Playing Hard to Forget

Hailing from the mountains of western North Carolina, an area that is steeped in the musical heritage of bluegrass, old time and gospel music, ClayBank has been turning heads in the Bluegrass music community since their formation a little over a year ago. The band recently won 1st place in the band competition at RenoFest (an event honoring the late legendary musician, Don Reno) as well as 3rd place honors at the 2016 S P B G M A (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music) National Band Championship.

ClayBank consists of youngsters Zack Arnold (15) on mandolin and vocals and Jacob Greer (17) on guitar and vocals along with Tyler Thompson on banjo and vocals and Gary Trivette on bass and vocals. The band takes their name from the community of ClayBank (near West Jefferson, NC) that is not only where they meet together to hone their craft but the place that embodies the very spirit of the music they play. The band members are not related by blood but are tightly knit by the love of the music that they share as well as their love for the Lord.

ClayBank members contributed three original songs to the album, Foot Of The Phoenix , Daddy Would Sing and the first single Up On Claybank that features the lead vocal of Zack Arnold and captures the culture and charm of growing up in this rural community. ClayBank reached out to some of the top songwriters for songs on their debut album including; Becky Buller, How I Love You , Milan Miller and James Ellis, Playing Hard To Forget , A Little Bit Of You and Randall Hylton, Demise of Handsome Molly . Eli Johnston, Kevin McKinnon, and Dennis Linde, Stephen Paul Phillips, Lee Black, Kenna Turner West , Jay Don Johnson.

Produced by Steve Gulley and Claybank, Playing Hard To Forget delivers all the drive, high energy and beautiful harmonies that fans have been experiencing at their live shows and now can be enjoyed on their debut album on Rural Rhythm Records.