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Pine Hill (Population 21) is a family band whose roots are planted deep in folk, bluegrass, traditional country, and mountain music. We are made up of Tom and Linda Acton, their children, grandchildren, and a few hounds for the mix. 
Tom Acton has been writing and playing music in and around the mountains of Scotland, AR for many years. He has a powerful voice reminiscent of some of the old time greats in the bluegrass world. Tom is also an accomplished guitarist and a great mandolin player. He has always admired and read anything he could find about Bill Monroe. This is the style of music that Tom most enjoys. Since purchasing a Gibson mandolin a couple years ago, he has focused most of his time on his Gibson, rarely laying it down to play his guitar. Tom has also written some excellent songs which will be highlighted in Pine Hill (Population 21)'s first CD compilation, The Land That Was. This CD contains music written and performed solely by members of the band. The title track to this CD is one of Tom's all time favorites. This CD also contains; "The Dutchman", a song in memory of his grandfather Herman Acton who went by the name Dutchman; and "White Oak Mountain", a song written while considering the changes we see in life with the passing of our loved ones. Two of his daughters only recently took interest in playing music, but now enjoy every opportunity to play and sing together. 
Their oldest daughter, Melissa (Missy) Acton Redmond, lives on the old poor farm not far from Scotland. She provides beautiful harmony, lead vocals and also has helped the band in writing some beautiful songs. Her song "Mississippi" is featured on The Land That Was with her husband, Mike Redmond, providing lead vocal and Missy providing the harmony. Mike is known throughout the area for his talent with a guitar as well as his great singing voice. He has played in numerous venue's in the area and Mike and Melissa often sing beautiful ballads together with great harmony. Mike's son, (J. R.) Mike Redmond Jr., is also a part of the Pine Hill (Population 21) band and plays some great guitar leads. Mike and Missy also play along with Tom Acton in a band named after the mountains which they call home, the WHITE OAK MOUNTAIN RAMBLERS. www.myspace.com/whiteoakmountainramblers 
Michelle Acton Jones is the second daughter of Tom and Linda. She provides harmony for the band, with a beautiful tenor voice and has helped in the song writing department, co-writing "The Family Tree" the twelth track on The Land That Was. Michelle occasionally is known to play a mean upright bass, and also enjoys playing the spoons. She is married to Rashidi Jones, has three children, who hopefully will be part of the band some day, and they make their home outside of Rogers, AR. 
Lisa Acton Smith is the youngest of Tom and Linda's daughters. She only recently began to take interest in playing music. Not long after her grandpa died in 2005, she took interest in learning to play the mandolin. While shopping for Tom's Gibson at First Quality Music in Louisville, KY, she saw a beautiful oval hole Eastman mandolin. After falling in love with the mandolin, and with the memories of her grandpa fresh on her mind, she was inspired to purchase and learn to play the mandolin. Not long after purchasing her Eastman, she began writing songs. Her first song was written with her dad in mind as she considered what a child must feel like as they leave their parents grave. This first song is featured on The Land That Was and is properly titled "A Heavy Load". Since that time, Lisa has written a number of songs including; "His Song", a song in memory of her grandpa; "Ada Claire", a song of the Civil War; and "The Trail Where They Cried", a song honoring her Cherokee heritage. She now plays her own Gibson mandolin. Lisa is married to Cecil Smith, has three children, and they make their home in Orleans, IN. Cecil occasionally adds basic rhythm guitar but mainly plays banjo for the band, preferring the clawhammer style of playing. Lisa's oldest child and only son, Aubrey (12), plays fiddle, upright bass, and guitar. Her second child, Kaylee (10), plays rhythm guitar, and her youngest, Sophie (7), wants to learn to play the upright bass. They also play as a family in the hills of Southern Indiana under the name of THE BULGUR MOUNTAIN BAND.
www.myspace.com/bulgurmountainband 
We hope you enjoy the music of the Pine Hill (Population 21) band. The songs highlighted on this web page are all available on "The Land That Was". It is currently available for $15. Shipping in the US is $1 (up to 20). International shipping is standard shipping rate. Purchase the CD using Paypal or you can download it. Thanks for reading our biography and come back soon for another look or listen!!!
For more of Pine Hill (Population 21)'s music, check out other tracks at the above links. The title track "The Land That Was" as well as "White Oak Mountain" and "Brother John" can be heard at www.myspace.com/whiteoakmountainramblers. "His Song", a song about the passing of Grandpa "Bulgur" Acton has been moved to www.myspace.com/bulgurmountainband.
Purchase the CD using Paypal for $15 plus shipping or you can download it.
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