Ben Waddell - Guitar

Ben is originally from Jonhson City, Tn. but resides in Nashville now. He was born with degenerative eye disease called, Congenital Glaucoma which gradually caused him to lose his sight over a period of time.
He started playing guitar in his freshman year of high school. His grandmother, who helped raise him, played guitar, piano and sang. He grew up listening to her and the old hymns in church with his mother.
Ben found his love for country music early on as his dad listened to everyone from Johnny Cash and George Jones to Tracy Lawrence, Vince Gill, and Keith Whitley and a lot in between.
He got into bluegrass after a friend invited him to see a Bryan Sutton concert at the Down Home in Johnson City, Tennessee. After hearing Bryan for a couple of hours, Ben says, "I was hooked. I started listening to, and learning all the Bluegrass I could get my hands on."
His favorite musician and biggest influence in Bluegrass is Tony Rice.
After a litte while, Ben switched his major at ETSU to the Bluegrass program
"I hope when someone hears me play, they get the feelings I got from hearing my great grandmother when I was a boy, or the feelings of going to the concert(Bryan Sutton). I hope my music, most of all, brings happiness and inspiration to those around me." -Ben

We are so glad to welcome Ben to Upward Road!