Darren Nicholson was born September 3, 1983 and raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Originally from Tuckasegee NC he came from a musical family. His Dad, Hayes Nicholson, was a fiddle and guitar player. His Mom, Joann Nicholson, sang and his Uncle, Bud Cunningham, also played guitar. With cousins Ronnie, Kenneth, Perry and Craig Rhodes who also played country music. These were his main influences! He grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry and all forms of Classical, Bluegrass, Rock and Roll, and Country Music. Darren currently lives in Canton NC with his son. Taylor Nicholson was born in October 2001. “Undoubtedly the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.”

   His first gig was at 18 months old with the Bill and Gene Fisher band which included his parents. As he got older, he played off and on with his dad, Hayes, and his uncle Bud. At age 12, he started playing with a band from Asheville that eventually became known as Buncombe Turnpike. From there, he joined one of the biggest influences in his life and career, a Haywood County band called Hazel Creek. This band included Gary Allen, Eddie Rose, and Steve Sutton. From there, the opportunity came to guest on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry with female singing virtuoso Alecia Nugent. His first appearances were in June of 2004. Two weeks of guest appearances on the Opry led to three years of touring the entire United States and abroad." I will always love playing the Opry, I am as comfortable there as anywhere I have ever played. What great folks!”, Darren says of his experience. He has gone from playing local settings to some of the biggest venues in the world. Between the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, and the original Opry at the Belcourt Theatre, he has performed with Ronnie Bowman, Bobby Osborne, Carl Jackson, Claire Lynch, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Bradley Walker, and Vince Gill. Darren has also recorded with some of the premier artists in Bluegrass, Gospel and Country music, including the Crowe Brothers, Tony Rice, Ila Knight, Don Wayne Reno, Carl Jackson, Bradley Walker, Joe Diffie, Rob Ickes, Alecia Nugent, Jerry Salley and Buck White to name a few. He has also been featured on projects with Alison Krauss, The Bluegrass Album Band, Bela Fleck, and Dan Tyminksi. Darren says he is grateful for all of these opportunities.
“I have been fortunate to perform with some of the best musicians in the business!”