Bob’s music roots began in Chicago, where he started playing music at the age of 8. Blues, Folk and Rock guitar were his early influences. In 1978 he discovered the mandolin with Bill Monroe, Doyle Lawson and Jethro Burns as his early mandolin influences. He began playing mandolin professionally in 1979 in Chicago playing with the Windy Ridge Ramblers and became a member of the Atlanta music scene in 1982. His love affair with the mandolin has brought him through many musical idioms including: blues, bluegrass, country, acoustic, classical, choro, and jazz. Bob has played with the Greater Atlanta Bluegrass Band, Bluegrass in the Backwoods, Bluegrass Five, Good Medicine, Hot Club of Atlanta, and the Handsaw Brothers. Bob is also the co-founder and concertmaster of the Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra.
Robert Alan Putnam – Guitar – Vocals
Robert “Bob Putnam is a native Georgian who grew up in Clayton County. as a child he would listen to his father play the harmonica on the porch at their home. A nurturing mother purchased a Silvertone acoustic guitar which Bob started to play at the age of 12. Through the years his dominate influences in music were John Prine, Bob Dylan, Tony rice and groups such as the Dillards. Cedar Hill and Mountain Heart. Bob has performed at countless events through the years. He currently lives in Canton, GA and has performed with the band “Faculty Grass” for the past 27 years and the Jot’em Down Boys.
Tony Duck – Fiddle – Vocals
Tony is a Georgia native and well respected as one of Georgia’s finest fiddlers. In 2018 Tony was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall Of Fame. A multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Not only is Tony a great fiddler, but also an excellent mandolin and guitar player as well. Tony also plays mandolin and fiddle in the Bonnie Ridge band in his hometown of Griffin, GA and is a player in demand in other music genres like Western Swing.
Randy Godwin – Bass – Vocals
Randy came to Georgia as a young boy from California and grew up playing the guitar in a few Rock bands during high school and college. After attending his first bluegrass festival, Randy recalls ”Bluegrass was such a pure form of a music that I had not experienced before.” He began to explore the genre at other festivals and local jams. Switching from guitar to bass, Randy eventually joined a local Bluegrass band, Pony Express, and also began filling in with bands around town. When not playing Bluegrass, he performs as a solo acoustic musician at restaurants and private events. Randy is delighted to be joining 8th of January, a premier group of musicians and great friends.
Photos: Frank Gibson