Mike (Dad)

Mike grew up with plenty of music around him. He played trumpet through junior high and high school. His trumpet playing ended when he went to college, so that he could pursue his interest in gymnastics. He competed in gymnastics throughout college and beyond. In college, Mike taught himself to sing bass, and would do that at church or in Christian fellowship. After he married Peggy, they sang in church choirs and worship teams together at their church. He also sang for one year in a community chorale group. Now, he only occasionally sings a bass line with the band. When the children started playing all their instruments, he decided he didn't like just watching, so he bought a mandolin and started playing along. He plays mostly rhythm "chops", but is learning to play a few breaks here and there. Mike's favorite artists to listen to are (in no particular order): Art Blackburn (bluegrass guitar), Christopher Parkening (classical guitar)and the Berge Family (bluegrass gospel). His other interests are model railroading and reading about the Old West.

Peggy (Mom)

Peggy grew up a dairy farmer's daughter. She sang in church all her life. Her dad sang in barbershop chorus, so there was always music around their house, and she helped her dad learn his parts. She took piano and guitar lessons for several years, played clarinet in junior high and taught herself to play recorder. When the children came along, she sang with them all the time, especially Scripture choruses. She has a beautiful alto-tenor voice, although she has been known to venture into the soprano range on occasion. She started playing autoharp so she could play along at the monthly jam we occassionally attend. She learned the basics on violin to help our daughters learn. She even competed in a fiddle contest and placed second in her division! In addition to making music, she also enjoys sew and making tatted lace.

James

James began singing when he learned to talk. He started singing in church musicals when he was about 7. He and his sisters performed for a family reunion one year and they were a hit. When we first went to a local jam, he first wanted to learn harmonica, so for Christmas that year he got several and started to learn. After a few months on harmonica, his mom took her old student guitar out of storage at Grandma's house and James started playing along at the jam. In no time at all, he had basic chords down and began learning some bass runs to add some interest to a song. James has a good strong lead voice, but as he has grown and his voice has begun changing, he has started learning to sing other parts as well. James' favorite times to sing and play guitar are when he is awake. James plays a Washburn "Rare Woods" Hawaiian Koa guitar and uses Martin Bluegrass strings.

Ruth

Ruth has always known singing, as she has been around it her whole life. When she was about 7, she developed a desire to learn violin. We went to a concert some friends were playing in when she was about 9 and a fiddler played a set of waltzes and airs. Ruthie fell asleep! We have learned that if Ruthie falls asleep to some music, it means she really loves it! That fiddle player became Ruth's teacher when she started violin lessons later that year, and part of her violin lessons have been to learn Old-Time Fiddling. She has come a long way and continues to add so much to our sound. In her spare time, Ruth likes playing guitar and mandolin and recently began learning the banjo and bass. Ruth plays a Gliga violin, hand-made in Romania.

Pearl

Pearl is just that in our family band - a precious jewel. She always has a smile and a word of encouragement. In addition to her early singing, Pearl started playing harmonica shortly after James did, and she has continued to play it well. She has learned to play from some great harmonica players whom we are privileged to call friends. In addition to harmonica, Pearl has always liked the Mountain Dulcimer. A few years ago, we found someone to custom make a Pearl-sized Mountain Dulcimer. Pearl was instrumental (no pun intended) in designing this dulcimer, choosing the type of woods used, the sound-hole design and the saying which is wood-burned on the back. When she plays it, it adds a beautiful Appalachian sound to our music. Pearl prefers a 10-hole Diatonic harmonica.

Grace

We are so thankful for our Amazing Grace! She picks up just about any instrument and plays it, the rest of us are just amazed. A few years ago, she wanted to learn to yodel. She got a five minute lesson and then went home and practiced and practiced until her voice broke. James and Pearl wote "Heaven", just for Grace to yodel. What a treat it is to hear her - she can make us all smile with her yodels. Grace has been taking violin and fiddling lessons, and has a great ear to hear a twin-fiddling part on many songs. Then another friend gave her a resonator guitar and helped her learn how to play that. She also plays the recorder, and wrote a tune for the recorder, entitled "Sunset Waltz", the title track of our first CD. Now she is starting to play the bass for our band. It is sometimes hard to keep up with her as she keeps growing and learning, but we enjoy every minute of it!