The Swanee Presents: Bluegrass Christmas with The Hatley Family

The Hatley Family of Stanfield represents five generations of music. The bluegrass/gospel group consists of a father, his four children, and one daughter-in-law.

Patriarch, 86-year-old Ervin Hatley, has been playing the fiddle for over half a century and continues to perform when able. His three sons, Gary, Ronnie, and Donnie, play guitar, banjo, and mandolin/fiddle respectively, while daughter,

Teresa, joins in on bass and Gary's wife, Sandy (from Seagrove), adds dobro on some numbers.

Growing up singing a cappella in church, the group is known for their tight four-part harmony. The group specializes in bluegrass gospel, but also offers toe tapping instrumentals and familiar bluegrass standards.

The family began playing when the two oldest boys were teenagers. Competing in area fiddlers' conventions and band contests, they were frequent winners. As their popularity spread and the younger siblings joined in, they started

performing for festivals, concert halls, and churches. They have…