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Don Parmley

1933 – 2016

Bluegrass musician

Banjoist
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About Don Parmley

Lived 1933 – 2016 (aged 82). Don Parmley was an American banjoist.

Don Parmley (19 October 1933 – 30 June 2016) was a bluegrass musician known best for his work with the Bluegrass Cardinals, a group he formed in 1974. Prior to Bluegrass Cardinals, Parmley was a member of The Hillmen.

Early life and education

Parmley was born in Wayne County, Kentucky in 1933, moving to Southern California a few years later.

Career

Parmley began his career as a member of The Hillmen, playing alongside members Vern Gosdin and Chris Hillman. Parmley was working as a musician for the television show The Beverly Hillbillies and is credited with all banjo work on the show with the exception of the intro theme song. Parmley then moved on to form the Bluegrass Cardinals along with Randy Graham and Parmley's 15-year-old son David Parmley.

Parmley retired from the Bluegrass Cardinals in 1997 with his son David moving on to form the band Continental Divide. Parmley occasionally sang in concerts with the Continental Divide. He died on July 30, 2016, at age 83.

Discography For discography as part of a group, see The Hillmen and Bluegrass Cardinals.

Albums Title Details 5 String Banjo with 12 String Guitar Released: 1997 Label: GNP/Crescendo Format: Album

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Banjoist
Nationality

People in Don Parmley's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Don Parmley's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Don Parmley?

bluegrass musician (1933-2016)

When was Don Parmley born?

Don Parmley was born on 19 October 1933 in Monticello.

When did Don Parmley die?

Don Parmley died on 30 June 2016.

What was Don Parmley's occupation?

Don Parmley was a banjoist.

What nationality was Don Parmley?

Don Parmley was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Don Parmley

· Wikidata: Q21095593

· DBpedia: Don Parmley

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Don Parmley. https://biography.guide/don-parmley/

MLA: "Don Parmley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/don-parmley/.

Chicago: "Don Parmley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/don-parmley/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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