The Bluegrass Cardinals is a prominent bluegrass group that toured and recorded extensively from 1974 to 1997. The band was celebrated for its flawless harmonies, virtuoso playing, and original material. Formed in California by banjoist Don Parmley, his guitarist son David Parmley, and mandolinist Randy Graham, the band debuted with a 15-week gig at Busch Gardens. A self-titled album – one that featured some of the earliest use of a cappella gospel singing in bluegrass – followed soon afterwards. Relocating to Virginia in 1976, the Cardinals released 23 albums over two decades on labels including Rounder, CMH, and Sugar Hill. Their 1991 project, Families of Tradition, won the IBMA Recorded Event of the Year award. The group became a proving ground for talents like Larry Stephenson and Dale Perry, and counted prestigious venues like The White House and the Grand Ole Opry among its performance roster. Prior to the formation of the Bluegrass Cardinals, Don Parmley, a Kentucky native, played banjo for The Beverly Hillbillies TV show.
