ASHLAND — With a single practice session to prepare for Friday night’s show, J.D. Crowe and The New South hit the Paramount Arts Center Stage with two new band members and an audience of enthusiastic fans.

“It couldn’t be going much better,” Crowe said with a soft and friendly smile shortly after his band’s sound check. “We lost a couple of band members but we’ve got Steve Thomas on fiddle and John Bowman on bass. This will be our first endeavor together.

“We had one rehearsal — that’s all we had time for,” he said with a laugh.

Crowe, who has played more shows and logged more miles than anyone could ever account for, is no stranger to new ensembles. Previous versions of his band have featured an impressive list of bluegrass and country music legends including Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice and Jerry Douglas among many others.

The Lexington native has been playing music professionally since getting his start with Jimmy Martin’s Sunny Mountain Boys.

“Longevity means a whole lot to people ... if you can just hang in there,” Crowe said, adding he is most flattered to see an abundance of younger listeners at their shows. “That is the greatest compliment, probably the best you can be paid.”

For local fans, Crowe was recently among those who gathered at the Paramount for a taping of the America’s Bluegrass Gospel television show.

“That was different. It was very relaxed. But, I think it may have run a little too long for some people,” he said, pointing out he didn’t know some of the other musicians on stage that night, but was quite familiar with the musical contributions and talents of people including Don Rigsby and Larry Cordle.

“Larry Cordle, he’s one of my favorites,” he said.

While considered a master of his instrument with many professionals who emulate his approach, Crowe doesn’t hesitate with his answer when asked who inspired him to pick up the banjo.

“Earl Scruggs — ’nuff said right there.”

For Friday evening’s show, the legendary banjo player and his band shared the stage with two-time International Bluegrass Music Association award winners The Grascals. The band is currently enjoying success with their song, “Me and John and Paul.”

“They are a great group of guys — a great group of pickers,” Crowe said.

Jamie Johnson, guitarist and vocalist for The Grascals, said everyone in that band has been thrilled with the chance to share shows with Crowe.

“It is just incredible. For myself it is a dream come true,” Johnson said backstage.

“He is a hero to our banjo player, Aaron (McDaris). I admire him for the crop of professionals that he’s brought along to music,” he said, noting his favorite vocalist, Keith Whitley, was introduced as part of Crowe’s musical legacy.

Grascals fans in the audience were also treated to the fiddle playing of guest musician Aubrey Haynie, who filled in for their regular fiddler Jimmy Mattingly.

Johnson said the jam sessions between their band and Crowe’s at the end of their shows together have been particularly enjoyable.

“J.D. is second to none on the banjo. There are a lot who try to play his style, but nobody does it like he does. J.D. — he’s first class.”

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.