Sam Ensley
Sam Ensley is a retired school teacher. He is lead singer and usually plays mandolin, though he also trades son Sammy for his guitar on a song or two.
Besides organizing and hosting The Friday Night Concert Series at the Historic Union County Court House, Sam participates in the following:
Sam Ensley, left on the Mandolin in "Roots and Branches"
Roots & Branches Television Show
What happens when you take traditional bluegrass, mix it with a little rock 'n roll and the blues?? You get the Roots & Branches Television Show! Roots & Branches the band is made up Sam Ensley, Sammy Ensley, Robert Brewer, and Wayde Powell III. Every week you can see Sam Ensley and the boys hamming it up in a 30-minute jam session on ACTV Channel 4. As you might gather from the band's name, the "roots" of bluegrass is explored on the show, along with how the music can "branch" out into other musical genres.
Robert Brewer is the other senior member of the band. During the week he's the Agricultural Extension Agent for Towns County. Robert plays bass and often sings. Last, but not least, is Wayde Powell III. The banjo picker of the group, Wayde grew up in Young Harris and is finishing up his music degree at North Georgia College & State University in nearby Dahlonega. Wayde - who is often jokingly called "Wayde The 11th" after a misprint in the local newspaper - is a phenom on banjo and can play a wide variety of music and instruments.
Roots & Branches
Sunday - 2:30 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.
Monday - 9:00 p.m.
Friday - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday - 8:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m & 10:30 p.m.
Wolf Creek Broadcasting Network
Sammy Ensley plays guitar and mandolin at times, and can be heard locally on The Wolf Creek Broadcasting Network (770 AM Young Harris, GA, 1400 WLSB Copperhill, TN, and WALH AM 1340 Mountain City, GA). He is the host of The Bluegrass Hour and a Half and Toothpick's Can't Hardly Count Countdown.
The Bluegrass Hour and a Half
Weekdays - 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Toothpick's Can't Hardly Count Countdown
Weekdays - 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
