Band called flint hill?

[LoneStarMandolin]

about 30 years ago I heard a group at an east Texas bluegrass festival. they were called Flint Hill and I thought they were spectacular. bought a tape and played it till it wore out.

well, today I found that old tape. can't help but wonder what happened to that group. the tape is called "come on back" and has Billy's in the Lowground, John Deer Tractor, Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss me and more on it. they were out of Gate City, VA the fine print tells me. they were:

Bill Dearstone - guitar
Tommy Freeman - banjo and guitar
James A Shelton - lead guitar and Dobro
Janice McCombs - bass
Mike Bond - mandolin

anybody know anything about Flint Hill? it's a long shot but I thought I'd try.

[Steve Perry]

I don't know anything about the band itself, but James A. Shelton is probably James Alan Shelton who's played lead guitar for Ralph Stanley for several years.

James Alan Shelton

or

James Alan Shelton at CDbaby

[Bobbie Dier]

Tommy Freeman is still in East Tenn. Tommy wrote the tune "Today is the day I get my gold watch and chain" for Richard Bennett's CD. I see him from time to time. He plays guitar for my band when our guitar picker is gone. He use to have a music store here in my town. I think he has a music store near White Pine, Tenn now. He is one of my favorite people. He played in a group with Lloyd Douglas for a while a few years back. Can't remember the name of it. It was a touring festival band.

I think Mr Dearstone makes mandolins. I'm pretty sure he is still around East Tenn Southwest Va area.

James Alan Shelton is the same guy. It has to be because he is from this area too and played with a lot of those guys.

I know a Janice bass player. I have her down in my phone book as Janice--Bass player. I don't know her last name but I'll bet it is the same person. She played with the Wildwood Girls for a while.

[Bobbie Dier]

Correction.. Bill Dearstone is not the mandolin maker. It is Ray Dearstone who makes the mandolins.

[Bobbie Dier]

I talked to a friend who was in that group at one time. He said there were several different members who toured in Texas with the group at different times. His name is Gregg Fields he played guitar but he can play anything well so he might have played bass or mandolin even. He said Barry Bales played Dobro in the group when he was with them. I thought that was pretty cool. I didn't know Barry Bales played Dobro.

He also said the Mandolin player Mr Bond moved out west somewhere to work.

[LoneStarMandolin]

imapickin,

please thank your friend for the good info. and tell him somewhere in Texas there's still a guy who thinks Flint Hill was just greatness!

thanks.

[Bobbie Dier]

OK I will. He will be glad to hear it.