ChurchYard Grass ChurchYard Grass is a collective group of musicians who have a love for bluegrass music and a desire to minister to people.  However, this only begins to describe the guys that make up CYG. The group formed in 1994 at Fort Lee Baptist Church located in Richmond, Virginia.  They come individually, bringing an array of talents, but it is when they come together as a group that the magic begins. They love to have fun, and they love the Lord.  Meet the Band   KENNY EPPS:  Kenny was born and raised in a little town called High Plains, North Carolina, about fifteen miles from Roxboro.  He is a Native-American and part of an Indian group called the Sappony Tribe.  He was born the son of a tobacco farmer, and soon discovered there was very little to do at night.  So his mother, father, brothers and sisters would gather around the wood stove and sing gospel music on Saturday nights.  They would listen to the Grand Ole Opry where he first heard the sounds of Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys.    When he was about ten years old, his dad bought him an old Gene Autry guitar.  He learned three chords and they sang everything in those three chords.  He loved bluegrass music from early childhood and his biggest dream was to grow up and one day play and sing the music he loved so dearly.  Even if it was just for family and friends, any stage would do.  However, he also dreamed of one day playing on the Grand Ole Opry.    After graduating from high school, he moved to Richmond, Virginia to follow his dream, and there he met some guys that played bluegrass music.  They taught him a few more chords and before long, they asked him to help in a band they had formed.  Of all things, he started on the bass.  He must have done okay, because they asked him back to help a few more times.  Soon his confidence grew and with the help of friends such as Harold Smith, Johnnie Williams, Leslie Day, Tom Sharp and many others, he formed a band.  They played venues in the Richmond area and Kenny soon realized that part of his dream had come true, for now he was playing on stage.  This group was known as the Bluegrass Renegades and as time passed, they were booked on programs with many of his childhood idols; Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, Red Smiley, Doc Watson and Mac Wiseman.  Truly, his musical dream had come true.  God had answered his prayer.  To this day Kenny still plays a few dates with the Bluegrass Renegades each year.    About twenty years ago, he rededicated his life to Christ and became a member of Fort Lee Baptist Church.  It was there that he became part of a group called the Fort Lee Singers.  It was from his association with this group that ChurchYard Grass formed.  With the help of family and friends, CYG has grown by “leaps and bounds”.  Kenny notes that “we all give God the credit for our success and we also give a special thanks to our friend and supporter, Judie Balackie”.  The help she has given them ranges from radio play and encouragement, to some of the earlier bookings that helped get them started.     Kenny hopes the group is able to expand their horizons in the coming year, meet new friends and revisit old ones.  “It is a pleasure for me to play with the guys in ChurchYard Grass for we enjoy the company of one another and we all love the Lord”. DON FUSSELL:  Music has always been a part of my life.  As a small child, I can remember my Dad’s family coming over for Christmas, singing hymns and Christmas carols.  He had three brothers and three sisters.  Mom played an old upright piano that must have weighed 1,000 pounds.  As I grew older, realizing that all of the good parts had been taken, I learned to sing harmony.    Mom’s brother and his two sons also played music.  I thought that what they played was a little weird.  One of them had a real small guitar and the other had a round instrument with a long neck.  My brother Ray, who was eight years older than I, played guitar with them.  He told me that the small guitar was called a “man-doe-lin” and the other one was called a “ban-joe”.  All I knew was that they sang and played real fast.  I guess that this was my first exposure to Bluegrass music.    My first public appearance came when I was still in Elementary School.  My sister, Diane, who is three years younger, and I sang “Silver Bells”.  We practiced that song and practiced that song until I could almost sing it in my sleep.    As I grew older and my voice deepened, I sang with a men’s chorus, church choirs and several gospel quartets.  The men’s chorus was something different.  We had between 25 and 40 men singing four-part harmony.  