VETERAN BROADCASTER & MUSICIAN: JOE MULLINS

Joe Mullins is a southwestern Ohio native who has been a recognizable banjo player, vocalist, and radio broadcaster for 30 years. Mullins toured and recorded as a founding member of the band The Traditional Grass until 1995, when he purchased WBZI Radio in Xenia, Ohio. Mullins recorded and performed with the band Longview, earning Song of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year awards from the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) in the late 1990’s. He was honored by winning an Instrumental Recording of the Year award in 2001 from the IBMA for his banjo work on Rebel Records’ Knee Deep In Bluegrass. Mullins was also one of many artists in 2006 sharing Album of the Year honors for Celebration of Life, on SkaggsFamily Records. Mullins owns an Ohio network of radio stations, adding three other stations over the past decade. Most weekdays he is on the air from 1 until 3PM featuring Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel music on all four stations and webcasting at www.myclassiccountry.com. He was a 2010 SPBGMA nominee for Broadcaster and Promoter of the Year and WBZI was nominated for Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year. He is SPBGMA’s 2011 SPBGMA Broadcaster of the Year.