b. 20 December 1935, Boon's Camp, Kentucky, USA. Necessary was raised in Tomahawk, Kentucky. In 1954 he enlisted in the US Air Force and continued to serve for some 10 years. After leaving the military in the mid-60s, he turned to music for a career, choosing to perform bluegrass. Recording from the start of the 70s, he became very popular with bluegrass audiences. Among the bands Necessary led over the years were the Stone Mountain Boys and the Wheeling Grass. In the early 80s, he recorded with Buzz Busby, Al Jones and Paul Keller. In the mid-00s, he sometimes teamed up with ...