Legacy of Allen Mills and success of The Lost and Found to be honored in tribute event
The special evening in Floyd will feature an all-star house band consisting of Sammy Shelor, Jesse Smathers, Jonathan Dillon, and Bailey Moore. Special guest appearances will include Roger Handy, Bubba Chandler, Junior Sisk, Jody King, Lynwood Lunsford, and Ronald Smith.
The Floyd Country Store will host “A Celebration of The Lost and Found” on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m., paying tribute to the legendary bluegrass group following their recent induction into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and the passing of founding member Allen Mills.
Mills served as the ensemble’s leader and creative visionary for more than five decades, mentoring generations of players — including Ronnie Bowman, Junior Sisk, and Steve Thomas — and penning the modern bluegrass standard “Love of the Mountains."
The special evening in Floyd will feature an all-star house band consisting of Sammy Shelor, Jesse Smathers (Lonesome River Band), Jonathan Dillon (Red Camel Collective and Junior Sisk Band), and Bailey Moore (Kevin Prater Band). Special guest appearances will include Roger Handy, Bubba Chandler, Junior Sisk, Jody King, Lynwood Lunsford, and Ronald Smith.
“Allen Mills was a remarkable singer and the best emcee and entertainer to grace bluegrass stages. The band supported that with excellent musicianship and vocals to create greatness,” said Sammy Shelor. “For 53 years, The Lost and Found represented the bluegrass industry in a way that few bands have. The combination of Allen Mills, Gene Parker, and Dempsey Young, along with guitarists and singers Roger Handy, Bubba Chandler, and Steve Wilson during the first 15 years of the band’s history, set a standard in performance and entertainment that lasted throughout the band’s existence. Gene Parker will always be my favorite banjo player.”
Formed in southwestern Virginia in 1973, The Lost and Found emerged as one of the genre’s most influential ensembles. The original lineup featured Mills on bass, Young on mandolin, Parker on banjo, and Handy on guitar, developing an innovative, driving contemporary style balanced with traditional mountain harmonies.
Doors for the tribute event on Oct. 25 open at 6:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $42, reserved seating is $48, and tickets for children 12 and under are $20. Tickets are available at The Floyd Country Store (206 S. Locust St.) or online at www.floydcountrystore.com.
