The Bluegrass Messengers

Richard L. Matteson Jr. (guitar, lead & back-up vocals) is a nationally recognized finger style guitarist and author. He has written or been included in ten books by Mel Bay publications in Pacific, Missouri. His ninth book for Mel Bay, "Right-Handed Arpeggio Forms For Acoustic Guitar," a classic guitar technique book, was published in 2002 and is still in print. His new book, Mel Bay's Bluegrass Picker's Tune Book (279 pages with 213 bluegrass songs with stories and info about the songs) was just published in May 2006. Seven of Matteson's books have been based on folk songs or early American gospel songs.

He was the acting President of the Piedmont Classic Guitar Society from 1989 until 2005. Currently Matteson is the Program Director. During his tenure managing the society, the PCGS has hosted concerts by most of the great solo guitarists of our time. Matteson has organized concerts with Manuel Barrueco, the dedication concert for Celedonio Romero , and Christopher Parkening.

Matteson teaches guitar, bass, banjo, dulcimer, dobro, and fiddle at Duncan Music Teaching Studios in Winston-Salem, NC. He has taught college level guitar courses as director of Winston-Salem State and Salem College guitar programs.

He has written articles and been featured in workshops in such national publications as Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Soundboard Magazine, and Guitar Review Magazine.

Matteson has recorded 4 CD's of fingerstyle arrangements for solo guitar for Mel Bay Publications. He also has solo guitar recordings of three ragtime (Scott Joplin) tunes. In 1996 Matteson performed his ragtime piece, Tar-Heel Rag at half-time of the UNC basketball game in Smith Center before 14,000 fans. A solo recording of the Tar-Heel Rag is also available.

He has several other ensemble recordings available besides the 2 CD's with Bluegrass Messengers. A recording is available of Matteson's original works for guitar and string quartet was done at Salem College at a concert in the Piedmont Classic Guitar Society Fall series. A recording of Matteson's 1992 performance of three pieces for guitar, harmonica, and cello at the Chet Atkins concert in Reynolds Auditorium is available.

Besides his original compositions, Matteson recorded some of his original songs in "True Blue" in 1989 with his brother and harmonica player, Jeff Matteson. A later album of original songs with a Christian message was recorded in 1998.

Matteson has performed with or shared the stage with Chet Atkins, regularly with jazz legend Charlie Byrd, Doc Watson, as well as a host of his contemporaries such as Martin Simpson, Muriel Anderson and Preston Reed. He has played such large festivals as the Merle Watson Festival in Wilkesboro and performed and done workshops at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Concerts in Nashville.

He resides in Lexington, NC. He fishes professionally in the WalMart Bass League and is a part-time fishing guide on High Rock and other regional lakes. As the North Carolina editor for a southeast publication, Bass and Striper Magazine, Matteson contributes a regular feature article on bass fishing. He also writes freelance articles for other fishing publications.

His hobbies include writing novels, painting artwork, composing, doing illustrations for books and magazines, bridge, chess, and sports.

Alan T. Kirby (banjo, back-up vocals) is a native of rochester, NY but has lived in Winston-Salem for the last 35 years. He is married and has three children and three grandchildren.

Since retiring from R. J. Reynolds Tobacco International as VP of Human Resources, he has been involved with volunteer work around town, a heavy travel schedule to visit children and see the world, and enjoying the world of bluegrass music.

Kirby is one of the original members of the Messengers and has been playing the banjo for seven years. He is glad he doesn't have to make a living playing the banjo, but it sure is a lot of fun.

Mark L. Arrowood (banjo, back-up vocals) is a native of Winston-Salem, NC and makes his home in Northern Davidson County, NC. Arrowood is married and has two children.

Arrowood holds a Bachelor degree in Economics and a Master of Accounting degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a CPA and is employed by Sara Lee Intimate Apparel.

Arrowood teaches Sunday School and sings in the choir at New Friendship Baptist Church where he also plays on the softball team. When time permits Arrowood enjoys fishing and attending sporting events.

Arrowood has been playing the banjo for five years.

Melissa Dodson (mandolin, occasional vocal) is a sophomore at Appalachian State University and is majoring in mathematics. Her musical influences include her mother and grandfather. She grew up listening to bluegrass most of her life.

Dodson has played the mandolin for over five years and has played with the Bluegrass Messengers for three years. She also plays in church for the Sunday church services. Some of her favorite bluegrass performers are Bill Monroe, Ricky Scaggs, and Allison Krauss.

Tony Poindexter (dobro, back-up vocals) is a resident of Winston-Salem. When he saw Eric Clapton play a dobro on MTV he was hooked. Tony fell in love with that unique sound and twang of the dobro. Starting his search, he found a squarenecked dobro at a pawn shop, bought it, and started taking lessons from Richard. What he didn't know was that this style dobro lent itself to the bluegrass style of music. But, since he already had the instrument he decided to take bluegrass lessons. Later, he became one of the first of Messengers.

Tony is a teacher with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School system where he teaches in the Hospital/Homebound Education Center. An active Assistant Scoutmaster, Tony has been involved with troop 919 of Pfafftown for 20 years and loves every minute of it. He also attends Robinhood Road Baptist Church.

Anthony Dalton (bass)

Wiley Lamm (fiddle)

Rebecca Stevens (violin and vocals) started as a classical violinist at the age of 3, but her passion lies in Bluegrass and Old Time Music which her father encouraged her to play. She is currently seeking a Music Education degree from UNC-G.