It was a transformative moment when two young brothers discovered their grandfather Malpass’ LPs collection. Drawn like a moth to a flame, the classic-filled treasure trove from the golden era of traditional country music gathered little dust in the Malpass household. Chris and Taylor studied the brother-harmony bluegrass duos of Jim & Jesse, the Louvin and Wilburn Brothers and bathed in the sounds of Hank, Lefty, Charlie, and Merle. There was nothing in the modern marketplace that fed The Malpass Brothers’ soul more than the music of this bygone era.
The early years were filled with playing gospel songs for church congregations, joining music legend, Don Helms on the road and playing local gigs. Shortly after high school they found themselves on a bus with the legendary Merle Haggard, where they would land the coveted spot as his opening act for seven years.
In 2011, Haggard produced The Malpass Brothers’ debut album, Memory That Bad for Hag Records. The title track hit number 6 on the CMT Pure Country Countdown and remained in the charts for several weeks. In 2015, bluegrass legend, Doyle Lawson produced their sophomore, self-titled album, and in 2017 released a self-produced live album, Live at the Paramount, which captures the energy and excitement of their highly polished, traditional country music show.
Their 2023 release, Lonely Street saw Lawson back in the producer’s chair alongside Ben Isaacs. It is their strongest project to date. Notably engineered by the late Grammy Award-winning Mark Capps under the oversight of Executive Producer and longstanding Malpass manager, Dan Mann, this 12-song album is filled with songs that sound as if they were curated from a 50s/60s/70s smoke-filled, classic country jukebox. On it, Chris got the chance to stretch as a writer taking the opportunity to co-write with noted writers like Dickey Lee, Shawn Camp, Conrad Fisher and Taylor Dunn. The album also includes cover nods like “Love Slips Away” by Merle Haggard and Jeannie Seely’s “We Don’t.”
The Malpass Brothers are anything but a “throwback” cover group. Instead, they are the “real deal.” Mentored and credentialed by the biggest legends of country and bluegrass, the brother duo continues to deliver new traditional music for modern times.
Their Grand Ole Opry debut was in December of 2018 and have returned to the hallowed circle more than a dozen times since. They’ve headlined international festivals in Ireland, Switzerland, and Scotland, and been featured on multiple national television shows including TBN’s “The Huckabee Show,” RFD’s “Country’s Family Reunion,” and “Larry’s Country Diner” — a compilation of performances from the later was released in 2024.
Ben & Rose are more than just a duo — they’re a harmony born of Lancaster County’s Plain Community, where tradition, faith, and family shape every note. Their music carries the quiet strength of country roads and the timeless beauty of rural life, weaving humility and heart into every song.
Blending country, folk, and gospel, Ben & Rose create music that is both tender and timeless. Their young voices lock together like old friends, evoking front-porch evenings, Sunday hymns, and the kind of stories that linger long after the last note. Each performance is a reminder that simple living can yield the richest music — songs filled with love, hope, and the rhythms of everyday grace. x
Their journey began as teenagers singing side by side, finding harmonies to Lady Antebellum tracks at local youth gatherings. What started at karaoke nights grew into something far deeper: a loving marriage and a shared passion for storytelling through song. Today, their harmonies carry the same spark of those early days, polished by years of life, love, and laughter together.
Ben & Rose often collaborate with fellow Plain Community songwriter Conrad Fisher, whose work has been recorded by legends like the Oak Ridge Boys, Rhonda Vincent, and The Malpass Brothers. Together, they craft music that feels both rooted and refreshing — a modern echo of simpler times, celebrating the beauty found in everyday life.
Americana singer, songwriter, record producer, and Pennsylvania native. His first commercial success as a writer came in 2021 when his song “Living Left to Do,” spent 4 weeks at #1 on the bluegrass gospel charts. His song, “He Sees the Little Sparrow Fall” hit the same #1 position in early 2025, both songs being recorded by Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers.
He is known for producing the music of the internet sensation, Ben and Rose, a married couple from the plain community, who live near his home in central Pennsylvania. His upcoming self-produced album will feature songs he’s recorded with the Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent, and with the legendary Oak Ridge Boys.
Conrad’s songs have also been recorded by The Malpass Brothers, Dickey Lee, Brian Hyland, and the Oak Ridge Boys.
He is the owner of Ragamuffin Hall, a venue and recording studio in McCoysville, PA.
This song was recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys in 2025
