SongVault Artist Profile

Gene Mills is a Virginia-based songwriter, singer, and guitar player in styles spanning Americana, folk, bluegrass, and country. He’s been performing, both solo and in various ensembles, for 30 years; for the last several years, he’s been playing live performances along with his wife Gayla on bass and vocals. On his long-overdue 2008 debut CD, “Waiting for Rain,” he’s joined not only by Gayla but also by Bill Evans, Claire Lynch, Missy Raines, Steve Smith, and Jim Skelding.

Complex and rich, Gene’s songs put memorable characters into moving stories about work, love, and loss, with occasional forays into comedy. They’ve received extensive radio airplay on stations in at least half a dozen states and on the nationally syndicated Folk Sampler (and on Car Talk!). They’ve also won numerous songwriting awards. “Country Boy” took first place in the 2008 Indie International Song Contest Country Category. “Anna Mae” won third in the 2008 100% Music Songwriting Contest. In the Central Virginia Rapunzel’s songwriting contest, Gene has won awards for “Oregon Hill” (2004), “Earl Thomas Johnson” (2005), “Working Man’s Hands” (2006), and “Forgetting” (2008). Two of his songs have been recorded by other artists—“Anna Mae” by Steve Smith and “Fool’s Gold” by the Alan Munde Gazette.

Gene is more than a songwriter, though. His rich voice, flatpicking prowess, and engaging stage presence make him an audience favorite.