Dave Wyke, from Lenoir, North Carolina got his first guitar at age 12. After he graduated from school, he moved to Newport News and worked and retired from the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Dave has played and sung with numerous groups throughout the years and started the Hard Travelin' Bluegrass Band several years ago.

He still lives in Newport News and the request for his band keeps growing, performing for approximately 10 or more functions each month; especially the Nursing Homes, Convalescent Homes, Retirement Homes, and private parties. (Note from the 'Mascot': "Dave's singing makes all the ladies love to hear him sing and she has to sometimes shield him from other music lovers who just love to stand beside him to sing and harmonize. Dave's a great gentlemen and everybody loves him.)

Roy Hare grew up in Hampton, Virginia and now lives in Denbigh, the "capital" of Newport News. He started his music venture at the ripe age of 12. While in High School he played lead electric guitar for the "Newport's". He worked and retired from the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Later he played guitar for his wife's gospel trio "The Evangelettes" and also played electric bass in his church for the Praise Team.

In 1990, he started playing bluegrass beginning with the "Jim Owsley and White Marsh Bluegrass Band." He plays with the "Blue River Bluegrass Band", "Hard Travelin' Bluegrass Band", "Winds of Grass Bluegrass Band" and "Crosswinds Bluegrass Band". He plays a hot guitar, banjo, mandolin ... mostly anything with strings and has written several songs. He is known for the song "Little Birdie", a song that is requested most often. Roy has a great love for Bluegrass Music and it shows when he plays and sings.

Stanley Pritchard graduated from Mullens High School in Mullens, West Virginia and moved to the Hampton / Newport News area in 1961 to work for the Newport News Ship Yard. Now retired, he continues to host a "Bluegrass Jamming" at his big garage one night a week as he has done for many years which he plays guitar and sings and is known for his solid and well-timed bass playing. Stan has been singing and playing music most of his life and has been with the Hard Travelin' Bluegrass Band for over 3 years. He loves the music and says his only regret is not starting to play earlier in life.

Gene McDonald was born in Corbin, Kentucky and grew up in Lee County, Virginia. At age 87, he is one of the oldest musicians still active in the music business today whose musical background goes back over 70 years. He has worked with some of the top artists in the business such as Hank Snow, Floyd Tillman, George Morgan, and Bill Haley (before Haley played rock-n-roll). Gene has played in practically every state in the union and all over Canada. He lived in Florida for 42 years and played in every county in Florida as a member of the Florida State Champion Country Band. He still plays every day and says he is still "learning". .