Leroy Savage is known as "Father of Bluegrass Music" for his introduction of folk and rock songs into Bluegrass. As the lead singer for the seminal Newgrass group, The New DealString Band, and later as a member of The Bluegrass Experience, Savage has entertained thousands and influenced many modern Bluegrass stars, including Jerry Douglas, who attended a Bluegrass festival with his dad, saw Leroy's band and realized there was something in their style of music that excited and interested him! Doc Watson's long time accompanist Jack Lawrence and cosmic mandolinist Sam Bush both list Leroy as a strong influence and have often had him as a guest performer on their area shows. He has recorded with The New Deal String Band, The Bluegrass Experience, Alice Gerrard, Jim Watson and his old pal Tommy Edwards who plays mandolin and/or banjo with The Leroy Savage Group along with Bluegrass Experience bassist, "Snuffy" Smith.