Blaine plays with two Beckley-area bands — The Songcatchers, a group formed through Dr. Everett Lilly at Mountain State University, and a gospel group called The Brothers and Sisters of Bluegrass.

The Songcatchers performed this fall at the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass and Fan Fest in Nashville, Tenn. The group cut a CD at the Risen Son studios in Beckley.\

The Brothers and Sisters of Bluegrass often play community and church events. They have played together, under the direction of Frankie Facello, for several years.

Both bands feature younger musicians with older, more experienced members.

“One of the things we’ve been so pleased about is that everywhere we have gone with Blaine, there have been musicians who were so willing to help him and to set a really good example for him. We’ve met some of the finest people you could imagine in this business,” his grandmother said.

Despite his exposure to banjo pickers, Blaine has developed a style of his own.

“He really surprised all of us,” said his dad, Roger Johnson. “He really took to this, and it’s been something that has kept his interest all along.”

Bev Davis writes for The Register-Herald of Beckley, W.Va. She can be reached at bdavis@register-herald.com.