Dee Gunter

Dee Gunter has spent most of his life in Baltimore, where he has played with virtually every bluegrass band in the region. Born Willard Dewey Gunter in 1943 in Jerryville, W. Va., he was dubbed “Dee” by his elementary schoolteacher. He came to Baltimore as a guitar player but took up the banjo with Porky Hutchins as instructor. Dee formed a band called the “Greenbriar Valley Boys” with his brother Duane. When Dee lost his brother in 1969, he worked with Al Jones for a time. When Walter Hensley returned to Baltimore, Dee switched to guitar, joining Walt, Frankie Short and Dewey Renfro as the Dukes of Bluegrass. He worked with Hensley a total of 11 years, during that time recording an LP for Revonah. He played with Frankie Short 1970-’80, recording several 45 rpm singles. Dee was a member, along with Bill Runkle in the band Square Deal, with whom he cut two albums. He’s also worked or recorded with Tommy Neal, Delmar Delaney, Bill Sage and Grant Eller.