Randy Crittenden - Dobro
Randy just loves to play music of all kinds - bluegrass, contemporary Christian, old Rock & Roll, country - anything but Rap. He plays Dobro with Rappahannock Crossing, AND bass in church AND in a local oldies band. Randy has written several of the songs performed by Rappahannock Crossing. His tenor vocals help give the band its "bluegrassy" sound. Randy's favorite dobro player is the late, great Mike Auldridge and his favorite group is the Seldom Scene. His bluegrass resume includes stints with Dragon Run, Made From Scratch, Maryland Green, Flatt Out and EasyStreet bands. Oh, and now he's learning to play the cello. Heaven help us!
Randy is a retired police executive from Maryland. He lives in Deltaville, Virginia, with his wife, Eileen, grandson Alex, and a bunch of laying hens - HE LIKES EGGS, okay?!
Randy just loves to play music of all kinds - bluegrass, contemporary Christian, old Rock & Roll, country - anything but Rap. He plays Dobro with Rappahannock Crossing, AND bass in church AND in a local oldies band. Randy has written several of the songs performed by Rappahannock Crossing. His tenor vocals help give the band its "bluegrassy" sound. Randy's favorite dobro player is the late, great Mike Auldridge and his favorite group is the Seldom Scene. His bluegrass resume includes stints with Dragon Run, Made From Scratch, Maryland Green, Flatt Out and EasyStreet bands. Oh, and now he's learning to play the cello. Heaven help us!
Randy is a retired police executive from Maryland. He lives in Deltaville, Virginia, with his wife, Eileen, grandson Alex, and a bunch of laying hens - HE LIKES EGGS, okay?!
Isaac Hyde - Mandolin
Isaac, originally from Hampton VA, was born into a musical family. His earliest recollections include Sundays in his granddad's church, where he learned about Jesus, Southern gospel, bluegrass and the importance of tight four-part harmonies. His father, Sam, is a longstanding member of Solid Rock, Tidewater Virginia's premier bluegrass gospel group. His brother, Caleb, and sister, Mikayla, are also gifted bluegrass musicians.
At the age of 8, Isaac started taking music lessons - mandolin, fiddle and guitar - from local legend Bill Gurley in Lancaster VA. And that lesson money was well spent! Ten years later, Isaac emerged as one of the best mandolin and fiddle players in the Commonwealth (and he's no slouch on the guitar either). His musical resume includes stints with Made From Scratch, Bluegrass Traditions and Southern Strings. He has played fiddle with the popular bluegrass gospel group Solid Rock since 2009, with Sam and Caleb.
Isaac lives in Barhamsville VA with his beautiful wife, Colleen, and their three younguns. He works as a brick mason for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. And Isaac LOVES to hunt. He is always looking for more land to hunt so if anyone is handing out permission slips...just sayin'.
Isaac, originally from Hampton VA, was born into a musical family. His earliest recollections include Sundays in his granddad's church, where he learned about Jesus, Southern gospel, bluegrass and the importance of tight four-part harmonies. His father, Sam, is a longstanding member of Solid Rock, Tidewater Virginia's premier bluegrass gospel group. His brother, Caleb, and sister, Mikayla, are also gifted bluegrass musicians.
At the age of 8, Isaac started taking music lessons - mandolin, fiddle and guitar - from local legend Bill Gurley in Lancaster VA. And that lesson money was well spent! Ten years later, Isaac emerged as one of the best mandolin and fiddle players in the Commonwealth (and he's no slouch on the guitar either). His musical resume includes stints with Made From Scratch, Bluegrass Traditions and Southern Strings. He has played fiddle with the popular bluegrass gospel group Solid Rock since 2009, with Sam and Caleb.
Isaac lives in Barhamsville VA with his beautiful wife, Colleen, and their three younguns. He works as a brick mason for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. And Isaac LOVES to hunt. He is always looking for more land to hunt so if anyone is handing out permission slips...just sayin'.
Mike Nicely - Guitar
Mike's bluegrass background is rooted in his hometown, Covington, Virginia - about as far west as you can go without being in West Virginia. He brings his love for traditional bluegrass - Reno & Smiley, Flatt & Scruggs and Ralph Stanley - to Rappahannock Crossing. His high baritone vocals and hard-driving guitar help keep the rest of us in touch with the reason we started playing bluegrass in the first place. He is also the "class clown" who loves to tease band mates and unwitting audience members. Mike has been a member of EasyStreet, Flatt Out and Made From Scratch bluegrass bands. When he's not playing bluegrass or aggravating his neighbors, Mike LOVES to fish!
Mike is a retired chief deputy from his county sheriff's office. He lives in Gloucester, Virginia, with his long-suffering wife, Earline, and a prissy little girly dog named "Zoey".
Mike's bluegrass background is rooted in his hometown, Covington, Virginia - about as far west as you can go without being in West Virginia. He brings his love for traditional bluegrass - Reno & Smiley, Flatt & Scruggs and Ralph Stanley - to Rappahannock Crossing. His high baritone vocals and hard-driving guitar help keep the rest of us in touch with the reason we started playing bluegrass in the first place. He is also the "class clown" who loves to tease band mates and unwitting audience members. Mike has been a member of EasyStreet, Flatt Out and Made From Scratch bluegrass bands. When he's not playing bluegrass or aggravating his neighbors, Mike LOVES to fish!
Mike is a retired chief deputy from his county sheriff's office. He lives in Gloucester, Virginia, with his long-suffering wife, Earline, and a prissy little girly dog named "Zoey".
Mitch Tolson - Bass
Mitch hails from Mechanicsville, Virginia, and has played in several bluegrass bands during the past fifteen years, including Willow Creek, The Dust Cutters, and Old Dogs New Tricks. He grew up in Lorton, Virginia (not the prison), and Atlanta, Georgia, and enjoys playing a variety of music - bluegrass, country, gospel and southern gospel, folk, and classic rock. His favorite musical influences are Herb Pedersen, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, cousin Ray Tolson, and hymn writer Fanny Crosby. He also enjoys playing at local jams and open mics and is a member of his local church's praise team.
Mitch joined Rappahannock Crossing in December 2022 and we're glad to have him.
Mitch hails from Mechanicsville, Virginia, and has played in several bluegrass bands during the past fifteen years, including Willow Creek, The Dust Cutters, and Old Dogs New Tricks. He grew up in Lorton, Virginia (not the prison), and Atlanta, Georgia, and enjoys playing a variety of music - bluegrass, country, gospel and southern gospel, folk, and classic rock. His favorite musical influences are Herb Pedersen, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, cousin Ray Tolson, and hymn writer Fanny Crosby. He also enjoys playing at local jams and open mics and is a member of his local church's praise team.
Mitch joined Rappahannock Crossing in December 2022 and we're glad to have him.
Curtis Brizendine - Banjo
A founding member of Rappahannock Crossing, Curtis is one of the finest banjoists in Virginia. His tasteful licks and clear picking style help make the band's sound unique. And his baritone vocals add so much to the band's awesome harmonies.
Curtis is now retired and is able to spend more time with his grandchildren - camping and attending their sports events. Thankfully, he still has time to pick with the band! He lives in Gloucester with his wife, Kim, and their Shih Tzu, Layla.
A founding member of Rappahannock Crossing, Curtis is one of the finest banjoists in Virginia. His tasteful licks and clear picking style help make the band's sound unique. And his baritone vocals add so much to the band's awesome harmonies.
Curtis is now retired and is able to spend more time with his grandchildren - camping and attending their sports events. Thankfully, he still has time to pick with the band! He lives in Gloucester with his wife, Kim, and their Shih Tzu, Layla.