Shades Mountain Air

Don Wendorf, SMA's mandolin, hammered dulcimer, and old-time banjo player, has a bunch of years of professional music experience behind him, including a stint with the Magic City Slickers and other bluegrass outfits in Alabama. A native of Texas , Don has been a drummer for several jazz bands and is an aficionado of the musical saw and several other exotic instruments. Don and his wife Susan have two grown sons (including Paul, below) and a growing crop of grandkids.

Guitar player and lead singer Gary Furr was born in Concord, NC and grew up in a musical family led by his mandolin-playing dad. SMA tunes such as Except for You, Lost on the Information Highway and Sky's A Clearing are Gary 's creations. One of his tunes, “Words Fail” (with a stunning lead vocal by Nancy ), has been called “a true driveway moment”—one of those times when a song grips you to your car seat.

He is also a published author, adjunct college professor at Samford University, and pastor of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. He and wife, Vickie, have three daughters: Heather, Erin, and Katie.

Nancy Womble is a classically trained musician with a heart and talent for bluegrass. She sings lead and plays stand-up bass with the group, but her diverse background includes singing opera, commercial jingles, and torch songs with big bands. She also toured Europe and the US with the Continental Singers. A native of West Monroe, LA, she was born into a musical family. She does great impressions and is a nationally recognized voice actor for radio and TV commercials.

Five-string banjo player Greg Womble figures he’s played most of the church fellowship halls in Alabama with the bluegrass group Sugar Bend One-Room Schoolhouse in the 1970’s. Major influences include TV's Gospel Jubilee, The Bad Livers, Gene Cotton, Gene King, and Earl Scruggs. Greg is a scriptwriter and video producer with his company WOMCOM.

Paul Wendorf, is Don's oldest son and plays fiddle. He's performed with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and backup jobs for such stars as Smoky Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Ray Charles. He also fills in on the mandolin and occasional viola (which can be heard on Soul's Desire on our self-titled CD). He is a graduate of Beeson Divinity School and is employed as an officer with the Hoover Police Department.

Our History

The band began in the fall of 1998 when Gary, Greg and Nancy found out that they had a common love of music and performing. We started getting together at Greg's house to play, then decided it was fun, doing Sunday School socials and a fellowship at church. No one discouraged us, and they had their chances. Our first performance with Don was a banquet in 1999 that was booked at the last minute. It was literally the first time the four of us had ever played together. Having survived that, we decided to keep going, and here we are. Paul Wendorf came to us not long after that and the five of us have been together ever since. Take a look at our band profile.