by James Christopher Monger
Formed in 2001, bluegrass sextet Cherryholmes spans two generations of the Nashville-via-Arizona-based family of the same name, including father Jere (bass/vocals), mother Sandy Lee (mandolin/vocals), daughters Cia Leigh (banjo/guitar/vocals) and Molly Kate (fiddle/vocals), and sons B.J. (fiddle/vocals) and Skip (guitar/mandolin/vocals). They have released three albums on their own label, Still a Little Rough Around the Edges (2001), Dressed for Success (2002), Bluegrass Vagabonds (2003) and two on the legendary Ricky Skaggs Skaggs Family label, 2004's eponymous Cherryholmes, which received a Grammy nomination in 2006, and 2007's Cherryholmes II: Black and White. The band's electrifying live shows often feature Irish step dancing, old-time claw hammer banjo tunes, and even yodeling. The group is a regular performer at the prestigious Grand Ole Opry.