Wimberley Bluegrass Band

Wimberley Bluegrass Band
Genres
Years active2008-Present
AwardCalifornia American Entertainers Hall of Fame (2026)
MembersDanielle Wimberley

James Wimberley

Mark Wimberley

Michael Wimberley
Websitewww.wimberleybluegrassband.com

Wimberley Bluegrass Band is an American bluegrass group that has been recording and performing since 2008.[1] The band is made up of the Wimberley siblings, Danielle, James, Mark, and Michael. Their musical style is strongly rooted in vocal harmonies and draws heavily on traditional 1940s-era bluegrass[2] and western swing. The group gained prominence in the Los Angeles music scene after an article appeared in CBS-LA naming them one of LA's Top-Five Bluegrass Bands.[3]

In 2026, Wimberley Bluegrass Band was inducted into the California American Entertainers Hall of Fame.[4]

History

The Wimberley siblings grew up in California and asked their parents for a banjo one Christmas after hearing Foggy Mountain Breakdown by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol. 1 album.[5] They began performing regularly at Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen, California. They developed an encyclopedic knowledge of the music's history,[2] often memorizing album personnel from liner notes.[6]

Within the next few years, Wimberley Bluegrass Band began performing and headlining[7] at festivals and making occasional television[8] and radio appearances.[2]

Influences

Wimberley Bluegrass Band members cited musical influences like Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs,[9] Ricky Skaggs, and Doyle Lawson.[10]

College and academia

In 2011, the Wimberley siblings made the choice to go to college at the same time, despite ranging five years in age from eldest to youngest.[11] They continued to perform during this time, incorporating their music into their academic careers, with a radio program on[12] Chapman Radio and participating in their KCET broadcasts.[13][14] They graduated from Chapman University together, walking commencement in the same weekend in 2016.[15][16] At the time, Michael was 17, making him Chapman University's youngest graduate.[17][11]

Notable work

The Wimberley Bluegrass Band met actor Atticus Shaffer at a concert in Pasadena[18] and through that introduction, Wimberley Bluegrass Band's original Hard Working Man[19] was featured on an episode[20] of ABC's hit sitcom The Middle.[21]

Wimberley Bluegrass Band participated in a benefit concert with John C Reilly produced by The New LA Folk Festival and LA Record for the Japanese Red Cross Society.[22]

Wimberley Bluegrass Band made an unaired appearance on season 9 of America's Got Talent.[23]

During their studies at Chapman University, they gave a bluegrass demonstration at TEDxChapmanU[24][25]

Wimberley Bluegrass Band appeared as a guest on Jonas & Warren's song California to Tennessee.[26]

Danielle and James, were featured musicians and background actors for a KFC Commercial featuring Darrell Hammond, parodying Colonel Sanders' Mandolin Band.[27][28]

Wimberley Bluegrass Band were part of the inaugural performance at the Musco Center for the Arts along with the Mariachi Divas.[29] They occasionally tour with Dennis Agajanian, making appearances with Greg Laurie, Franklin Graham, and Wil Graham. [30][31]

Music

Wimberley Bluegrass Band has released seven albums since 2008,[32][33] three of which are still in print.[34] They perform a mix of traditional and original music.[35][36]

Members

  • Danielle Wimberley - mandolin, vocals
  • James Wimberley - banjo, dobro, vocals
  • Mark Wimberley - guitar, bass, vocals
  • Michael Wimberley - fiddle, vocals[9]

Awards and Recognition

In 2010, Wimberley Bluegrass Band won 3rd place at the Topanga Banjo/Fiddle Contest band competition when they were very new to performing.[37]

Later that year, CBS-LA ran a news story heralding them as one of Los Angeles' Top Five Bluegrass Bands[3], calling them "exceptionally talented" and "sensational".

