Many fans of the mountain music scene came across Deaton in the company of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, although he also worked with the Everett Brothers. The bassist joined the former group in order to replace Curtis Vestal, and critics immediately commented that Deaton's bass vocals were even "more rumbling" than Vestal's. In 1991, a gaggle of pickers with this group decided to leave and start their own band, which would become IIIrd Tyme Out. Guitarist Russell Moore and fiddler Mike Hargrove were the others involved in making this musical move. The group, based out of Georgia, became one of the most important progressive bluegrass outfits of the '90s. Deaton began producing the group's recordings, and by the end of the '90s, was also taking on projects such as the Chapmans and the superb singer Beth Stevens. While he seems to be focusing more and more on producing, that doesn't mean he isn't playing. Deaton often does vocal or instrumental guest spots on his production projects. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi