Wildfire assembled in 2000 and quickly became one of the most talked about groups in the industry. Collectively, the members of Wildfire have all spent a lifetime immersed in bluegrass and country music, inspired by the greats of their genre including J.D. Crowe, Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe, Tony Rice, Keith Whitley and more. The band was formed by members Robert Hale and Curt Chapman and are joined by Johnnie Lewis, Matt Despain, and Steve Thomas. They have three Bluegrass Unlimited Top 10 chart albums and are now celebrating the release of their fourth career album, Crash Course in the Blues, coming early 2011 (digital release 12/21/10).

Wildfire has performed on the Grand Ole Opry, was Dollywood's #1 outside performing act, and has numerous IBMA awards and nominations to their credit. They definitely don't hold back when it comes to pouring their heart and soul into their music. Their artistic spontaneity and driving arrangements create a sensation that is unmatched. When mixing their original songs and telling ballads with their complete dedication and love for their music, you're sure to take a journey that will spur a sense of emotion and excite the soul. Wildfire's set list reaches into bluegrass and country's rich traditional catalog; having recorded songs by such diverse songwriters from Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, and The Stanley Brothers to James Taylor, Harley Allen, and Keith Urban. Their divine music and talented songwriting has set them apart from other bands. Together the band originates sparks that reminds the listener of their passion for bluegrass music. Wildfire promises a powerful show that will surely please everyone from traditional bluegrass lovers to the contemporary young fans of today.

Robert Hale from Jolo, WV, is the son of Clayton Hale, a McDowell and Wyoming county business man, a former Delegate to the Legislature, and perhaps most important to this story, a bluegrass bandleader and music promoter. Clayton’s band played for time on a weekly television show on WOAY in the 1970’s, and he promoted a successful festival in Tazewell, Virginia for several years where young Robert was exposed to some of the luminaries of the bluegrass business. Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Don Reno and others graced to stage at the elder Hale’s events, but it was a mandolin player and band leader named Doyle Lawson that had the greatest effect on Robert’s career.

He began playing the mandolin full time in his Dad’s band at the ripe old age of nine. At that age, most young boys dream of becoming fireman, FBI agents or football stars, but Robert knew from the start he wanted bluegrass music to become his career. Since that time, he has worked for two of the masters of bluegrass music, J.D. Crowe and Eddie & Martha Adcock, and was asked by Dolly Parton to record with her on two projects, "Halos & Horns” & “For God & Country”.

Curt Chapman was born in Lancaster, OH, raised in Nashville, TN and moved to Richmond, KY in 1973 where he has been ever since. He started playing bass when he was 12 years old. Curt’s first real job came from Cousin Wilbur Westbrook, who was a country comedian on the Grand Ole Opry. He hired Curt and his brother and sisters to play on the road at air force bases and NCO clubs up and down the eastern seaboard.

Through the years, Curt has played in rock and roll, blues and country bands before he got into bluegrass. He toured with country chart artist, Josh Logan and performed with Southern Blend. In 1987, Curt received a phone call from J.D. Crowe and spent the next 15 years as bassist for J. D Crowe & The New South. During that time he was on two recordings including the Grammy™ nominated “Flashback” and the highly acclaimed “Come On Down to My World”. In 2000 Curt left The New South to form Wildfire with Robert Hale.

Johnnie Lewis is an attorney practicing in Kentucky. He started playing the banjo at age 13 and formed his first band with Don Rigsby on mandolin. Since that time, he has been a member of many notable bands, including The Lost and Found, Kentucky Ramblers, Unlimited Tradition and the James Price Band.
He lives in Sandy Hook, KY, with his wife, Anita, and their twins, Ian and Kinley.