2005 ONLINE PRESS BIO & PHOTO

Darin Aldridge is no stranger to music, "Call It A Day" is his first CD on a nationally distributed label debuts in stores Aug. 31. This CD showcases his talents outside of the North Carolina area, which has already recognized his natural knack for music.

The 13-track CD features an expressive mix of bluegrass, gospel, and country music, including six songs Darin has co-written. "Abigail’s Reel," a lively acoustic mix of mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo, and bass, is Darin’s own composition.

At age 18, Darin joined his first bluegrass band "Carolina Crossfire", playing with some of the area’s best musicians. After graduating high school Darin moved on and toured for the next 2 and a half years up and down the east coast playing mandolin and guitar for the band "Acoustic Syndicate". It was then where he learned to improvise on the mandolin, an instrument he has mastered today.

During the summer of 1998 Darin worked at Tweetsie Railroad Theme Park playing Banjo six LIVE shows every day.

New Years Day in 1999 began a whole new year for Darin when he was offered a job as tenor singer and mandolin player for Charlie Waller and The Country Gentlemen. Darin’s first recording project with the Country Gentlemen, "Crying in the Chapel" was nominated at I.B.M.A. in 2000 for song of the year. In 2002, this year marked Darin's 2nd project with the Country Gentlemen and the 1st recording on Pinecastle Records entitled "45 Years of Memories". The latest and 3rd project "Songs of the American Spirt" is set for an August 2004 release on Pinecastle Records as well. Darin has recorded 3 projects with Charlie Waller and The Country Gentlemen and has toured with them for the past 6 years.

Darin was nominated 3 times for Bluegrass Mandolin Player of the year in 2001, 2002, and 2003 by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America. Darin recorded his very first solo project in 2000 entitled " In Time" . He has also played on 18 CDs for other musicians and bands. In addition, he has also produced 3 projects .

In Febuary of 2004 Darin was given an F-5 Style Gibson Mandolin and is endorsed by Gibson of Nashville and GHS Strings.

In 2004 Darin teamed up with many talented musicians to produce "Call It A Day." Tim Stafford, Jaret Carter, Billy Gee, Greg Luck, Shawn Lane, Jason Burleson, Greg Corbett, Amanda Smith, Lou Reid, and Chris Bryant all play alongside Darin, making the CD a surefire hit with anyone who appreciates the honest and melodic sounds of bluegrass.

When Darin is not on the road touring with "The Circuit Riders" or his own band "The Darin Aldridge Band", or doing recording sessions, he teaches mandolin, banjo, bass, fiddle, piano, drums, and acoustic and electric guitar to people of all ages.