George Slusher was born and raised in Floyd County on a beef cattle farm. He got a ukulele at age 2 and was off and running on his musical journey, taking him to harmonica, autoharp, trumpet, guitar, mandolin, and banjo. In addition to a family music tradition of Old Time, Gospel, and Bluegrass, George has explored many other genres of music including Rock and Roll, Country, and Blues. As a vocalist he specializes in baritone and tenor harmonies, while also singing lead on occasion.

Over the years George has performed with a series of bands, including Old and New Grass (guitar), Country Neighbors (guitar), High Noon Band (electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin), and South 40 (mandolin, banjo). He has filled in with groups such as Korn Kutters (guitar), Over the Hill Gang (bass and guitar), and Highway South (mandolin). George can frequently be seen and heard playing guitar with Mac Traynham and Andy Buckman in whatever band name they happen to be using at the time.

George has been an instructor for JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) and has been a fill-in instructor for the Handmade Music Youth Program. “Over the years I have been blessed to play in several bands in different music genres and develop some facility on guitar, mandolin, and banjo. My goal with the youth program is to help students learn in much the same way that I did, by watching and listening to other musicians in a group setting to see how all the pieces fit together.”