Free Rein Bluegrass Band

Damon grew up in Powder Springs,Tn. His love for music started at the age of 4 with his Dad teaching him how to play guitar. He played in church from a young age and his hero’s was the Betterway Quartet.

He later became a member of a well known Bluegrass Gospel band ( MasterPeace ) in which he toured and played all over the southeast for 23 years being their lead vocalist, guitar player, and banjo player.

Damon is not only a great guitarist and banjo player but also an amazing vocalist with a bluegrass / country feel. You can feel the emotions in his voice each time he steps up to sing.

Damon along side Daniel Oxendine is the co-founder of the band. What started as a jam session at a fall festival in 2002 with Randall Woods has turned into something special.

Damon is married to his wonderful wife Misty and has 3 children, Halli, Layla, and Lucy. He is excited to be with all the guys in Free Rein, and looks forward to what lies ahead for this special group of talented players and vocalist!

Daniel was raised in both Grainger and Union County, TN by his parents Jim and Mary Oxendine. He has always had a special gifting with music starting at the ripe young age of 4 years when he began playing guitar. He moved on to electric bass at the age of 6 and then to the Upright “Doghouse” bass at only 9 years old. At age 15 the instrument that would become his calling landed in his hands, the 5-string banjo!

Daniel grew up singing in church along side his parents. At only 6 years old he was already singing the high tenor harmony parts with his mom and dad and the dreaded “voice change” hit and he quickly settled into the baritone parts.

Daniel has an extensive musical career under his belt. He was a founding member of a local bluegrass gospel group named “Spiritual Strings” in 1998. This group would later change their name to “Shadow Ridge” in 2000. He stayed in that band until 2009 when he got the call from Jerry Butler and the Blu J’s and went on the road with them for a year and a half or so. He then moved on to play Upright Bass for Rural Rhythm Bluegrass Gospel recording artist “Crosspoint”. He was with them until 2021 when he went back to “Shadow Ridge” and stayed there until November of 2024 when Free Rein formed. During this time he also played in some smaller groups with his lovely wife April (Godsent and The Trio)

Daniel states the following:
   I'm the co-founder of this group, (Free Rein) with some wonderful friends of mine and I'm so excited about this band! It’s hard to find a band of 5 guys that are all good Christian guys who try their best to live for the One who gave them the talent and gift to play and sing: the Good Lord!!

Randall grew up in Maynardville, Tn. His love for music started just like many others, in church. He played in church from a young age and progressed quickly and joined his family’s gospel group named accordingly, “The Woods Family”.

He later became a member of a well known local band called “Union Grass”; with local legend Wade Hill on banjo.

Randall is not only a great bass player but also an amazing vocalist with a sultry blues influence that usually isn’t found in a bluegrass setting. You can feel the words, notes, and twists and turns each time he steps to the mic.

Randall is married to his wonderful wife Amber and has two children. He is excited to be on this journey with Free Rein and looks forward to what heights are ahead!

David grew up in a small East Tennessee town called Bean Station where his love for music started at a young age. His first introduction to Bluegrass was sitting on the floor of his life-long friend Chase Nicely’s room where he first heard Tony Rice playing “Me and My Guitar” on an old 45 record. This was the spark that started it all. His love for mandolin started while on the drive to church on Sunday mornings, with his mother listening to none other than the legendary Mr. Paul Williams of Paul William’s and the Victory Trio.

He played in some local bluegrass bands with friends down thru time and then had the opportunity to fill in for the man who started his love for the mandolin after Paul fell and broke his wrist at the Bean Blossom festival. David was the man who filled his spot on mandolin for a couple of months while Paul healed up. He attributes this to the most influential time of his musical career where his playing style changed and learned that playing the melody is key!

David is married to his lovely wife Toshia and has a rambunctious little boy named Jubal and also has a Bernedoodle pup named “Clapton Rice Combs” (after two of his biggest musical influences, Eric Clapton and Tony Rice). He is excited to see what the Lord has in store next!