The afternoon sun filters through the trees in Danville, casting long shadows across a landscape that has nurtured some of bluegrass music’s greatest legends. It’s here in this corner of Southside Virginia that Jay Shelton has found his musical calling as part of Shelton & Williams, a trio that includes Jeanette and Johnny Williams. Behind the scenes, his wife Beverly channels her own passion for the music into organizing events that bring the community together, creating a family affair that honors both tradition and service.
The trio’s story began with a moment of musical serendipity. Jay sat in on a local show with Jeanette and Johnny Williams, and something clicked. “We liked the harmony we had together and decided to form a band,” Jay recalls. What started as an impromptu collaboration has evolved into Shelton & Williams, a group that embodies the rich tapestry of American roots music.
Roots Run Deep
For Jay, music has been a lifelong companion. He picked up his first guitar at age seven, guided by a family steeped in bluegrass and classic country traditions. “My mother’s side of the family had always enjoyed bluegrass and classic country with several family members playing in a band,” he explains. “It came naturally for me to explore the bluegrass world.”
His influences read like a who’s who of American music royalty: Tony Rice, Bobby Hicks, Eric Clapton, Dickey Betts, Merle Haggard, and Emmylou Harris. This eclectic mix has shaped Shelton & Williams’ distinctive sound—”a mix of bluegrass, folk, country and pop music with an emphasis on rich vocal harmonies.”
Beverly’s connection to the music runs deeper than performance. “I’ve lived and worked here my whole life,” she says. “We raised a family here and have always called Danville home.” After retiring from URW Community FCU, she’s dedicated herself to preserving and promoting the musical heritage of her beloved hometown through festival organization and community outreach.
From Ireland to the Station Inn
The trio’s musical journey has taken them far beyond Virginia’s borders. Over the past two years, they’ve toured Ireland, sharing their Appalachian sound with audiences across the Atlantic. Closer to home, they’ve graced the stage of Nashville’s legendary Station Inn, a venue that Jay describes as “world famous”—high praise from musicians who understand the weight of that legacy.
Their collaborative approach to music-making is refreshingly organic. “One of us usually brings a song to the table, and we work on the musical and vocal arrangement together,” Jay explains. The magic happens in those three-part harmonies between Jay, Jeanette, and Johnny that have become their signature. “I love to perform any song that features the three of us singing three-part harmonies,” he adds, his enthusiasm clear.
Music with a Mission
This year’s Bluegrass by the River event in Danville represents more than just another festival date for the Shelton family—it’s Beverly’s passion project with profound personal meaning. As the festival organizer, she has created an event that supports Project Lifesaver while honoring the memory of Tony Rice, Danville’s native son who became “probably the single most influential Bluegrass guitar player of all time,” according to Beverly.
For Beverly, the cause hits particularly close to home. “We lost my mother to complications from Alzheimer’s,” she shares, her voice carrying the weight of personal loss. “And as much as I love bluegrass music, I really do this event to honor her memory.”
The festival, hosted by 2 Witches Winery and Brewing Company, brings together The Lonesome River Band and other talented musicians, including Shelton and Williams, in what Jay describes as an atmosphere where “the energy is high and contagious. Playing alongside such talented musicians will certainly elevate your senses. We all feed off of each other’s energy.”
Beverly’s role as organizer means she experiences the event from a different perspective than her musician husband. “It is always a special time when we get to play for such a worthy cause as Project Lifesaver and to honor the memory of Tony Rice,” Jay notes, while Beverly adds her gratitude for “having the support of 2 Witches Winery and Brewing Company for hosting this event speaks volumes to their commitment to our community.”
The Soul of the Mountains
When asked about what makes Southwest and Southside Virginia such fertile ground for bluegrass music, Beverly’s response captures something almost mystical about the region’s musical DNA. “It’s almost as if the music sprang up from the soil itself here,” she reflects. “Bluegrass has many points of reference, but so many of the genre’s forefathers and creative geniuses came from right here, in and around the Appalachian region of southern Virginia.”
She paints a vivid picture: “If you’ve ever been up in the mountains near Danville and heard someone play a fiddle, it just sounds right at home! It’s something we should all be proud of.”
This deep connection to place informs the trio’s approach to the music itself. While Shelton & Williams honor tradition through “traditional bluegrass instrumentation and traditional vocal harmonies,” as Jay explains, they’re not museum curators—they’re living, breathing interpreters of an evolving art form.
Looking Forward
Beverly remains committed to community-centered festivals like Bluegrass by the River, understanding her role in keeping the music alive for future generations. “I think the music will always live on and speak for itself,” she says, “but if even one person shows up and is turned on to bluegrass music because of my festival, that’s a beautiful thing and makes it worthwhile.” She’s quick to acknowledge the collaborative effort: “Big shout out to our sponsors and volunteers. We could not do this event without them.”
Meanwhile, Jay and his musical partners continue gathering material for their next project, with Jay noting, “We are currently in the process of gathering and choosing material for our next project which is coming out soon.”
Together, the Sheltons represent something precious in American music—a family where one member creates the music, and the other creates the community spaces where that music can thrive.
This year’s Bluegrass by the River event will feature a $100 cash drawing and a special gift for each ticket holder, adding an extra note of celebration to Beverly’s already meaningful gathering of music and community.