This Wheeling native is known for bluegrass, country, and folk music. As a kid, he was inspired by the Wheeling Jamboree and by his sister, Mollie, who introduced him to popular music. After seeing the Beatles in concert, he learned to play guitar and later added fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and about any other stringed instrument he could get his hands on.

O’Brien helped start the band Hot Rize, which became popular and toured around the world. He later began a solo career in Nashville, writing songs recorded by well-known artists. Two of his albums won Grammy Awards.