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The McLain Family Band is a bluegrass group that was active in the 1970s and 1980s and still occasionally performs. Formed in 1968, the band originally consisted of father Raymond K. McLain (1928-2003) on guitar, son Raymond W. McLain (b.1953) on banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, Alice McLain (b.1956) on mandolin, and Ruth McLain (b. 1958) on bass and mandolin. (Bluegrass Unlimited, April, 2014). In later years Nancy Ann McLain (b.1965) and Michael McLain (b.1967) joined the group, playing bass and guitar respectively. Alice's husband, Al White (b.1952), joined the band in 1977. Between 1973 and 1986 the band released fourteen LPs on its own Country Life record label. One of the albums captures the group's 1982 performance at Carnegie Hall. The group toured 62 countries and all 50 states serving as bluegrass ambassadors under the auspices of the State Department. In 2013 the International Bluegrass Music Association honored the group by recognizing them with its Distinguished Achievement Award. (Bluegrass Unlimited, April, 2014).

The band's sound is characterized by Raymond W.'s instrumental virtuosity and the close harmonies of Alice and Ruth. Although they covered many bluegrass standards, some of their most popular songs were written by family members, among them Raymond K.'s sister, Rosemary McLain Stovall. (Pickin' July 1977.)

From 1978 until 1988 the band hosted a music festival designed expressly for family bands. (Bluegrass Unlimited, April 2014.) Held near their home in Berea, Kentucky, famous family acts like The Whites, Jim and Jesse, and the Osborne Brothers performed at the festival.

The McLains were also the first bluegrass band to perform with symphony ochestras. (Bluegrass Unlimited, April 2014.) In 1973composer Phillip Rhodes wrote a "Concerto for Bluegrass Band and Orchestra" specifically for the band. They would perform the piece more than 100 times with local symphony orchetras all over the United States.

After the group's last major tour in 1989, Raymond W began a ten year stint with bluegrass legends Jim and Jesse. He later became director of the Bluegrass and Country Music program at East Tennessee State University and now holds a similar position at Kentucky's Morehead State University. Ruth also works for the program at Morehead and Al White teaches music at Berea College. Alice is an elementary school teacher in Berea. Michael is director of the Belmont Bluegrass Ensemble in Nashville, while Nancy Ann is a representative with Usborne Books.

In 2018 the group plans to celebrate their 50th anniversary by rereleasing their albums. A documentary and book about the McLains are currently in production and will appear to honor their 50 years of music.