Native Floridians Gail Gillespie and husband Dwight Rogers are consummate old time musicians.  Before moving to North Carolina, they were part of the fabled Bucksnort Barndance Band of Gainesville, along with David Forbes and Brent and Inslee Baldwin.

They played for square dances and performances of the Cross Creek Cloggers, and they were staples at the Florida Folk Festival throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.They were frequent contestants (and winners) at FOTMC.

Since moving to North Carolina in 1986, where Dwight teaches at UNC, they have met many area old time musicians and can be heard playing with 4 or 5 different groups at any one time. Recent ensembles include the East Carolina Catbirds and the Walkertown Rangers (with fiddler Kirk Sutphin). In 1994, Gail, Alice Gerrard, and Sharon Sandomirsky released a cassette, The Herald Angels. The year 2001 saw the release of Gail Gillespie and Friends, Travelin’ Shoes , which showcases Gail and Dwight in several different groups. Produced by Bob Carlin, it features some powerful and spirited old time singing and playing.

In late 2002, it was announced that Gail will be the new editor of  the Old Time Herald, with transitioning assist from former editor Alice Gerrard.

Dwight and Gail shared Guest of Honor duties with their friend Jim Collier. He has played old time music since his high school days in Raleigh, N.C.  Influenced early on by Appalachian musicians such as Roscoe Holcomb and Gaither Carlton, he carries a rich tradition of tunes and songs, ranging from hard-driving to sensitive and mournful. Jim is a superb rhythm guitar player, knock-down banjo player, fiddler, mandolinist and a powerful singer. A former member of the Tarheel Hotshots, one of the finest  North Carolina old time bands of the last decade, Jim also fiddles with the County Commissioners (with Dwight and Gail).  He now plays with the old time group Big Medicine. They have released the CD, Too Old To Be Controlled on the Yodel-Ay-Hee Label. Check them out on the web at: www.bigmedmusic.com.

Jim Collier has been playing old-time and bluegrass music since high school days in Raleigh, N.C. Influenced early on by Appalachian musicians such as Roscoe Holcomb and Gaither Carlton, he carries a rich tradition of tunes and songs, ranging from hard-driving to sensitive and mournful. Jim also plays rhythm guitar player, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle.

Discography: Bucksnort Barndance Band Square Dance with old time Southern music Sunny Mountain Records – LP The Herald Angels Halo 001 – Cassette Gail Gillespie and Friends Travelin’ Shoes Bucksnort 001 – CD Big Medicine Too Old To Be Controlled Yodel-Ay-Hee 43 – C Big Medicine Fever In The South Yodel-Ay-Hee 053-CD