Sawyer Brown have had eight members since they formed in Apopka, Florida, in 1981. The current line-up is Mark Miller, Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard, Joe “Curly” Smyth, Shayne Hill and Nathan Winkler. Former members are lead guitarists Bobby Randall and Duncan Cameron and original bassist Jim Scholten.
The five founders had played together in country singer Don King’s road band and stayed together after King retired in 1981. They won the grand prize on the TV competition Star Search, signed with Capitol Records in 1984 and went on to three No. 1 country singles: “Step That Step” (1985), “Some Girls Do” (1992) and “Thank God for You” (1993). Here is every member and when they played.
Mark Miller – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar (1981–present)
Mark Miller is a founding member and the band’s lead singer and rhythm guitarist. He has fronted Sawyer Brown since its first line-up in 1981.
Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard – Keyboards, Vocals (1981–present)
Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard is also a founder. He plays keyboards and sings, and he has been in every line-up of the band.
Joe “Curly” Smyth – Drums (1981–present)
Joe “Curly” Smyth has been Sawyer Brown’s drummer since the band was formed from Don King’s road band in 1981.
Shayne Hill – Lead Guitar (2004–present)
Shayne Hill took over as lead guitarist in 2004, when Duncan Cameron left the band.
Nathan Winkler – Bass (2020–present)
Nathan Winkler replaced Jim Scholten on bass in 2020. He had already worked with the band as its monitor technician since 2018.
Bobby Randall – Lead Guitar, Vocals (1981–1991)
Bobby Randall was a founding member who played lead guitar and sang. He left in 1991, after the release of the album Buick, to stay close to his family and to host a short-lived TV talent show, Be a Star.
Duncan Cameron – Lead Guitar (1991–2004)
Duncan Cameron, formerly of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, replaced Randall in 1991. He was lead guitarist through the band’s Curb Records years until 2004.
Jim Scholten – Bass Guitar (1981–2020)
Jim Scholten was the original bassist and one of the five founders. He stepped down in 2020 after nearly four decades with the band, and Nathan Winkler took his place.
Sawyer Brown Line-Up at a Glance
| Member | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Miller | Lead vocals, rhythm guitar | 1981–present |
| Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard | Keyboards, vocals | 1981–present |
| Joe “Curly” Smyth | Drums | 1981–present |
| Shayne Hill | Lead guitar | 2004–present |
| Nathan Winkler | Bass | 2020–present |
| Bobby Randall | Lead guitar, vocals | 1981–1991 |
| Duncan Cameron | Lead guitar | 1991–2004 |
| Jim Scholten | Bass guitar | 1981–2020 |
You can also browse the complete member line-ups of The Statler Brothers and Shenandoah.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who are the original members of Sawyer Brown? Mark Miller, Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard, Bobby Randall, Joe “Curly” Smyth and Jim Scholten.
- Who is the lead singer of Sawyer Brown? Mark Miller, who has sung lead since 1981.
- Who replaced Bobby Randall? Duncan Cameron in 1991, followed by Shayne Hill in 2004.
- How did Sawyer Brown get famous? They won the grand prize on Star Search and signed with Capitol Records in 1984.
- How did Sawyer Brown get its name? The band first called itself Savanna. When another band with a similar name appeared, the members looked through Nashville telephone books at their manager’s office and landed on a nearby road, Sawyer Brown Road, which became the band’s name.
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