His mandolin prowess has helped clarify how Bill Monroe's style of playing can be applied to progressive bluegrass music.
[1] In 1978, McLaughlin founded the Johnson Mountain Boys with Dudley Connell (vocals, guitar), Richie Underwood (banjo), Eddie Stubbs (fiddle), and Larry Robbins (bass).
[1][4] During this time, McLaughlin also occasionally played fiddle with the band Patent Pending, which included Eldred Hill (mandolin), Rusty Williams (guitar), and Jim Steptoe (banjo).
[5] McLaughlin joined the Lynn Morris Band in time to play mandolin and guitar on their 1992 album The Bramble and the Rose along with Tom Adams and Marshall Wilborn.
[11] The Stony Point Quartet, featuring McLaughlin, Linda Lay, Billy Lux (bass), and Dudley Connell (guitar) often plays the same events as Springfield Exit, with a focus on gospel music.