Danny Roberts is a mandolin player, singer, and songwriter from Leitchfield, Kentucky. In 1982 he co-founded the bluegrass gospel band New Tradition, which toured for nearly 20 years. After it stopped touring he worked for Gibson’s mandolin division, then in 2004 became a founding member of the Grascals, who won IBMA Entertainer of the Year in 2006 and 2007. He has played mandolin in the Grascals for more than 20 years.
Why Roberts matters
Roberts is a steady, tasteful band mandolinist with deep knowledge of the instrument from both sides: as a player and as a builder. At Gibson he headed the mandolin division, and in 2025 McClanahan introduced a Danny Roberts signature model. In the Grascals he has backed Dolly Parton, the Grand Ole Opry crowd, and festival audiences with clean, traditional mandolin. His 2025 instrumental Lawson Sizemore is named for two of his mandolin heroes, Doyle Lawson and Herschel Sizemore.
Life and career
Roberts grew up on a farm in Leitchfield, Kentucky, next door to his lifelong friend, fiddler Jimmy Mattingly. He first picked up guitar to back Mattingly and started winning contests on guitar, then on mandolin. With friends from the contest circuit he co-founded New Tradition in 1982. The band toured for nearly 20 years, ten of them full time, recorded ten albums, played the Grand Ole Opry, and made Seed of Love, a video that reached number one on TNN.
When New Tradition stopped touring in 2000, Roberts joined Gibson Musical Instruments, where he rose to head of the mandolin division. He also played with Marty Raybon, Larry Cordle, Melonie Cannon, and Ronnie Reno’s band, the Reno Tradition.
In February 2004 the Grascals formed in Nashville, and Roberts joined as a founding member, reunited with Mattingly. Their first album came out on Rounder. The band became Dolly Parton’s opening act and backing band, made its Opry debut with her at the Ryman in 2005, and won IBMA Entertainer of the Year in 2006 and 2007. Roberts released his first solo album, Mandolin Orchard, in 2004, and Nighthawk on Mountain Home in 2014. Since 2022 he has released a run of singles on Mountain Home, including the instrumental Lawson Sizemore in 2025.
Playing style
Roberts plays clean, melodic, traditional mandolin with a strong chop. His breaks follow the melody and sit well in a hard-driving band.
As a songwriter and singer in his solo work, he shows a gentler side, with mandolin parts built to frame the song.
Influences and legacy
Roberts names Doyle Lawson and Herschel Sizemore as mandolin heroes. He has played beside Jimmy Mattingly, Terry Eldredge, Jamie Johnson, Terry Smith, Kristin Scott Benson, and Dolly Parton.
The Grascals were mentored by Bobby Osborne, who was a special guest at one of their first shows. New Tradition served as a training ground for players who went on to bands like the Lonesome River Band and Rhonda Vincent and the Rage.
Signature tunes and songs
Lawson Sizemore Danielle’s Waltz The Drifter.
Essential recordings
Mandolin Orchard (2004) The Grascals (Rounder) Nighthawk (Mountain Home, 2014)
Awards and honors
IBMA Entertainer of the Year, with the Grascals (2006) IBMA Entertainer of the Year, with the Grascals (2007)
Watch and listen
Roberts plays his tune Danielle’s Waltz on a Sorensen mandolin. Listen to his clean tone.
What to learn from Roberts
Learn a twin mandolin part. Have a friend play the melody of a fiddle tune while you play a harmony a third above it, note for note. Learning to hold a harmony line against a melody will sharpen your ear and your timing.
Sources
The Grascals, Wikipedia Danny Roberts, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Danny Roberts, World Music Central Danny Roberts’ Lawson Sizemore pays tribute to mandolin heroes, Mountain Home Music Company Grascals timeline, RolandNote
Related players
See the mandolin players hub and the mandolin guide. Roberts’s heroes include Doyle Lawson. Bobby Osborne mentored his band. Adam Steffey is another top band mandolinist of his generation.