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Jim Dawson formed
Clay County in 1987. The name of the band comes from his
birthplace, Clay County, West Virginia. In addition to
playing the banjo, Jim sings lead, harmony vocals and writes
some of the original material for the band.
Jim Logue is the
newest member of the band. An accomplished banjo player, he
has learned the acoustic bass in order to join Clay County.
He has also added his voice to the band's well-known harmony
singing.
Sue Nikas formed
the band Clay County with Jim Dawson and Frank Abrahams in
1987. She sings lead, harmony vocals and plays rhythm guitar.
She writes most of the original material of the band.
Frank Abrahams has
been playing mandolin for the past 25 years. He was a
founding member and has recently returned to add his
outstanding instrumental riffs to the unique sound of the
band.
As a band, Clay
County has won numerous contests including the Topanga Banjo
and Fiddle Contest. They have recorded five projects; three
tapes and two CD's and have been featured on Prime Cuts of
Bluegrass Volumes 13, 20 and 21.
The band released
their CD Waiting for the Fall in 2001, you can hear Long Hot
Bath as a sample. Clay County stopped performing in 2005 after
the death of Jim Dawson from cancer. Susan Nikas and Frank
Abrahams have continued to perform together. Clay County
released Love is the Source in 2005 and Susan Nikas has
released Clay County Remembered in 2007 and Hard Times & Bad
Times in 2009. They are available on www.cdbaby.com and
www.broadjam.com
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Comments from Radio
Personalities
"This is the kind of good time,
homegrown sound that has been sorely missed in the CD age."
Christopher Powers, WORT, Madison,
"Ms. Nikas is always a super
singer/artist. Also writes great lyrics to a standard
selection." John Hornyak, WVOA
BLUEGRASS NOW had
this to say about Clay County; "The
Clay County band reminds me of the bands that used to appear
on 'WLS National Band Dance' in Chicago in the early days of
country music....Simple, honest, lyrics, and instrumentals:
Quite refreshing in this era of lightening-fast picking....
Listen to their rendition of Ginger Boatwright's 'Somebody's
Missing You.' Wonderful! '
CLAY COUNTY has
played festivals and clubs all over Southern California. In a
review of their performance at a local festival, John Roos of
the LA TIMES had the following to say about them:
"The most impressive set came from
CLAY COUNTY, a band from San Dimas, that since 1987 has
updated the Bluegrass tradition by infusing Southern Gospel
Music and bluesy ballads. Led by singer, songwriter,
guitarist Sue Nikas, the quartet played life affirming songs,
rich in character..... Whether playing rollicking numbers
("Hamilton County Breakdown", "Green Rolling Hills") or such
gender benders as "Are You Missing Me", Nikas and her band
mates displayed solid song-craft and contagious enthusiasm." |
