About The Front Porch Boys Bluegrass Band

From left to right Tom Nowlin, Clark Speck and J.P. Price, barely visible at far left is the late Jon Stoll, on fiddle.

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The Front Porch Boys                          Bluegrass Band

In this day and age of music made famous by movies, and country crossover artists, The Front Porch Boys take pride in bluegrass authenticity.  Audiences are immediately drawn in by the tight harmonies, fast, swinging picking and southbound train rhythm that takes you right to the heart and soul of bluegrass - the music made famous by Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, J.D. Crowe and Doyle Lawson. The group was formed in 2001 by guitarist Clark Speck, a luthier by trade (and fine reputation) near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Originally, from McMinnville, Tennessee, the sound of acoustic instruments broadcast from the Porter Wagoner show, Flatt and Scruggs TV, and the Saturday afternoon Opry on local WSM-TV caught his ear and found its way onto his guitar. Clark’s vocals lend the lion’s share of bluegrass authenticity to the group sound. Banjoist Tom Nowlin started at age 13 on a borrowed Kay, learning Scruggs rolls off records played at half speed. Nowadays, his driving Gibson Granada and vocal work keep everything moving – usually at full speed – or better. Jim Price – or just JP as he’s called – played professionally in the late 70s with ‘Grass Food & Lodging, a regionally favorite bluegrass band of the period. The FPB’s yanked him out of musical retirement a couple years back to dust off his mandolin chops and sing a little harmony. The latest member, Greg Spencer spent his youth playing bass in rock bands, then progressive, then improvisational rock, and then jazz. Clark had joined the church where Greg preaches, so when the band needed a bass player the persuasive improvisational aspects of Bluegrass (and a desire to grow heavy calluses) just piqued his curiosity enough to give it a go. The other FP boys are grateful and lucky to have Greg’s foundational energy. Based in Southeast Wisconsin, The Front Porch Boys Bluegrass Band creates a sound that takes you back to a place in time, a place in your mind, maybe somewhere you've never been before, but a place you think you know. After all, the songs are about the basic stuff of life - love, death, family, friendship, loneliness, and the promise of a better life to come. Y’all come !

In this day and age of music made famous by movies, and country crossover artists, The Front Porch Boys take pride in bluegrass authenticity.  Audiences are immediately drawn in by the tight harmonies, fast, swinging picking and southbound train rhythm that takes you right to the heart and soul of bluegrass - the music made famous by Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, J.D. Crowe and Doyle Lawson. The group was formed in 2001 by guitarist Clark Speck, a luthier by trade (and fine reputation) near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Originally, from McMinnville, Tennessee, the sound of acoustic instruments broadcast from the Porter Wagoner show, Flatt and Scruggs TV, and the Saturday afternoon Opry on local WSM-TV caught his ear and found its way onto his guitar. Clark’s vocals lend the lion’s share of bluegrass authenticity to the group sound. Banjoist Tom Nowlin started at age 13 on a borrowed Kay, learning Scruggs rolls off records played at half speed. Nowadays, his driving Gibson Granada and vocal work keep everything moving – usually at full speed – or better. Jim Price – or just JP as he’s called – played professionally in the late 70s with ‘Grass Food & Lodging, a regionally favorite bluegrass band of the period. The FPB’s yanked him out of musical retirement a couple years back to dust off his mandolin chops and sing a little harmony. The latest member, Greg Spencer spent his youth playing bass in rock bands, then progressive, then improvisational rock, and then jazz. Clark had joined the church where Greg preaches, so when the band needed a bass player the persuasive improvisational aspects of Bluegrass (and a desire to grow heavy calluses) just piqued his curiosity enough to give it a go. The other FP boys are grateful and lucky to have Greg’s foundational energy. Based in Southeast Wisconsin, The Front Porch Boys Bluegrass Band creates a sound that takes you back to a place in time, a place in your mind, maybe somewhere you've never been before, but a place you think you know. After all, the songs are about the basic stuff of life - love, death, family, friendship, loneliness, and the promise of a better life to come. Y’all come !