Michael Tarbox

Michael Tarbox formed The Tarbox Ramblers in 1994. The band's sound originally centered on arrangements of early twentieth-century blues, gospel and Appalachian music. It later included Tarbox's original songs.

The Tarbox Ramblers' albums on the Rounder label include a self-titled debut and a second release titled A Fix Back East. They feature Tarbox, string-bassist Johnny Sciascia and violinist Daniel Kellar, with drummers Jon Cohan, RL Hulsman, Howie Ferguson and Alan Sheinfeld. Most of A Fix Back East was produced in Memphis by Jim Dickinson; several tracks were produced by Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie at Camp Street Studios in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The music on the Tarbox Ramblers albums is characterized by three-part vocal harmonies, a heavy rhythm section and the interplay of slide guitar and violin.

Tarbox has worked as a solo artist throughout his career, often favoring a drum-guitar duo format. In 2010 he released his first solo album, My Primitive Joy. Produced by Scott McEwen at The Fry Pharmacy Studio in Old Hickory, TN, its spare arrangements, acoustic sound and lyrical approach stand in contrast to The Tarbox Ramblers' aggressive amplified sound. A second solo album was slated for release in 2012.

Michael Tarbox's songs have been used in the television shows Sons of Anarchy and Supernatural. They include "Ashes To Ashes," "Already Gone," "Were You There?" and "No Harm Blues."