Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, previously known as simply IIIrd Tyme Out, is an American bluegrass band from Cumming, Georgia. Formed in May 1991, the group originally consisted of guitarist and vocalist Russell Moore, fiddle player Mike Hartgrove, mandolin player Alan Bibey, banjo player Terry Baucom, and bassist Ray Deaton. Moore remains the sole constant member of the group, which currently also features Wayne Benson on mandolin (from 1992 to 2004, and since 2007), Keith McKinnon on banjo (since 2013), Nathan Aldridge on fiddle (since 2018), and Colton Baker on bass (since 2023).

History After leaving Doyle Lawson's band Quicksilver, guitarist Russell Moore, fiddle player Mike Hartgrove and bassist Ray Deaton formed IIIrd Tyme Out (3TO) in May 1991. They completed the initial incarnation by adding mandolin player Alan Bibey and banjo player Terry Baucom, both of whom left Lawson spin-off group The New Quicksilver to join the new band. The original lineup released two albums — 1991's IIIrd Tyme Out and 1992's Puttin' New Roots Down — before Bibey quit suddenly a few days before a show in June 1992; he was replaced by Lou Reid, who disbanded his own eponymous group to become a full band member of 3TO the next month. Reid and Baucom left to form Carolina that November, with Wayne Benson and Barry Abernathy, respectively, taking their places before the end of the year. Both new members contributed to 3TO's third album, Grandpa's Mandolin, before Abernathy was replaced by former Lonesome River Band member Steve Dilling in July 1993.

The lineup of Moore, Hartgrove, Benson, Dilling and Deaton remained stable for several years, producing four studio albums and two live releases. Towards the end of 2001, Hartgrove left 3TO to join the Lonesome River Band. He was replaced during the recording of the band's 2002 gospel album Singing on Streets of Gold by Greg Luck, who was engineering the record at his studio. Benson left in the spring of 2004, shortly after the recording of The Best Durn Ride, to join John Cowan's band, with Alan Perdue taking his place in 3TO. Luck left early the following year, replaced by Justen Haynes in March. The new lineup released the live album Round III at the MAC in 2006. This would prove to be the final release to feature Ray Deaton, who became the last founding member of 3TO to leave the band in July 2007, when he joined The Anita Fisher Band and was replaced by Edgar Loudermilk. It was also the only album to feature Perdue, who was replaced by the returning Wayne Benson in May 2007.

Starting with the band's 2009 release of the same name, 3TO changed its name to "Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out". This album was followed by Prime Tyme and Bluegrassed: Timeless Hits from the Past, before both Dilling and Loudermilk left the group in November 2013 — the former due to health issues, and the latter to pursue other projects. The following month, the remaining members announced the addition of new banjo player Keith McKinnon and new bassist Blake Johnson. The new members debuted on It's About Tyme in 2015, although Johnson was forced to leave that September due to ongoing medical issues, with Jerry Cole — who had substituted for the bassist at several recent show — taking his place. After a few more years of touring, Justen Haynes left 3TO in January 2018 to focus on other business ventures. He was replaced the next month by Nathan Aldridge. In December that year, Cole left for Doyle Lawson's Quicksilver, with Dustin Pyrtle taking his place in 3TO.

In May 2021, Kevin McKinnon (brother of banjo player Keith) took over from Pyrtle on bass. The new lineup released the band's first material in eight years with the singles "Heading East to West Virginia" and "When I Get There" in 2023, which was followed in 2024 by "Bluegrass". Prior to the release of all three singles, however, McKinnon was replaced on bass by Colton Baker in June 2023.

