Band Members


	Although Bluegrass music has branched off into different paths down through the years, as other music has done, some things are better (at times) just left alone. That is the feeling of Tennessee Skyline’s members. Their own songs have the flavor and taste of material that is from a bygone era. Respect for traditional music is well-represented here.

	Nothing describes this band better than the statement on their business card - “Where Traditional Music is a Way of Life.” Each member of Tennessee Skyline certainly has his head focused in that direction.

		NOTE: Quotes in blue below are from Jack Tottle, Director Emeritus of the Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Program at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. They were created as liner notes for the first CD.


	Nate Aquino - Banjo

Nathan (Nate) Aquino of Blountville,Tn, holds down the banjo position for Tennessee Skyline, starting with the band in 2009. Nate began learning the banjo in 2006 at the age of 13. He turned 18 this year and does a mighty good job picking the 5-string. He has a great talent for pulling good tone and timing on the banjo. He handles some vocals for the group and also plays some guitar, after gaining a lot of knowledge in bluegrass in just a short time. Nate is a fine young Christian man and is a valuable asset to the band.


		-Jerry Keys, Banjo Player with
		Paul Williams & The Victory Trio

Audey Ratliff - Mandolin

	Audey Ratliff of Church Hill, TN, has brought to the band tasteful notes and arrangements on the mandolin. Audey is a well-balanced musician who has always added to any group he has worked with, and none more than here.

“Audey Ratliff is both a fine mandolin player and master instrument builder. Ratliff mandolins have been played by the likes of James Alan Shelton (with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys), Tammy Rogers, Adam Steffey, Jennifer Banks McLain, and Dino DiGiacomo (of the excellent Italian bluegrass band, Red Wine). Audey has played previously with Tim Stafford, Adam Steffey, Barry Bales, and Tom Ratliff (Audey’s Dad) in the Boys in the Band, and subsequently with G.C. Matlock in Leisure Tyme.”


		Kaley Thomas - Bass

	A seventeen-year-old from Kingsport, TN, Kayley first started playing bluegrass at the age of seven. A large inspiration to the younger generation and the “young at heart”, she has become a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Kayley plays bass, guitar (lead & rhythm), fiddle and banjo, and also sings lead and tenor. Not only is she the “best-looking” of the bunch... her vocals and bass playing have brought an “A+” to the grade of Tennessee Skyline.


	G. C. Matlock - Guitar

	G. C. Matlock of Kingsport, TN makes one wonder how a man can find so much tone in a guitar. A lifetime of music is what you hear when this man walks out on a stage and steps up to the mic. Also known as “The Rock”, G. C. can be described as “man says little - guitar says much.”

“G. C. Matlock’s magnificent rhythm and lead guitar playing has won him countless fans since the 1970’s with the bands Hard Times, Leisure Tyme and the East Tennessee State University Bluegrass Band. It’s a pleasure to hear him again in this new context. G. C. has, in recent years, begun teaching aspiring young players. Among them is Trey Hensley, who has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry periodically since his Opry debut as a pre-teenager playing with Marty Stuart and Earl Scruggs.”


		Jeff Osbourne - Guitar

	Jeff Osbourne is also a recent welcome addition to Tennessee Skyline. He plays rhythm guitar and sings tenor, baritone and lead. Full Bio Coming Soon!


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