Inspired by bluegrass musicians like Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs, Raleigh County native Don Stover developed his own three-finger banjo style.

In the late 1940s, while working in coal mines, Stover played music part time. In 1952, he left mining to join the Lilly Brothers and perform in Boston. As The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover, they played on the radio and at the Hillbilly Ranch for nearly two decades, introducing bluegrass to new audiences in the Northeast.

Stover gained national attention in 1957 when he made a landmark recording with Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys. Over the years, Stover performed with several groups, taught banjo lessons, and toured widely, including two trips to Japan and a performance at the 1968 Olympics. He stayed active in music until his death.

Stover was posthumously honored by being inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame (2002) and the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame (2008).