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Eric Spencer
- guitar, vocals

Originally from southeastern West Virginia, Eric has been a member of Willow Branch since January 2009.  He began playing guitar in 1984 and bass fiddle in 2005.  An accomplished songwriter, Eric has also played with numerous bluegrass bands over the years...'Steel Creek' based in North Carolina in the mid-1990's; 'Belle Terry and the Alabama Grass' in Alabama during the early 2000's; and 'Mountain Rhythm' based in Georgia until 2007. 
Having resided in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia, Eric and his wife Linda are now happy to call Virginia their home and plan to settle in the Farmville area.
Eric says he is very excited to be a member of Willow Branch and is anxious to see what the future brings.
Gayle Noble - bass fiddle, vocals 

Gayle has been a member of Willow Branch since 1983.  She handles the emcee duties on stage and is the primary booking agent for the band.  
Gayle has twice been bestowed the honor of 'Best Female Vocalist' by the Virginia Folk Music Association.  When not performing with Willow Branch, Gayle sings with 'The Griffin Girls', a gospel group which features Gayle and her sisters.  To learn more about Gayle click on the link below.

http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/2002/21/after_hours.html


 
Doug McDonald - mandolin, vocals

Doug is a North Carolina native and has been a member of Willow Branch since 2001.  He has also been a member of 'The McDonald Brothers' and 'Steel Creek' bluegrass bands, both based in North Carolina.  Doug is a prolific songwriter with many compositions to his credit, many of which can be heard at most Willow Branch performances.  

   


Robert Noble - banjo, vocals


Robert started Willow Branch in February 1983. 
Before forming Willow Branch, Robert played guitar part-time with 'Mike Johnson & The Sounds of Bluegrass' based in Jacksonville, FL from 1979-1981.  He played banjo with the Palm Valley, FL based 'Valley Grass' from 1981-1983.  Robert also did a 9-month stint playing banjo for 'Chief Powhatan & The Bluegrass Braves' from Richmond, VA in 1989. 
Robert won the Georgia state bluegrass banjo championship at 'The Great Hahira Pick-In' in Hahira, GA in May 1982 while a member of the 'Valley Grass' and is the founding member and 1st President of the Piedmont Virginia Fiddle and Banjo Association in Charlottesville, Virginia.