I was a businessman in the central Michigan area, at one time having three tire and auto repair centers. I have two sons, both of whom are in the tire business in Ionia, Michigan, two grandsons and two gran daughters. After 35 years in the business, retirement looked good. I retired so I could enjoy other fun things in life including bluegrass.

I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but after college and a brief stint in new England,
 I moved to the Ionia county area and now live in Lake Odessa. In the fall of 2007 my wife Kip and I went to a bluegrass jam and festival in Lansing. I completely fell in love with the music, promptly bought a new Martin guitar, and began learning how to play and sing bluegrass tunes. I enjoyed the songs so mu I went to every jam session and festival I could find. I found many new friends, the experience was great, and I played with a lot of fine folks and jammed with many bands.

In the spring of 2009 I joined up with a band for about two years, and during that time I also started a band that plays many spots in Michigan. In January of 2012 Out Of The Blue invited me in as their lead singer and rhythm guitarist. What a privilege to perform with this hard driving band and fill up my retirement years with more bluegrass!

Jeff Lawless is a husband, father of five (three sons and two daughters and one grandson) and a founding member of "Out of the Blue". Jeff was born in Gary Indiana and grew up in Portage, Indiana.
Jeff moved to Michigan when he was 21 and started playing guitar in church and singing a little tenor, but it was Bluegrass Gospel that sparked his interest. After playing guitar for about two years he became interested in the bass, and it wasn't long before he purchased his first bass (a 1974 Fender Jazz bass) and an old Peavey TNT 100 amp. Jeff then started playing a little Country and Old Time Rock and Roll with friends. In 1991 Jeff started a factory job which required long hours and seven day weeks, so the music was set aside for a while.
In 2000 Jeff received a call from a couple long time friends, Roger Cole and Scottie Hamilton, about picking a little Bluegrass. He couldn't pass up an offer like that, so after a few jam sessions he decided that he would give upright bass a try. He loved it!! The bass bug bit him and he started the search to purchase and old Kay. It wasn't long until he found and bought a beautiful Old 1952 Kay M1 bass and started hitting the Bluegrass Festivals, and here we are today..."living to play Bluegrass"!!

Bio coming soon

David W. Conley was raised in Rodney, MI on the family farms where he currently lives. I graduated
from Ferris State University in 1984. I am the father of three beautiful Daughters. I am the owner of Fence Co, L.L.C. and build fences for a living. The banjo became a part of my life in December 1978. Learning from the first generation of Banjo Pickers was my main influence and is what I pattern my style from. I enjoy playing hard driving traditional Bluegrass and Gospel music. I started playing on stage with various Bluegrass bands in 1982 and have been ever since. Collecting and converting old Gibson tenor Banjos to 5-String is very enjoyable to me. Teaching this wonderful music to others is one of my passions. I currently play a 1929 Gibson TB-1 Flathead Banjo conversion. This Bluegrass music has always been a part of my life. The family on my Fathers side is from Eastern Kentucky. The music was passed on to me through family traditions. I am proud of my family heritage and it flows through me into my music. Out Of The Blue is a great band to play with. We are a big happy family and enjoy each other very much. Please come to our shows and give us a listen.

George Laker was born and raised on a farm in southwest Michigan. He started playing guitar at age 15 on an old flattop his grandfather gave him. After purchasing an electric guitar from Montgomery Wards he and 3 friends started a rock 'n roll band called The Scavengers, patterned after the instrumental band The Ventures. While still in school The Scavengers wrote and released one record, and played many area school functions.
After a tour in the Navy George settled in playing country music with his brothers, Mitch and Scott. In about 1975 a friend invited George to a local bluegrass jam and he was hooked. He started playing nothing but bluegrass, and in 1987 he and his wife opened a bluegrass music store near Wayland, Michigan.
George, Mitch, Scott, and Scott's wife Coleen started performing at festivals as The Laker Family. They also recorded eight TV shows and cut two CD's. Around this same time a pickin buddy of George's named Tim Scheerhorn decided to start building resonator guitars in his garage. When Tim brought his first four guitars into the music store George was amazed at how much better they sounded than the original Dobro brand that he carried in the store. George bought one on the spot and started learning the resonator guitar. After Tim became the top builder of resonator guitars in the world George decided the first Scheerhorn sold should be put away, so he purchased another one to play and retired his original.
Since then George has played resonator guitar and cut CD's with Bluegrass Harmony, Mountain Memories, and Jim Evans. He says he feels very blessed to be a part of Out Of The Blue, and is thankful for the gift of music and those he gets to share it with.

Bradley Benedict:
I started off playing mandolin at a young age of 6 years. My grandfather (Cy Misner) gets all the credit for me playing. He's the one who got me interested in bluegrass.
Growing up I have had alot of musical influences in my life. With my grandfather being a musician, and my mother putting on concerts. I've been able to meet and even play music with some of the best musicians. So I think that has helped my playing tremendously.
I took lessons from a mandolin player named Brian Oberlin for a couple years, and He's the one that truly got me turned on to the mandolin. He opened up so many doors for me, showed me alot of great stuff. He has made it so I'm open to all kinds of music on the mandolin. Not just bluegrass. And I really thank him alot.
Besides all the lessons from Brian I learned alot from different people festivals. Going around to different Jams meeting new people. They would take the time to show me new chords,scales, licks,and tags. And I really appreciate all the people I've been able to pick with and that have helped me in the past. Way to many to name off.
I've been playing with the band Out Of The Blue lately. A great group of guys. Amazing pickers. They can play anything from traditional bluegrass, to anything new. I've really been enjoying playing with them. So make sure you come check out the band "Out Of The Blue". I'm sure you will enjoy it.