LILLY, MIKE (1949-)

Mike Lilly played banjo for the Powell Brothers at seventeen and for Larry Sparks in one of Larry’s best early bands. He and Wendy Miller left Larry’s band and performed together for a while, making some LPs for Old Homestead. Mike went with the Country Gentlemen for a few months before returning to Dayton. He and Harley Allen formed the Allen-Lilly Band, which was popular in the Dayton area, putting out one LP on the Folkways label. Later, Mike formed his own band, Mike Lilly and the Country Grass, and cut an LP on Old Homestead. More recently, he reunited with Wendy Miller to play a few shows.