Junior Sisk
| Junior Sisk | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Harry Sisk, Jr. |
| Born |
November 6, 1964 Arlington, Virginia |
| Genres | Bluegrass music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, bass |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Rebel Records, Mountain Fever Records |
| Associated acts | Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice, Baucom, Bibey and BlueRidge |
| Website | juniorsisk |
| Notable instruments | |
| 1975 Martin D-35 (named "Sally") | |
Harry "Junior" Sisk is a guitarist and vocalist in the bluegrass tradition, best known for his work with his band Rambler's Choice. He cites the hard-driving bluegrass of the Stanley Brothers as a major influence on his approach to bluegrass music.
Sisk was born in Arlington, but was raised in Ferrum, Virginia. His early interest in music was sparked by his father Harry Sisk Sr., who wrote songs and played guitar, and his mother who sang. When Sisk was 14, his parents gifted him with an upright bass. Sisk began performing in local bands at age 16, first playing bass but eventually switching to guitar. He also played in his family’s band Dreamin’ Creek with his father and cousins.
In the early 1990s, Sisk wrote songs made popular by the Lonesome River Band, such as "A Game (I Can't Win)," "My Heart Belongs to You," and "Tears are Blinding Me." Playing bluegrass every Saturday at Partners II bar in Centreville, Virginia, he met many other bluegrass musicians, such as Del McCoury, the Johnson Mountain Boys, and the Bluegrass Cardinals.
In 1995, Sisk and his cousin songwriter Tim Massey began playing with Wyatt Rice and Santa Cruz, which also included Elmer Burchett (banjo) and Ricky Riddle (mandolin). They released the album Picture in a Tear in 1996.
Sisk formed Rambler’s Choice in 1998. Besides Sisk, the band included Massey, Elmer Burchett, Jimmy VanCleve, and Allan Perdue. Rambler’s Choice released the album Sounds of the Mountains on Rounder Records, but dissolved in 2001.
In 2001, Sisk worked with the band Lost and Found, then in 2002, he joined Baucom, Bibey and BlueRidge. BlueRidge toured extensively and recorded three albums, and disbanded in 2006 because Bibey wanted to join Grasstowne.
In 2007, Sisk re-formed Rambler’s Choice with Massey, Darrell Wilkerson (banjo), Chris Harris (mandolin), and Billy Hawks (fiddle) and in 2008, they released the album Blue Side of the Blue Ridge on Rebel Records. The album contained original and traditional songs, and was produced by Ronnie Bowman.
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