A retired school teacher of 35 years with the Irving Independent School District is the lead singer and guitarist. Since retirement, he operates his guitar shop repairing and inlaying instruments.  Besides working in his shop, playing golf, and performing, he has found time to write more than 1000 songs. He has been voted "Songwriter of the Year" and "Best Male Vocalist" by The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America numerous times since 1974. In 1982 Tom received a coveted "ASCAP" award in Nashville, Tennessee for writing "You May See Me Walkin", performed by Ricky Skaggs. The song reached #5 on the national billboard charts.
Tom Uhr
Loyd Hinch
Loyd is the tenor singer and mandolin player and has been with Tom since 1967. While Loyd idolized the mandolin playing of Buck White, he plays his own unique style utilizing his talent in tremolo that can be matched by none. He was voted "Mandolin Player of the Year" in 1974 by SPBGMA. Loyd has been playing mandolin since the ripe old age of four. During the winter show of 2000, The Southwest Bluegrass Club recognized Loyd for his longevity as a loyal "sideman." He and Tom have been together for over 35 years. Loyd is that one-of-a-kind entertainer. He not only tops in playing mandolin, but has a beautiful tenor voice and is able to reach those high notes with no falsetto.
Chris plays upright bass and sings (from Bass to Tenor) harmony with the group. He began singing at a very early age with his nephew at local businesses on the Springtown square for pocket change, but didn't begin playing an instrument until the late 1970's. Depending on the band he was with determined what instrument he played. He went from guitar to mandolin and then to bass. Chris is not only an outstanding bass player and singer, but he also has some "side acts" you don't want to miss! He has played with several groups including Bluegrass Reunion and Timberline. He currently lives in Benbrook with his lovely wife, Ginger.
Chris Burkhalter
Kevin Kirkpatrick
Kevin began playing the 5-string banjo at age 15, and soon fell in love with all of the stringed instruments and Bluegrass music.  He fell in love with The Shady Grove Ramblers while a student in Tom's 12th grade psychology class at Irving High School. In 1979 Kevin joined the Ramblers and played banjo, dobro, fiddle, lead guitar and sometimes bass for 12 years. He recorded six albums/tapes with the Ramblers and wrote some tremendous instrumentals.  Kevin earned his "Occupational Therapy" degree in 1993 and has spent much of his time working with stroke patients in nursing homes. He and his wife, Sandy, live in Granbury, TX and are excited to once again be a part of The Shady Grove Ramblers.
Meet the Shady Grove Ramblers
The Shady Grove Ramblers have won numerous awards throughout their years together, being voted Top Vocal Group, Best Album of the Year, Best Songwriter (Tom), Top Mandolin Player (Loyd), and Best Male Vocalist (Tom) by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America. On June 24, 2000, the Ramblers received the coveted "Lone Star Legend Award" presented during the Texas State Bluegrass Festival in Canton, TX. This award is presented to individuals and bands who have, throughout the years, given of themselves and their musical talents to help others, and to further the field of Bluegrass Music. This group is constantly striving to entertain and very seldom uses the same songs at any show or festival, since their repertoire is so extensive. Tom knows several thousand songs ranging from the early 20's to the present. These are all incorporated with their bluegrass instrumentation, making this band unique! Their songs range from early swing, real cowboy western (Sons of the Pioneers), country, folk, blues, and some tope 40, and always Gospel and Bluegrass. Their audiences enthusiastically accept their varied instrumentation and vocal arrangements. They have recorded 14 albums and tapes under the Grove label, and released their first CD in January 2003. The Ramblers have played festivals and shows throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Colorado, and California. They have performed with such stars as Ernest Tubb, Gene Watson, Lynn Anderson, The Whites, Ricky Skaggs, Tammy Wynette, Chubby Wise, Bill Monroe, Mac Wiseman, Jim & Jesse, The Lewis Family, The Country Gentlemen, Mel Street and Marty Robbins when they were "regulars" on the original "Cowtown Jamboree!" They performed for the 1983 "Cotton Bowl" committee to welcome Pittsburgh and SMU. In 1996, Tom's song "Fiddle, Wooden Case and Bow" was nominated "Bluegrass Song of the Year", both nationally and internationally. Tom wrote this song for his very special friend, Chubby Wise.