Vince Herman

Vince Herman embarked on his musical career playing guitar as a child. His exposure to David Bromberg & his Big Band in ninth grade solidified his commitment to music. He began performing professionally in the eleventh grade with Eddie and the Night Riders. During his time at West Virginia University, Herman furthered his musical education by performing in various bands and learning from bluegrass musicians such as Melvin Wine, Mose Coffman, J.P. Fraley, and Dewey Balfa. These early experiences laid the groundwork for his future contributions to American roots music.

After college, Herman relocated to Colorado. Here, he met Drew Emmitt, who would become his future bandmate. Herman formed the Salmon Heads, blending his interests in Cajun and jugband music, while Emmitt was active with the Left Hand String Band. The two musicians merged their styles and bands in 1989 to form Leftover Salmon. This new group toured extensively for 16 years, becoming a fixture in the jam band scene and participating in influential festivals like H.O.R.D.E. Following a hiatus from Leftover Salmon in 2005, Herman founded Great American Taxi, releasing their debut album, “Streets of Gold,” in 2007. The band toured widely and released two more albums, “Reckless Habits” (2009) and “Paradise Lost” (2011), before Leftover Salmon reformed in 2013.

In 2019, Herman co-founded the supergroup High Hawks, featuring Chad Staehly, Adam Greuel, Brian Adams, Will Trask, and Tim Carbone. The High Hawks released their self-titled debut album in 2021. In 2022, Herman released his first solo album, “Enjoy the Ride.” This project marked a significant step in his career, allowing him to explore a broader range of country music traditions. The creation of “Enjoy the Ride” occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, where a period off the road in an RV led him to Nashville and an exploration of co-writing, a new process for him.