What do Bob Dylan, Dave Grohl and P. Diddy have in common? Certainly not fashion or taste in music. The correct answer: these artists all began their careers under the wings of another artist. Dylan played and toured frequently with Joan Biaz until he formed his own following. Grohl also began his punk career under the guidance of punk-rock guru Kurt Cobain. And Sean "Puffy" Combs transformed into Puff Daddy and P. Diddy only after the death of his mentor -- Notorious B.I.G. Indeed, it is not uncommon for an artist to break away from his or her mentor in search of the spotlight.

Mark Melloan is the latest addition to this growing list of artists. Melloan grew up in central Kentucky, an area steeped in the folk/bluegrass tradition and a breeding ground for such artists.

During his youth, his parents worked as commercial jingle artists -- his father writing the lyrics and his mother singing the catchy tunes. Considering Melloan’s pedigree and environment, it should be no surprise that he later would develop into a musician himself.

Melloan found passion in his father’s guitar, quickly accompanying his parents in church performance and playing acoustic, electric and bass guitars with ease. As he progressed, no one doubted his talents on the guitar. By his early teens, he could play any radio song and even served as frontman to a cover band. He did not know, however, that music would be his destiny.

In fall 1999, Melloan enrolled in the music-oriented Western Kentucky University, ironically planning to become a mechanical engineer. He quickly forsook passionless science to pursue music, although the road to stardom would prove long and tumultuous. Melloan often found himself stuck behind successful artists -- playing bass for Kurtis Matthew, doing sessions with Curtis Burch, supporting Greg Martin and performing often in concerts. It seemed that the spotlight would always shine on someone else.

"The Shadowlands" represents Melloan’s much awaited arrival as an independent artist. The album’s all-star cast includes dobro legend Curtis Burch (New Grass Revival), Casey Driessen on violin (John Mayer, Nickel Creek) and banjo extraordinaire Bela Fleck (New Grass Revival, The Flecktones). The remaining band comes from New Grass Revival. Nashville sensation Don Cobbs also mastered "Shadowlands," creating a dynamic, high-caliber album.

"Shadowlands" has the predominant theme of life in the Bluegrass Region. Songs like "Morgan Hunt’s Mill," "Courthouse Rock" and "Hubert Atwell’s Store" all portray this setting. "Morgan Hunt’s Mill" begins fiercely and then tapers off into a mysterious melody. The song’s perpetual gyration between harsh and soft tones compliments its story about a Pentecostal church conducted in a mill. "Hubert Atwell’s Store" bemoans the abrupt changes of the 20th century. The witty chorus chants "Down at Hubert Atwell’s store / The folks who stop don’t shop no more" and features the memorable verse "Years gave men in space and KIAs / From Vietnam and two world wars / [It] poured color in the TV / Time poured asphalt on the road." Bela Fleck will not disappoint in this track.

The somewhat autobiographical "I Told Them I'd Die" stands apart. The song commemorates a struggling fiddle player in Nashville, with the chorus saying, "I told them I’d die down here before I’m going home / Without this voice and fiddle on the radio." In the track, Driessen plays a rueful melody that allows the listener to feel vicariously the protagonist’s pain and frustration.

Despite having a record and growing stardom, Melloan has vowed to finish college -- a commendable feat in today’s age. Because of this commitment, however, Melloan’s touring schedule is very limited, and "The Shadowlands" will be promoted primarily in spring 2003. The album also remains in limited circulation, and for persons living outside the bluegrass region who want to check it out, it can be purchased at its website -- www.markmelloan.com.