Riley Gilbreath is a traditional bluegrass musician and singer whose influences include Ralph and Carter Stanley, J.D. Crowe and The New South, Keith Whitley, Larry Sparks and Harley Allen. Riley began playing banjo at age 12 with a loaner banjo from the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation. After playing for one year the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation and Steve Huber of Huber Banjos took notice of his talent and gifted him a professional grade banjo valued at $3,300 on stage at The Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival. After playing for 3 years he won the Texas State Banjo Championship at age 15 and at age 21 won the SPBGMA International Band Championship in Nashville, TN
Some of Riley's first experiences in music were playing at Bluegrass Jams and shows such as Pearl Bluegrass Jam in the old school house in Pearl, TX, 2nd weekend jam in Lillian, TX, and Oakdale Park 3rd Weekend Jam and Show with older experienced musicians. He received scholarships to attend both the Acoustic Music Camp in Arlington, TX and Camp Bluegrass at South Plains College in Levelland, TX. He began to develop so well at a young age that bluegrass bands would invite him to fill in when their banjo players were out. .
At age 14 he was asked to be the full time banjo player for Cedar Junction Bluegrass Band out of Ellis County, TX. After playing with Cedar Junction for about a year, his band leader and friend Dale Brawner sadly passed away. Riley was then asked to join Pocket Change Bluegrass band as a vocalist and lead guitar player alongside his dad Danny.
After 3 years Riley had been playing in bands with people 3 to 4 times his age and although he loved what he was doing, he wanted more. He wanted to create his own band with his own sound with people closer to his age and unleash his creativity and grow. Riley decided to quit Pocket Change in early 2021 to do his own thing. He then formed his own group "Riley Gilbreath & Friends" in April 2021 at Pearl of a Jam at Oakdale Park in Glen Rose, TX which would later be changed to Riley Gilbreath & Lone Star Blue. In 2021 he ventured out to venues with a stack of business cards and landed his first gig at Lone Star Bar & Grill in Burleson, TX. The manager at the time, Tim Shipman, told him he didn’t have anything and asked him for his card, he looked at Riley’s card that said “Bluegrass Musician” and Tim said can you come in tomorrow? After hearing him, Tim booked Riley for his live radio show on Texas Red Hot Radio in Granbury, TX.
As word got out about Riley’s talent he began to get more and more calls to be booked. In 2023 Riley played over 100 shows that he managed and booked himself. Some notable shows his band have performed include The Levitt Pavilion in Arlington, TX, 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, TN, The Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival Farmers Branch, TX, The Bluegrass Heritage Festival Farmers Branch, TX, Canton Civic Center, Canton, TX, SPBGMA in Nashville, TN, Big Bend Bluegrass Festival, Alpine, TX, West Texas Jamboree, San Angelo, TX, and The Wylie Bluegrass on Ballard in Wylie, TX.
In May 2024 Riley was awarded by the Board of Directors of the Heart Journey Local Music Foundation to receive donations to fund his merchandise and produce his debut album. Only one artist is chosen each year for this award. He completed his self produced debut bluegrass album in May 2025.
His future goals include continuing to record bluegrass, growing his discography, increasing his festival schedule and getting his music on radio, especially the Sirius Radio Station “Bluegrass Junction”.