Ten Penny Drive is building something. As expected of any contemporary bluegrass group, the drive is a must, but this isn't sledgehammer bluegrass. With every song, this group aims at building something in the realm of master carpentry--solid instrumental construction with a fine, creative finish in their vocal arrangements. When asked about the name, banjo player Riley Denton speaks of his granddad's tool box: "Papaw always had a bag of ten pennies in there. He made the good stuff with those nails. We want to do that. We're not using railroad spikes. This is Ten Penny Drive." 

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The group got started at Walters State Community College where Chip McLain headed the Folk & Bluegrass Club. The High Lonesome Senate was the club's performing student ensemble. All the members of TPD were students in the club. In 2020, with all the members graduated and Covid 19 putting a damper on performances, The High Lonesome Senate became Ten Penny Drive.

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Ten Penny Drive consists of Chip McLain (guitar), Laree McMurray (fiddle), Riley Denton (banjo & dobro), Trent Williams (mandolin), and Corey Kapnick (bass).​