Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Quattlebaum grew up with the slow rhythm of the South seeping into his bones. He found his musical roots early, drawn to the banjo's haunting twang, the Southern Appalachia song traditions, and the funky sounds of New Orleans.

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Quattlebaum's artistic spark ignited at a young age, as did his passion for performance and the outdoors. He attended an all-arts high school as a theater major, where he spent countless hours immersed in community theatre, camping with his scout troop, and competing in Odyssey of the Mind competitions — even taking home gold at the World Championship. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout, honing his leadership skills along the way. His love for storytelling, set design, and puppetry flourished on stage, while his passion for woodworking took root behind the scenes, building sets and crafting costumes. These formative years planted the seeds of future creative endeavors. 

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Working as a river guide during his summers in college in Asheville, NC, Quattlebaum got addicted to the adrenaline of paddling whitewater — his first taste of getting paid to do something he loved. After earning a degree in Outdoor Education with a minor in Appalachian Folk Music Studies, he hit the road, rambling the countryside in his Volkswagen camper and chasing adventure. He spent nearly a decade as a whitewater rafting guide, navigating class IV rapids and diving deep into riparian ecology, gold rush history, and outdoor education. Playing tunes around the campfire and at guide parties led to gigs at local watering holes and reignited passions for performing.

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His debut solo album, "The Ghost Tangled in the Oaks," recorded in 2013, captures the swampy tones of his Southern heritage, blending bluegrass and country with echoes of the rivers and forests he explored. As his music evolved, so did his stage presence. A Quattlebaum show became more than a performance; it became an experience. Switching between banjo, cello banjo, and guitar, he weaves humor and storytelling into his set, taking audiences from tender whispers of the banjo to raucous peaks of unbridled energy.

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In 2014, Quattlebaum moved to Portland, OR, and co-founded Crow and the Canyon, a harmony-driven bluegrass band that quickly gained national recognition and landed gigs at major festivals. Around the same time, he joined the eight-piece folk rock powerhouse The Sam Chase & the Untraditional, hitting the road and performing at iconic events like Outside Lands, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and San Francisco's legendary Fillmore. In 2018, Crow and the Canyon were selected as Cultural Ambassadors for the U.S. State Department's American Music Abroad Program, traveling across Africa to teach, perform, and collaborate with local artists. That same year, Quattlebaum released EP Vol. 1, a hypnotic blend of vintage folk and raw, gritty vocals that unveiled a new side of his artistry. After playing over 100 shows that year, he showed no signs of slowing down — until 2020, that is…

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Beyond the stage, Quattlebaum's creativity takes many forms, resulting in a career of crafting unique experiences that bring people together, from long-table communal dinners to intimate folk music and foraging festivals. His Folk & Forage micro-festival celebrates folk music and wild food. His Banjo Rama at Hama Hama features banjos and oysters on Washington's Hood Canal. He and his partner also formed Serenade, which paired chefs with bands for a communal dinner concert experience.

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As an event producer and talent buyer, Quattlebaum curates music for festivals, resorts, and venues across the country. He injected musical programming into the Telluride Mushroom Festival, created poster art, art installations, and emceed the Big Ponderoo Music and Arts Festival, led the team at Pickathon’s chef and band series, Curation, and recently began programming Brasada Ranch's summer music series. Along the way, he even dabbled in woodworking, crafting tiny stools inspired by his honeymoon in Southeast Asia and launching Squattles — a whimsical pandemic side project that went viral, sharing his "mediocre woodworking skills" on YouTube.

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In 2020, he began stepping out more as an artist and illustrator for hire. His folky nature-inspired art has found its way onto festival posters, band merchandise, and his product line, Banjo Pilgrim. His whimsical designs often feature birds, mushrooms, and plants, weaving a visual narrative that echoes the earthy tones of his music.

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Beyond music, Quattlebaum carved out a niche in marketing and branding. He helped launch Union Wine Co.’s iconic Underwood Wines in a can and rebranded Trailhead Coffee Roasting’s bike-delivery coffee business. His love of mushrooms and building branding led him to co-found Deme, a mushroom cacao company that earned features in Forbes and Sunset Magazine.

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In 2019, Quattlebaum married his longtime partner, and in 2022, they welcomed their first daughter, marking a new chapter in his life. Later that year, they moved to Bend, Oregon, seeking the small mountain town life and a deeper connection to family and community. With the arrival of their second daughter in 2024, Quattlebaum embraced life as a full-time artist, performer, event producer, and dad-life hustler. In March 2025, he launched the Bluegrass Bend-r, a one-day mini-festival celebrating genre-bending bluegrass in Bend.

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Whether he’s behind a microphone, a banjo, a paintbrush, or a festival lineup, Quattlebaum is a force of nature — a builder of community, a seeker of adventure, and a storyteller at heart. His life is a testament to following the winding path, embracing the unknown, and finding magic in every moment. From river rapids to mountain stages, his journey is still unfolding — one song, one story, one gathering at a time.