the A-6 Intruder jet bomber. Jim retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain.
Throughout the years, Jim has continued to perform in local Tidewater bluegrass groups. He is the Vice President of the non-profit, “Tidewater Bluegrass Music Association”, that continues to promote bluegrass music in the Tidewater area. Jim's bluegrass is primarily influenced by the style of Earl Scruggs, Jim Mills, and J.D. Crowe. Jim plays a 1963 Gibson RB-250 acquired from The Jubilee Music Store located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Jim resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia. As Jim puts it, “The music is my chocolate!”.
Bill Collier - Bass (Deceased)
Bill Collier passed away in 2016 but will remain a member of the band as long as our cd's are played and our videos are watched.
Born in Rome, Georgia, Bill’s interest in music began around an old upright piano singing hymns while his mother played, as well as listening to gospel quartet music and the Grand Ole Opry on the radio. After graduating from high school, Bill moved to Newport News to attend the Apprentice School at the Shipyards. His musical interests waned for many years because of his career, marrying Vera and starting a family. Later, when time allowed, he and Vera started hosting a weekly Saturday night jam for local and regional musicians and bands near their home, which lasted for almost 5 years. He bought an old bass fiddle and over a relatively long period of time finally learned to play. Bill began attending Bluegrass festivals giving him the opportunity to meet fellow musicians and make other contacts that led to MC’ing at the “Amelia Festival”, the “Yorktown Coast Guard Festival” and many local events. Bill has been an MC for the nationally-recognized “Cabin Fever” event held yearly in Hampton, Virginia. Besides being a long-time member of the Virginia Mountain Boys, Bill has appeared with numerous bands such as “BLUE RIVER”, “LOW PROFILE”, “BILL JENKINS, JASON SKINNER and DEAR OLE DIXIE”, “OLE HAT”, and ‘GOLDWING EXPRESS”. Bill has performed at the World Trade Center in Baltimore, Maryland and numerous cities in Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. His deep sense of timing and rhythm, integral to the sound of the Virginia Mountain Boys, is a result of his dedication to his craft and his past experiences with many different bands including playing for many years with Bill Jenkins. Bill retired from the band due to poor health and passed away in 2016.