Guthrie Trapp Is an award-winning mandolin and guitar player, born in Pensacola, Florida, February 3, 1979. He grew up in Lillian, Alabama, in a family rich with music.
“I grew up listening to everything from Taj Mahal to Tony Rice, Jean Luc Ponty to the Allman Brothers, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan to Sam Bush and Bela Fleck as well as countless others.” Guthrie was eight years old when his father, Joe, promoted the New Grass Revival, featuring Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, John Cowan and Pat Flynn to the Pensacola area. This had a huge impact on young Guthrie. At this same time he started fooling around with the harmonica. Guthrie quickly learned to apply what he learned on harmonica to the guitar.
At 13, Guthrie joined a well-established bluegrass group, the White Sands Panhandle Band, playing guitar and mandolin. In addition to performing local and regional festivals, the White Sands Panhandle Band also attended SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America) Convention in Nashville for several years. He won the Alabama guitar and mandolin competitions, two years in a row, at the age of 15 and 16. At 16, he accompanied lengendary singer, songwriter Tom Paxton and also opened for John McCutcheon with Jerry Trapp.
Guthrie met his next musical adventure in 1995 in Orange Beach, Alabama, the renowned Gove Scrivenor. They played together for several years doing local clubs as well as college concerts and opening for such artists as Richie Havens and Al Stewart. Gove and Guthrie also played at the 1996 Sailing Olympics in Savannah, Georgia. In 1997, Gove recorded his “Shine On” album for No Age Records on which Guthrie played mandolin and acoustic guitar. Guthrie was in great company on this recording whose guests included John Prine, Lori White, Nanci Griffith and her band and ‘tele master Ray Flacke.
Also in 1997, Guthrie met Nick Branch, an incredible singer/songwriter and guitar player from New York who had recently moved to the Gulf Coast. In addition to playing with Gove, Guthrie took up the guitar and mandolin chair with Nick playing at the notorious roadhouse, the Flora Bama Lounge. It was at this point that Guthrie started playing more electric guitar and forged his entry into swing and jazz styles. Nick and Guthrie played together as a duo for several years before deciding to add a rhythm section. The resulting band quickly became a Gulf Coast favorite and evolved into The Filthy Rich. They toured Europe as well as headlined festivals and clubs all over the United States. The band opened for numerous artists including Leon Russell, The Radiators, Marcia Ball, The Sam Bush Band, Chuck Berry and David Alan Coe as well as many others. Guthrie has recorded 4 CDs with Nick and The Filthy Rich as well as performed on radio and TV shows in the U.S. and Europe. (Guthrie has been a featured performer, along with The Filthy Rich and others, on the regionally celebrated Radio Live broadcast since the age of 14.)
Currently, Guthrie is living in Nashville, where he has established himself as a performing and session musician. Guthrie is in demand for playing all styles on guitar and mandolin with remarkable authenticity, feel and taste. Guthrie has played/worked with Patty Loveless, Jerry Douglas,Vince Gill, Taylor Hicks, Vassar Clements, Nanci Griffith, Jessi Alexander, Dave Pomeroy, Albert Lee,Reese Wynans, Mark Winchester, Rick Lonow, Dave Roe, Keith Horn, David Ferguson, Bill Vorndick, Roberto Bianco, Cowboy Jack Clement, Ken Fradley, Larry Beader, Horacio El Negro Hernandez, Richard Crooks, Charlie Torez, Greg Brown, Danny Flowers, Alan Rhody, Shanna Morrison, Emory Gordy Jr., Carl Jackson, Barry Beckett and countless others.
Guthrie is now playing full-time with Jerry Douglas. When not on the road with Jerry, you can find him in Nashville playing with the Don Kelley band, an institution of country, swing and blues music. Prior guitarists holding this position include Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert and Johnny Highland.