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Riley Baugus, born November 28, 1965, in Walkertown, North Carolina, is an American old-time guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Raised in a Regular Baptist tradition, Baugus began playing the fiddle at age 10 and the banjo at age 11, studying with notable musicians from Surry County, North Carolina, and Grayson County, Virginia. He worked as a welder and blacksmith for 18 years before transitioning to a professional music career. Baugus released his debut album, Life of Riley, in 2001, followed by Long Steel Rail in 2006. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with prominent artists such as Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, and Willie Nelson, and performed internationally with various old-time string bands including The Farmer's Daughters and the Old Hollow Stringband. Baugus also contributed to the soundtrack of the 2003 film Cold Mountain. On March 22, 2025, he was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame.
