GNP History
The Way things Used to Be

In 1971, John Lyon teamed up with friends Don Carl and Dave Bowen.  They began to sit in on jam sessions at The Red Fox Inn  in Bethesda, the bastion of bluegrass music in the Washington metropolitan area.  John played guitar, Don played bass, and Dave, the banjo.   

John says:  "Everybody else was doing it.  It seemed like the thing to do at the time!"

In 1972, Tom Jarboe joined the group to play bass when Don Carl left the area.   John, Dave and Tom continued to work together forming the nucleus of the band.  

On Friday evening, March 23, 1973,  The Gross National Product was born.   In September 1973, Norm Oglesby joined the group to play bass and Tom moved over to play mandolin.   Before the end of 1973, The Gross National Product had made their official debut on stage at The Red Fox Inn.

Dave Bowen, banjo   John Lyon, guitar    Tom Jarboe, mandolin   Norm Oglesby, bass
At The Red Fox Inn, Bethesda, MD 1973
 

John Lyon, guitar     Norm Oglesby, bass
At The Red Fox Inn, Bethesda, MD 1973

John Lyon, guitar     Tom Jarboe, mandolin
At The Red Fox Inn, Bethesda, MD 1973

Dave Bowen, banjo     Tom Jarboe, mandolin
At The Red Fox Inn, Bethesda, MD 1973

Movin' Around






More about 1973