With deep family roots in the hills of Kentucky, Julie Elkins was born and raised in the rugged mountains of Southwest Montana. Her uncle and noted banjo player, Willard "Buddy" Elkins, taught her the first tune she'd ever play when she was 7-years-old. Throughout her formative years, Julie would learn by ear, listening to her father's bluegrass record collection comprised of the classic recordings by Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, J.D. Crowe and Larry Sparks. Later, her interests broadened to include musical influence from artists such as Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and many others.
Elkins won numerous competitions, including a third consecutive trophy at the Classic West open banjo competition by age 11. She joined her first band, Wheel Hoss, and produced her first professionally recorded album before she was old enough to drive a car. She would perform with Wheel Hoss during her high school years, as the group became the first bluegrass band from the Northwest to gain national prominence. After releasing two well-received recordings and performing at festivals throughout the West, the band placed second at the International Bluegrass Showdown in 1993. By early 1994, she would become the banjo player and co-lead vocalist in the group that took first place in that competition, North Carolina's renowned bluegrass band, New Vintage.
New Vintage was nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association's Emerging Artist of the Year Award as the band's roots-based sound and powerhouse vocals catapulted them onto the national scene, providing Elkins with a priceless musical education while honing her signature hard-driving banjo style and clear, soulful vocals. The release of a 1997 recording entitled "Sands of Time" spawned a #2 hit on the Bluegrass Unlimited national charts, as the band captured the attention of the entire bluegrass industry and was invited to perform at such prestigious events as the IBMA FanFest, as well as at many of the world's top bluegrass festivals and venues.
After several years of performing with New Vintage, Elkins moved back out West to take some time off from the music business. At the end of a yearlong hiatus in the desert of New Mexico, Elkins was recruited into a band called Kane's River and moved back to her hometown of Bozeman, Montana in 1999. Fueled by a refreshing, creative approach to bluegrass music, Julie's return to music would again garner nationwide recognition with Kane's River and the 2000 release of their debut self-titled recording, which spent most of a year in the top ten of the BU charts and was hailed to set "a new standard in original bluegrass and acoustic music." Featuring Elkins' banjo, vocals and songwriting, the band released their second recording, "Same River Twice" in October of 2003 to great anticipation. Kane's River is again reaching new heights, as they perform throughout the country and their latest release is receiving rave reviews and radio airplay throughout the world.
While actively touring with Kane's River and appearing on numerous acclaimed recordings, Julie will again be residing in North Carolina as of April 2004 to put her full efforts toward new musical challenges and opportunities. She has many different projects in the works, including several studio sessions and plans to give banjo, guitar and vocal lessons in the Raleigh-Durham area.
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