Biography

“I was determined to carve out a music of my own. I didn’t want to copy anybody.” ~ Bill Monroe

Embracing a crossover sound between progressive bluegrass and acoustic country, the 2012 International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Band of the Year, Monroeville, has caught the attention of music lovers on both sides of the track.

At the band’s core is a belief that good music knows no boundaries. While paying homage to their roots of bluegrass and country music, Monroeville embraces that history and creates their own sound with original songwriting and arrangements that have been described as “a seamless flow through a range of musical styles and sounds, from bluegrass to country and pop”.

Each member is multi-instrumental, and individual members have been nominated for and or won awards from Dove, CCMA, IBMA, and or the GRAMMYS®.

From performing school programs to show kids the joy of music, to playing main stages of Grey Fox, ROMP and Rocky Grass, Monroeville is on their way to “carving out a music of their own”.

Management
Sheri Clark Media
sheri@shericlarkmedia.com
615.752.2848

Booking
booking@monroevilleband.com
Amanda Carson
615.739.0139

Radio
Linda Meyers
LAM Consulting
lameyers@mac.com
402.618.9231



Band Bios

Matthew Munsey

A GRAMMY® Nominated producer and artist, Matthew sings lead, baritone and tenor, and is principal mandolin player for Monroeville. Matt also writes, and plays guitar and bass for the band.

Starting at the age of ten touring with his family band, Matthew graduated to a regional band at the age of 16, and then travelled full time with a nationally touring bluegrass band. During the last few years, Matthew saw great success in the tourism entertainment business around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN. Matthew is one of founders of the band, starting Monroeville in 2010.

Matthew applies his business and production experience to his publicity company, Blu Wav, and serves as a consultant and web designer to several artists and organizations in the industry.

An energetic musician and exciting veteran performer to watch, Matthew gives 150% to the band, his music and ultimately to the fans.



Travis Houck

Travis is a dobro player from the ranks of award winning musicians graduated from the East Tennessee State University bluegrass program in Johnson City, Tennessee. He was born and raised in Chilhowie, Virginia – known as The Valley of the Deer, of we like to say he is one. One of the original members of the band, Travis not only brings his tremendous instrumental talent, but also adds a strong bass vocal to round out Monroeville’s full vocal sound.

Travis was one of the featured dobro players during the ResoSummit in Nashville in 2012, and is a GRAMMY® Nominated artist. He has also had the privileged of playing on stage with Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, and Porter Wagoner, among many others.

Known for being the quiet one, Travis may not say much on stage, but he always has a smile, and is a gentleman when he plays. But when he does, he lets his musicianship do the talking.



Eli Johnston

Eli is a multi instrumentalist, lead, baritone and tenor singer, and an accomplished songwriter. Eli’s main instrument in Monroeville is the acoustic guitar, but he is just as seasoned on the banjo, the stand up bass and the mandolin. Eli began playing professionally as a teenager with two nationally touring bluegrass acts, and then spent 5 years in musical theater as a lead singer and bass player.

Writing a large portion of the original music for the band, Eli is best known for a song he recorded, and co-wrote with a friend at age 17, “Captian,” that topped the XM and Sirius Bluegrass charts.

Eli has one of the biggest hearts you’ll ever find, and it shows through his songwriting and his performances on stage – and it is just as encompassing as when you meet him off stage.



Carl White

With nearly his whole life on the road as a musician, Carl White offers not only quality musicianship and singing, but knowledge as a veteran of the music industry. Carl is featured as a high tenor, lead and baritone, and is one of the most soulful bass players you’ll find in any genre.

Carl’s played his first stage show at the age of five on the drums. His mother and father had a touring group for over 20 years. He then was a part of the SGMA Vocal Group “The Nippers” at age 15, where he learned to play piano, guitar, mandolin and dobro, and started a career as a studio musician. Carl was a part of the multi DOVE nominated group Young Harmony, and the CCMA Vocal Trio of the Year several times over “The Jeff Treece Band”. He then spent 6 years with IBMA Award Winning and Hall of Fame “Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver” where he was featured on the award winning song, “Help is on the Way”, before joining Monroeville.

From the Opry to the Ryman, Gaither videos and playing at the prestigious JF Kennedy Center – Carl has been in every state and 9 countries. Carl’s professionalism is evident on stage. But most of all, he’s one of the funniest and loyal guys you ever want to meet, and it shows on stage!


Rachel Mayanovic

Some may see Rachel as new to the scene of acoustic music, but this classically trained “violinist” from age 10 to 18 seems to fit right in with the 4 “men” of Monroeville in the fiddle position. Rachel also plays guitar and mandolin, and sings in the band, and took lessons in all three starting around the age of 12. At age 16, Rachel received a full scholarship to the Kaufman Kamp in Maryville, TN, and was able to study with Bobby Hicks and Bruce Molsky. When offered to do advanced work with Mr. Hicks at age 16, Rachel knew this is what she wanted to do.

In a recent interview Rachel states, “It’s tough being the lone woman in the band, because they make me act like a guy sometimes, as in I have to get ready in 15 minutes. That’s impossible when you have hair and makeup! But I’m adjusting. They’re like big brothers.” Everyone finds her energy and her smile on and off the stage both infectious and fun.