Mark Phillips began playing bluegrass at the age of 14 with his father, Wayne Phillips, who formed the band. Mark's first instrument was the banjo. He played the banjo for about 8 years. He is currently playing guitar for the band. He also plays the mandolin and the bass. Mark sings most of the lead in the band. Mark is a very talented musician and he writes for the band as well.

Daniel Foulks joined the band in 1999. Daniel began playing classical music at the age of 4. Daniel has a BME Bachelors of Music Education degree from OU and is currently teaching orchestra at a school and also teaches various instruments to about 20 private students. Daniel's switch to bluegrass music has added a very versatile sound to the band. He also sings bass and some tenor for the band. Daniel is a very talented musician and many people say he's one of the smoothest fiddle players they have ever heard.

Roger Starnes is a native of north Forth Worth, Texas. He has been playing the banjo since he was 10 years old. He teaches lessons for the guitar, banjo, mandolin and dobro. He has won several championships in the Banjo category and is the Texas State Banjo Champion many times over. Roger also was the 2002 Texas State Banjo Champion.

Kendall Murphy lives in Alma, Arkansas, where he graduated High School last year. At 18 years of age, he plays the upright bass with enthusiasm and outstanding creativity. He began his interest in bluegrass music by going to festivals when he was 14 years old with his grandpa, who plays the banjo. He has played with local bluegrass bands for two years, but says he's looking forward to being a part of IIIrd Generation.

Michael Morrison became interested in playing acoustic guitar at the age of two, and by age 4, he was able to pick out a tune. At the age of six, he received the Bryan Friesen Award at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN, a Golden Era Deering Banjo awarded by Oran Friesen to a young, talented Bluegrass musician. At age 15, Michael was a runner-up in the National Flat Pick Guitar contest in Winfield, KS. Major musical influences include Tony Rice, J.D. Crowe and Doyle Lawson.

Jake Gathright is the newest member of IIIrd Generation and plays mandolin. He's 19 years old, from Foreman, Arkansas, and he's had an interest and love for bluegrass music and the history of bluegrass since the age of three. He began playing banjo seriously at age 11, having access to quality instruments, as his father is a custom acoustic builder. By 15, Jake was playing three different instruments in three different bands, and Jake and Kendall Murphy played in a young band called Grassfire. Jake is as capable and comfortable singing lead as he is singing tenor, and he attended the prestigious Bethel College in Tennessee on a full bluegrass scholarship, where he toured much of the United States.

For more information visit their web site: http://www.thirdgenerationbluegrassband.com/