I've been paying close attention lately to some of Ron Stewart's backup.  He's awesome.  Who else do you think does great backup?

Earl

Earl yes but you have to mention Sonny and JD. Sonny was amazing.

ken

Another name that doesnt get mentioned is Joe Mullins. he's one of the great players who never gets enough press.

Craig Smith!! Incredible.... definitely Earl/JD influenced, but always recognizably his own. One of my big influences, for sure.

John Hartford comes to mind.

If it was banjo, Earl was great at it.

Richard Bailey and Ron Stewart are two of my favorites.

Russell Sparks

Earl, JD, Mills come to mind for straight bluegrass feel, I also love Bill Keiths jazzy and bouncy backup to vocals!

Watching him in concert from the second row, Ross Nickerson.
Of course, he's a really good picker. But where he went, when he moved
forward and back, which way he turned, made a remarkable difference to the mix.
Same for Nick Hornbuckle. They know what the audience will hear.

J.D.

This could be a really long list.  Jim Mills comes to my mind.

Lynwood Lunsford

Scott Vestal!

Can' forget Ralph Stanley. Rich

Kenny Ingram...........

The master of the backup "Charlie Cushman"

I love to watch and hear sammy shelor settle into a groove playing backup. Ron Block is also solid.

Great recommendations by everybody, I love listening to Doin' My Time with Earl playing for some nice inspiration for backup.

I always thought Sonny with all the original material  with all the big hits they done through the years was the most innovative in his backup of anyone I've heard.

Listen close to what Raymond Fairchild played behind The Crowe Brothers lyrics.

 Some great banjo for sure.

Ben Eldridge has been one of my favorites for a long time.  Very tasteful, but amazing back-up.

Mike

Rob McCoury is amazing. Great backup licks.

Kenny Ingram, Ron Block, Keith Arneson, Eric Gibson

Bill Evans does great back-up!  A couple of years back I saw Pete Wernick play with a band at the Argyle Festival in North Texas (this was not his regular band) - I never got the chance to tell Pete that my wife and I were very, very impressed with Pete's back-up.  We saw and heard him play and demonstrate that sometimes 'less is more' and that sometimes 'don't play at all' for a bit fits the song beautifully.  Phil 

Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 01/25/2012 16:40:25