Red Rector

American bluegrass mandolin player.

born 15 December 1929 Marshall, Madison County, NC, USA- Died 31 May 1990 Knoxville, TN


One of first mandolin players in bluegrass to have a style distinguishable from Bill Monroe’s.
Began his career in the early 40’s playing mandolin with the Morris Brothers, Johnnie and Jack, and Charlie Monroe.
Performed and recorded for many years in a duo with his cousin Fred E. Smith (“Red and Fred”).
1950’s, joined Carl Story’s Rambling Mountaineers and sang lead when Carl recorded his best-known Mercury and Columbia albums.
Also worked and recorded with Reno and Smiley, Ramona and Grandpa Jones, Jethro Burns, Mother Maybelle and the Carter Family, Norman Blake, Bill Clifton, John Hartford, many others.