Retro 78
Retro 78 formed in October of 2021 and hasn't looked back since! What started as a good jam is now a band with a mixture of modern & traditional bluegrass, gospel and country music. Retro 78’s goal is to revisit and refresh some classic bluegrass music while bringing a high energy experience to the audience. The band is made up of powerhouse vocals and one of a kind musicianship. Lead vocalist, Clint Groves was nominated for the SPBGMA 2024 Male Vocalist of the Year, plays rhythm guitar and writes a lot of the band's original material. Clint makes his home in Clinton, SC. Singing lead, harmonies, and playing mandolin is Alex Hibbitts, who resides in Kodak, TN. Additionally, bringing a full sound and more instrumentals is Hunter Motts on the banjo from Boiling Springs, SC. We are honored to be the 2022 SPBGMA International Band Contest Champions!
Hunter Motts
Banjo
Some of Hunter's earliest memories are him and his grandpa, "Doc", riding around in his blue Jeep truck listening to Reno and Smiley. This influenced Hunter to begin playing. Through out his career he has played with several bands including, Travis Frye and Blue Mountain (2012-2016), Rutherford County Line (2015-2016), the Baker Family (2016-2018), and Carolina Divide (2018-2021). Retro 78 began to take shape with one goal in mind, to form a band that not only could perform at a high level, but also be friends of his. He is happy to say that he succeeded and he not only enjoys the music, but also enjoys the camaraderie of the band!
Clint Groves
Lead and Harmony Vocalist & Rhythm and Lead Guitar
A multi-instrumentalist, music arranger, and songwriter, Clint Groves is a musician with roots that run deep in Kentucky and the Carolinas. He has had a love for music since his early childhood. Since the age of 8, Clint has been involved in some form of musicianship. He has a methodical approach to vocals and a precision based regimen for instruments that he practices daily. The artists that have influenced him the most include Tony Rice, Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe, Alan Bibey, Terry Baucom, Steve Gulley, Doyle Lawson, and Trey Ward. He currently sings lead, tenor, and baritone vocals with Retro 78 and plays lead guitar. Clint is proud to stand next to each one of the members of the band and is excited about the direction they are going.
Alex Hibbitts
Lead and Harmony Vocalist & Mandolin
A jack of all trades with the ability to play multiple instruments, Alex Hibbitts lends his knowledge of recording, producing and musicianship to the band. Hibbitts grew up in Grundy, VA, learning mandolin, guitar, and bass from the area's numerous musicians. At 17, he joined Randy Kohrs, and the Lites on mandolin, and since then, has performed with Alecia Nugent, New River Line, and The Midnight Ramblers - a group with which he toured the United Kingdom in 2009 and Germany in 2010. He spent 4 years traveling with The Expedition Show and recorded a couple of their releases through Mountain Fever Records. In 2015, he joined Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. A native of Kodak, TN, Alex has joined forces with Retro 78 and contributed to the bands success considerably. Notably, he brought to life the mascot, Slaw Dog, as well as, helped produce the new single Your Love.