Diamond Rio - Prior Projects

Prior Projects

Several of the members of Diamond Rio had experience in other bands before Diamond Rio's foundation. Lead vocalist Marty Roe was previously a member of a band called Windsong, which toured nationally in the early 1980s. Dana Williams, the band's bass guitarist, is a nephew of the Osborne Brothers, a bluegrass group which is a member of the Grand Ole Opry; Williams also played in a bluegrass band, and served as a backing musician for Cal Smith, Vassar Clements and Jimmy C. Newman. Dan Truman is a classically-trained pianist who had previously toured with Brigham Young University's Young Ambassadors musical troupe. Gene Johnson, the oldest member of the group, plays mandolin, fiddle, and guitar, had previously worked with David Bromberg, Keith Whitley and J. D. Crowe before joining Diamond Rio in 1985. Drummer Brian Prout was previously a member of the Hot Walker Band, before joining Heartbreak Mountain, a band whose lineup also included Marty Raybon (who would later become the lead singer of the band Shenandoah). Jimmy Olander had previously been a member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.