New Coon Creek Girls
Bands / Ensembles
The New Coon Creek Girls (1979–1998) were an all-woman bluegrass band from Renfro Valley, Kentucky, created by John Lair for his Renfro Valley Barn Dance and named after the 1930s group, the Coon Creek Girls which he had also created. Lair allegedly offered the band a choice between two names, the Sunbonnet Girls and the New Coon Creek Girls. Vicki Simmons, who grew up in nearby Berea and had learned clawhammer banjo from original Coon Creek Girl Lily May Ledford, was a founding member and played bass, clawhammer banjo and guitar. She was the band's one constant through all its lineup changes. The band appeared on Lair's show until 1983, then toured festivals independently with Simmons and guitarist and singer Wanda Barnett at its core. The touring lineup from 1985 to 1987 was Simmons, Barnett, Pam Perry and Pam Gadd. After Lair's death in November 1985, the band returned to Renfro Valley in 1991 with Simmons, banjo player Ramona Church Taylor, singer and guitarist Dale Ann Bradley and mandolinist Pam Perry. Deanie Richardson replaced Perry on mandolin for a 1996 album. Its 1998 album was billed as the New Coon Creek Girls "featuring Dale Ann Bradley." Soon after, the band became Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek and added men to the lineup.