Sara Grey

b. Sara Lee Grey, 22 March 1940, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Playing banjo, dulcimer and autoharp, Grey is a well qualified performer and folklorist. Between 1958 and 1968, she studied theatre arts and music, achieving a B.F.A. Degree with honours in theatre arts and speech. She also studied for Masters degrees in theatre arts and folklore. Her career combined acting and teaching, but she spent the period between 1967 and 1970 travelling the USA, collecting and performing traditional North American and British ballads and songs. An exponent of ‘Old Time Banjo’, Grey has toured many countries, and has featured on television and radio. She recorded a number of albums with Ellie Ellis - they also appeared on the Fellside Records sampler Flash Company (1987) - but personal plans and the desire to work on new material and projects meant that the partnership ended. Grey has a light, laid back vocal style which she accompanies with an equally gentle playing style on the banjo. She is also a member of the Lost Nation Band, which featured Roger Wilson and Brian Peters. Peters left in 1992 and was replaced by Dave Burland. After returning to America in the late 90s, Grey released the typically adventurous and beguiling Back In The Airly Days.