Members Current NameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRussell Moore1991–presentall Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out (3TO) releasesWayne Bensonall 3TO releases from Grandpa's Mandolin (1993) onwards, except Round III at the MAC (2006)Keith McKinnon2013–presentNathan Aldridge2018–presentColton Baker2023–presentnone as yet

Former NameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRay Deaton1991–2007 all 3TO releases from IIIrd Tyme Out (1991) to Round III at the MAC (2006)Mike Hartgrove1991–2001all 3TO releases from IIIrd Tyme Out (1991) to Back to the MAC (2001)Terry Baucom1991–1992 Alan Bibey1991–1992Lou Reid1992noneBarry Abernathy1992–1993Grandpa's Mandolin (1993)Steve Dilling1993–2013all 3TO releases from Across the Miles (1994) to Bluegrassed: Timeless Hits from the Past (2013)Greg Luck2002–2005Alan Perdue2004–2007 Justen Haynes2005–2018all 3TO releases from Round III at the MAC (2006) to It's About Tyme (2015)Edgar Loudermilk2007–2013Blake Johnson2013–2015It's About Tyme (2015)Jerry Cole2015–2018noneDustin Pyrtle2018–2021Kevin McKinnon2021–2023

Timeline

Lineups Lineups as IIIrd Tyme Out PeriodMembersReleasesMay 1991–June 1992Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Mike Hartgrove — fiddle, backing vocals Alan Bibey — mandolin, backing vocals Terry Baucom — banjo, backing vocals Ray Deaton — bass, backing vocalsIIIrd Tyme Out (1991) Puttin' New Roots Down (1992)June–November 1992Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Mike Hartgrove — fiddle, backing vocals Lou Reid — mandolin, backing vocals Terry Baucom — banjo, backing vocals Ray Deaton — bass, backing vocalsDecember 1992–July 1993Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Mike Hartgrove — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Barry Abernathy — banjo, backing vocals Ray Deaton — bass, backing vocalsGrandpa's Mandolin (1993)July 1993–late 2001Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Mike Hartgrove — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Steve Dilling — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Ray Deaton — bass, backing vocalsAcross the Miles (1994) Letter to Home (1995) Living on the Other Side (1996) Live at the MAC (1998) John & Mary (1999) Back to the MAC (2001)Early 2002–spring 2004Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Greg Luck — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Steve Dilling — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Ray Deaton — bass, backing vocalsSinging on Streets of Gold (2002) The Best Durn Ride (2004)Spring 2004–March 2005Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Greg Luck — fiddle, backing vocals Alan Perdue — mandolin, backing vocals Steve Dilling — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Ray Deaton — bass, backing vocalsMarch 2005–May 2007Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Justen Haynes — fiddle, backing vocals Alan Perdue — mandolin, backing vocals Steve Dilling — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Ray Deaton — bass, backing vocalsRound III at the MAC (2006) Footprints (2007) May–July 2007Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Justen Haynes — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Steve Dilling — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Ray Deaton — bass, backing vocals

Lineups as Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out PeriodMembersReleasesJuly 2007–November 2013Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Justen Haynes — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Steve Dilling — banjo, guitar, backing vocals Edgar Loudermilk — bass, backing vocalsRussell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out (2009) Prime Tyme (2011) Bluegrassed: Timeless Hits from the Past (2013)December 2013–September 2015Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Justen Haynes — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Keith McKinnon — banjo, backing vocals Blake Johnson — bass, backing vocalsIt's About Tyme (2015)September 2015–January 2018Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Justen Haynes — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Keith McKinnon — banjo, backing vocals Jerry Cole — bass, backing vocalsrowspan="3" February–December 2018Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Nathan Aldridge — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Keith McKinnon — banjo, backing vocals Jerry Cole — bass, backing vocalsDecember 2018–May 2021Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Nathan Aldridge — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Keith McKinnon — banjo, backing vocals Dustin Pyrtle — bass, backing vocalsMay 2021–June 2023Russell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Nathan Aldridge — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Keith McKinnon — banjo, backing vocals Kevin McKinnon — bass, backing vocals"Heading East to West Virginia" (2023) "When I Get There" (2023) "Bluegrass" (2024)June 2023–presentRussell Moore — lead vocals, guitar Nathan Aldridge — fiddle, backing vocals Wayne Benson — mandolin, backing vocals Keith McKinnon — banjo, backing vocals Colton Baker — bass, backing vocalsnone as yet

References

External links IIIrd Tyme Out official website