They were called the Area Wide Men’s Chorus and the members came from five different churches.  I sang with them for three years and noticing that a lot of us were getting a little heavier, jokingly suggested that we change the name to “Wide Area Men’s Chorus”.  One of the quartets that I sang with was the “Fussell Brothers Quartet”, which consisted of my brother Ray, two of his sons, and me.  All of us could sing bass, but because I was the least musically talented member, I got to keep the bass part and they took the other parts.    After I came to Fort Lee Baptist Church, I joined a group that sang at nursing and retirement homes.  It was with this group that I started singing songs made famous by Jim Reeves.  He was one of my favorite country singers whose satin smooth voice was silenced much too soon in a plane crash.    In early 2002, ChurchYard Grass asked me to help with their second CD, In His Arms.  Later that year, they invited me to join the group.  I still wonder why, except that they needed another person to help with moving the equipment.    Even though my dad, mom and brother have gone to be with the Lord, I realize that I have been blessed much more than I deserve.  I had loving parents, a big brother and a little sister.  Virginia, my wife of 37 years, is my biggest fan.  We have three children, Beth, Chris and Mike, that I am very proud of and all the kids sing.  I have seven grandchildren that  I enjoy, and each one is different.  Now, I get the chance to sing with CYG, four men who are not only good musicians, but good Christians.  Our minister has a favorite expression that is so true – God is Good…All the Time.  All the time…God is Good.   TRACY PENDLETON: Tracy was born and raised in Sandston, Virginia (East of Richmond) and currently resides there with his wife, Susan, and their two daughters, Mallory and Abby.  ChurchYard Grass is the first organized bluegrass band he has been in, but his varied musical tastes date back to his early childhood.  His bluegrass influence comes from his father, who was and still is, a great lover of bluegrass and old time music, and his grandfather, who was also a banjo player performing from the late ‘20’s until his death in 1979.  Another big bluegrass influence in his life was his great uncle, Glenn Reynolds, who was a mandolin player and long-time judge at the annual Galax Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, Virginia.    In addition to bluegrass music, Tracy enjoys Big Band, Classical, and Celtic music.  These latter choices influenced by his background on the trumpet and saxophone.  When not playing music, Tracy enjoys riding his Harley Davidson, hacking at golf balls, watching old black and white movies, and any western movie with Clint Eastwood or John Wayne.  His family enjoys vacations at the beach, trips to Disney World and all water sports that can be done behind a boat.  They have one dog, Chestnut (who thinks he is human), who either enjoys bluegrass music or just likes being around the guys when they practice.    Tracy is thankful for the opportunities CYG has been afforded and can think of no better group of friends to play with than the members of ChurchYard Grass.    Tracy plays a Gibson RB 250 banjo and a Martin D-15 Custom guitar. DONNIE WARTHAN: Donnie was born in Hopewell, Virginia, July 26, 1960.  He now resides in Sandston, Virginia with his wife Kathy, his son Cameron and his daughter Brandy.  His earliest recollection of old time Gospel Music was as a young boy at an old backwoods country church.  His grandfather was a Minister and the music for the congregation was usually provided with guitars, tambourines and whatever may have been available.  His love for Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel came when he was approximately 8 or so.  He remembers riding along back country roads with his dad searching for lost hunting dogs and listening to the Stanley Brothers, Don Reno and Red Smiley, Flatt and Scruggs plus many others on an 8 track tape deck.  After learning a few chords on the guitar and a few licks on the banjo, he soon found the joy of just picking.  Donnie has had the pleasure of performing with many local groups including: "Southern Edition", "Virginia Bluegrass Band", plus "Heritage" with his father Donald Warthan.     He enjoys spending time with his family who provides much support and share in his love for music.  His family enjoys summer vacations in the Outer Banks, N.C., Disney World and just being together at a "good ole CYG concert".  Donnie enjoys the outdoors.  One of his favorite pastimes is hunting or just being in a quiet place with nature.  His life is serving God and looking forward to wherever He may lead.