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Tray Wellington Expands on His Progressive Bluegrass Sound With ‘Detour to the Moon’: ‘I’ve Always Considered Myself an Explorer of the Banjo’

Bluegrass virtuoso Tray Wellington speaks with Billboard about his new album 'Detour to the Moon'.

The lyrics to hip-hop artist Kid Cudi’s 2009 song “Pursuit of Happiness” include the lines “I’ma do just what I want/ Looking ahead, no turning back.” Then Wellington’s middle school had a Mountain Music Club, where his teacher brought out a banjo and began playing the bluegrass standard “Salt Creek.” He’s since performed on the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass main stage, hosted the Momentum Awards ceremony and led banjo workshops at Merlefest and Gray Fox music festivals.

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