Sonya Stead  |  Missy Pyne  |  Crystal Richardson  |  Ashley Davis  |  Julie Brown

Sweet Potato Pie Band History

Sweet Potato Pie Band History

Sweet Potato Pie formed in January of 2000, with Sonya Stead, Penny Oman, and Angela Murphy Sonya was 7 months pregnant with her third child with a guitar strapped over her stomach, Penny had just bought her first banjo a few months before, and Angela had been away from music for a number of years and wanted to learn to play the bass. We were not your typical band by any stretch. We really were not planning on performing; we only wanted to play a little music. The first song we tried to play was “You are my Sunshine.” We couldn’t believe our ears. It really sounded like…music! Someone asked Sonya, “Why are you playing bluegrass?” Her response was simple, “Because Penny has a banjo!”

We spent the first three years learning the ropes, and playing at as many local venues as we could. Several people were very instrumental in helping us get started…Steve Bass, whose insight and encouragement have been priceless, Jan Johannson, who taught us the basic structure of bluegrass, Grace Naylor who gave us her honest and sometimes brutal input, but never ending support, and Steve Dilling whose expertise and kindness has brought us out of obscurity.

The Pie never tried to fit into one musical box; we just wanted to play the music that we enjoyed, which we dubbed “sweetgrass”. In 2002, the girls were joined by Kevin Hopkins. He was a seasoned bluegrass picker who had been away from music for 15 years and was looking for a place to plug back in. Kevin played with us for years, but stepped out to pursue other ventures. He remains a good friend.

In the fall of 2002, Missy Pyne joined the group to put some spice in the vocals. Her smooth candy-like voice was just what the Pie needed to make its mark. When Missy joined the group it was like she had always been with us. It was magic!

We cut our first CD in early 2004, not long after Missy joined the group. Nine of those 13 songs were original tunes written by Sonya and created by the band. There is a warmth and genuineness that comes across in the “Ties that Bind” CD. You really can see the heart of the Pie in that first project.

In late 2006, just six weeks before we were scheduled to go into the recording studio, Randolyn Emerson joined the group to play the fiddle. Her contributions really added to our project “Patches of Blue”. This album included 7 new original tunes and a few old favorites which fans loved.

In January 2007, Shannon Thorne joined our group. Shannon was a classical violinist with country flair. She brought a new dimension to the band with her exciting stage presence.

In October 2007, longtime friend and banjo player, Penny Oman bid farewell to the band. With an opening at the banjo position, Crystal Franklin Richardson jumped at the chance to play with the band. Crystal came to the band with a deep bluegrass heritage. Her banjo expertise and sultry vocals rounded out the Pie's sound. Her songwriting is dynamic and because of her talents, she pushed the group to a new level.

One of the highlights of 2007 was becoming sponsored by The North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission. As their representatives, we have the honor of singing their jingle everywhere we go. Occasionally we even have "Spencer" our 8 ft. sweet potato mascot on hand to visit with the crowd.

Danny McLamb, soundman extraordinaire, joined the group in the summer of 2008 to fine-tune our cutting edge sound equipment. He has made an immense difference in the quality of our sound.

In September 2008, Ashley Davis joined the band to provide the bluegrass fiddle that was needed for the Pie's third CD project “Nothing’s The Same”. Ashley was young in years, but she played liked a seasoned professional. She worked very hard and has proven to be a tremendous asset to the band.

As November rolled around, Angela Murphy, original bass player, announced her retirement from the band. Angela had seen us through 8 seasons and had set us firmly on a path to the top. Because of this development, Julie Brown was tapped to join the band. Julie had played with several well-known bands over the years and is a first class musician. Her steady rhythm and wisdom has provided the band with a firm foundation. Along with Julie came her father Rufus Mangum who has provided band security (pie police), managed the tator tent and has been an all around support for the band.

We are amazed as we look back at the many years we have been together. We feel blessed to have worked with so many talented people and to have so many opportunities before us. We are incredibly grateful to our Father in Heaven, our family, friends and fans, without whom none of this would be possible.

Stay tuned as the Pie adventure continues to unfold!

 

    BOOKING INFORMATION: Sonya 919.649.5603 or piepan@bellsouth.net