In 2026, the California American Entertainment Hall of Fame announced Wimberley Bluegrass Band was included in their lineup of inductees. The Hall of Fame recognizes honors the artists, musicians, and visionaries who have contributed significantly to the state’s rich and diverse musical heritage and those whose talent and influence have elevated California’s place in the global music landscape. Also inducted that year was Verdine White (Earth, Wind, and Fire), Cannibal and the Headhunters, Tierra, and Shotgun Kelly.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Banding Together - with the Wimberley Bluegrass Band | Orange Review". orangereview.com. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Wimberley Bluegrass band is a family affair". Orange County Register. 2014-01-22. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  3. 1 2 "Best Local Bluegrass Bands In LA - CBS Los Angeles". www.cbsnews.com. 2013-09-19. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  4. 1 2 Lawless, John (2026-03-27). "Wimberley Bluegrass Band to the California American Entertainment Hall of Fame". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2026-03-29.
  5. ↑ Lawless, John (2016-08-05). "Wimberley Bluegrass Band video tease". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  6. ↑ Jordan, Andrew. "Banding Together". Orange Plaza Review. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  7. ↑ "Wimberley Bluegrass Band". NAMM.org. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  8. ↑ SCVTV; Admin (2011-06-26). "Wimberley Bluegrass Band". SCVTV.com. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  9. 1 2 Takahama, Valerie (2022-02-21). "Culturephile: Meet the Wimberley Bluegrass Band from Orange". Orange Coast Mag. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  10. ↑ "Wimberley Bluegrass Band". NAMM.org. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  11. 1 2 "At age 17, Michael Wimberley becomes Chapman's youngest graduate". Orange County Register. 2016-05-23. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  12. ↑ "Teacher, Banjo Player, Advisor, Oh My! - Faculty Interview with Travis Bartosh". School of Communication. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  13. ↑ "*TUNE IN ALERT*: KCET Broadcasts 53rd ANNUAL WASSAIL CONCERT AT CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY". PBS SoCal. 2016-12-09. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  14. ↑ "PHOTOS — Chapman goes a-wassailing". Orange County Register. 2015-12-07. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  15. ↑ "Chapman graduation: Four bluegrass-playing siblings, four bachelor's degrees, all in one weekend". Orange County Register. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  16. ↑ "4 Siblings Ranging in Age From 22 to 17 All Graduating Together From Chapman University". KTLA. Archived from the original on 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  17. ↑ Hanson, Brittany (2016-05-16). "Tune in: Wimberley siblings featured on KTLA". Chapman Newsroom. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  18. ↑ Amrie (2017-05-16). "Atticus Shaffer on THE MIDDLE's "wonderful" Season Finale". My Take on TV. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  19. ↑ "The Middle" Steaming Pile of Guilt (TV Episode 2015) - Soundtracks - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-08-14 – via www.imdb.com.
  20. ↑ Chemel, Lee Shallat (2015-02-25), "Steaming Pile of Guilt", The Middle, Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn, Charlie McDermott, retrieved 2025-08-14
  21. ↑ "Banding Together - with the Wimberley Bluegrass Band | Orange Review". orangereview.com. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  22. ↑ "LOUVIN BROTHERS TRIBUTE". www.iseehawks.com. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  23. ↑ Hollywood Junket (2014-02-17). AMERICA'S GOT TALENT Season 9 L.A. Auditions -Wimberley Bulegrass Band. Retrieved 2025-11-04 – via YouTube.
  24. ↑ TEDx Talks (2015-09-02). Wimberley Bluegrass Band | Wimberley Bluegrass Band | TEDxChapmanU. Retrieved 2025-08-14 – via YouTube.
  25. ↑ Douglas, Cathi (2015-05-21). "Bluegrass-Playing Siblings Share a Bond and a Dream in Harmony". Chapman Newsroom. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  26. ↑ "Jonas & Warren". Spotify. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  27. ↑ Neumann, Sean (2017-09-12). "Why Did Colonel Sanders Press 30,000 Copies of a Children's Mandolin Record?". VICE. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  28. ↑ KFC TV Spot, 'Phillip' Featuring Darrell Hammond. Retrieved 2025-08-14 – via www.ispot.tv.
  29. ↑ Arp, Dennis (2016-03-01). "With Hardhat Concert, Chapman thanks all who helped build Musco Center". Chapman Newsroom. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  30. ↑ "Wimberley Bluegrass Band - Heroes and Friends". wimberleybluegrassband.com. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  31. ↑ "Seaside Community Church in Torrance hosts inaugural 4th of July Carnival and Concert". Daily Breeze. 2025-06-26. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  32. ↑ "Mark Wimberley". SpeakerHub. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  33. ↑ "Class Notes". www.chapman.edu. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  34. ↑ "Wimberley Bluegrass Band - Store". wimberleybluegrassband.com. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  35. ↑ Lawless, John (2016-08-05). "Wimberley Bluegrass Band video tease". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  36. ↑ Clark, Danny (2019-02-05). "2019 NAMM report, bluegrass edition". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  37. ↑ "Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Festival". Mandolin Cafe Forum. 2010-05-11. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
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