Charlie Bean loves singing harmonies. He's been singing them since he was 6, first in the church choir (his father was the minister so he had to) then with his brothers in high school and college. Charlie's favorite bluegrass singer is Dudley Connell. For 20 years Charlie has played in Burtonsville band the Gonzo Cowboys, and he is a former member of Cajun band Jolie Rouge. He also played in numerous garage bands since he was 16 and once sat next to Devo on a plane to London.
A veteran banjo picker of 35 years, Richard Dress has studied extensively under the tutelage of Eddie Adcock and Bill Emerson. He has been a member of Sawtooth Mountain Boys, Ohio River Valley Boys, and former local band Sprouts of Grass. Richard's dynamic banjo playing is augmented by his rich, resonant vocal contributions to the Orange Line Special sound.
Originally from England, mandolin player Paul Gregory has lived in America for several years, where he fell in love with traditional bluegrass, took up bluegrass mandolin, and has never looked back. His main influence on mandolin is Bill Monroe. When not working or playing with Orange Line Special Paul is regularly to be found jamming at CABOMA and Boe's Strings.
With more than 20 years experience and ear training that began in childhood, Lynn Healey concentrates on Bluegrass rhythm guitar playing and favors duet and three-part harmony singing. Lynn names Charlie Waller as her most important influence in Bluegrass. A native Washingtonian, Lynn is an award winning vocalist (Deer Creek 1998; Galax 2002), and has performed with several bands in the DC area. She was a founding member of Patent Pending and Capital Bluegrass Band.
Bass player Mike Licht has played with the Cambridge Harmonica Orchestra, Big Trouble, and toured Europe with bluesman Charlie Sayles. Groups as diverse as the Austin Lounge Lizards, the Hard Travelers, and the Fire Ants have recorded his song compositions. Mike has written about and produced many concerts of traditional music.