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Emcees, Judges & Performers (click on a name)
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Jana Jae,
Founder of Grand Lake Festivals Like
most entertainers who have reached stardom, Jana Jae’s success is the result
of hard work perfecting raw talent. Musical
talent runs through the family. Her parents studied at the famed Juilliard
School of Music, New York City, and Jana was introduced to the classical study
of the violin, on a 1/8 sized instrument, at the age of two. Then, thanks to the
direction and inspiration of her grandfather, an accomplished champion fiddler
in his own right, Jana also learned to love playing by ear. She virtually grew
up jamming with and learning from some of the best in the business while living
in western Idaho, not far from Weiser, the site of the National Oldtime
Fiddlers’ Contest. Soon she had honed her skill of fiddling into a fine art
and won the Ladies National Championship several times. |
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She
also continued her classical training, winning scholarships to Interlochen and
the International String Congress. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree
in music and studied abroad at the Vienna Academy of Music. She
taught music for several years until she felt inspired to take her unique blend
of music on the road. Jana and her trademark blue fiddle soon took the world of
country music by storm. She got her big break at a Buck Owens concert in
Redding, California, when she was invited to take the stage and play
"Orange Blossom Special." Buck was one of the first "big
names" to recognize her talents and offered her a job as the first female
member of his "Buckaroos" band. She later became part of the regular
team of performers on the "Hee Haw" show and has appeared with such
country music greats as Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, Ray Stevens, The Oakridge Boys,
Mel Tillis, Tammy Wynette, Ricky Skaggs and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Now
on her own, Jana has built a solid solo career, drawing upon her diverse musical
background. Her one-of-a-kind style blends country fiddling, western swing,
bluegrass, pop and the classics, producing thrilling performances and critical
acclaim. But
her enthusiastic following isn’t limited only to this country. She has
consistently proved her ability to cross over into other genres and has earned a
reputation and large international following performing at such renowned events
as the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the Wembley Festival in England
as well as the New Orleans Jazz Festival. She has toured Japan, the Philippines,
Australia, Africa, Brazil and continues to perform abroad. Jana
is a consummate performer and despite her petite 5’ 3 1/2" size, is a
powerful whirlwind on stage. Her pure, clear voice, showmanship, down-home
friendly sense of humor and natural communication with any audience combine for
a dynamite concert. Her special talents have enriched us all in the world of
music. Back to Top |
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Babette Allen
A good "all-around" musician, Babette is equally at home playing with a symphony orchestra or jamming with her friends. Babette has a large private studio in Fayetteville, AR, where she is also the Musician's Personnel Manager and Librarian for the North Arkansas Symphony, as well as one of the violinists. Additionally she is a freelance musician, performing at weddings receptions, often incorporating many different genres into the same event. She performs with other orchestras and ensembles at schools and regularly joins a local country swing band to play for dances. Like many other fiddlers, Babette has both competed at fiddle contests and judged them. She has been a teacher at Jana Jae's Fiddle Camp for several years, as well as a teacher at Mark O'Connor's Fiddle Camp in Tennessee and String Conference in San Diego. Babette is the author of "Babette's Quick Start Guide to Theory for Fiddlers." More > > > www.raynababette.com Back to Top |
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Brandon Apple
The Fiddle Fest 2003 and 2002 Grand Prize winner of $1000 and a inscribed limited-edition Buck Owens guitar was Brandon Apple from Batesville, Arkansas. Brandon said he had been working hard toward contest wins, and it paid off—in 2002 the judges scored him in first place all three rounds of the Open Division. Back to Top |
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Jay Belt Tulsa-born Jay Belt was inspired at an early age to take up fiddling by such greats as the Johnny Lee Wills Band, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, and Art Davis, an old-time movie maker and fiddler. He has fond memories of the old Cain's Academy where he would sit in on Johnny Lee and Bob Wills' radio shows on KVOO. After moving to California, Jay became a lead fiddler playing Old Time, Bluegrass, County & Western and Swing. He was California State Champion in 1968,1969, 1971 and Grand Champion of Arizona in 1974, and has placed as high as fifth in the National Contest at Weiser. He has judged many fiddle contests such as California State, the California Western Open, National at Weiser, Idaho, and our Festival in Grove and was instrumental in forming Old Time Fiddle Associations in both California and Arizona. His son, Norman, a pilot with Delta Airlines, accompanies Jay on bass. Back to Top |
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Bluegrass Friends
Bluegrass Friends have been playing at area festivals for many years. Included are: Jerry Dill, Mound City, KS, guitar, mandolin, banjo, lead and harmony vocals; Dennis Spence, Purdy, MO, mandolin; Shawn Enarson, Blanchard, OK, banjo; J.C. Broughton, Sapulpa, OK, fiddle; Jeff Graham, Broken Arrow, OK, fiddle and vocals; Jay Yount, Tahlequah, OK, fiddle. Louis Trapp from Tahlequah plays guitar and sings lead and Mike Field from Grove, OK, plays guitar and sings lead. Dolores Graham, Grove, OK, plays bass and Wayne Graham, Cresent, OK, plays guitar and sings lead. The Grahams are a 3-generation family of musicians, Dolores is the mother of Wayne and grandmother of Jeff. She plays with many different groups but her heart is in bluegrass. Spectators at the Grand Lake Festivals can find Bluegrass Friends jammin' till wee hours in the morning. Back to Top |
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Blue
Pearl is one of the hottest bands to hit the Tulsa bluegrass scene. With a unique blend of hot
pickin' and tight vocals, they
continually please audiences and leave them wanting more. The band members
are good friends and have been playing together for many years now.
Blue Pearl played as the house band at the theme park Dry Gulch USA for five
years and was featured at the 2000 Chili and Bluegrass Festival in Claremore and again in 2001, as well as other
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Virgil Bonham
Trio Carrying on a 33-year tradition of musical entertainment, the Bonham Trio offers a blend of country, bluegrass and gospel family harmony with great instrumental work. The group has had the honor of playing many of the same shows with Vince Gill, The Whites, and many others over the years. You can find them performing at oprys, fairs, churches, concerts and Back to Top |
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J. C. Broughton is a well-known fiddler, judge and entertainer from Sapulpa, OK. He has won many contests all over the United States including the Senior Division at Grand Lake National Fiddle Fest 2000 and the Senior Championship at the 1998 Oldtime National Fiddle Contest at Weiser. J. C. also won the Oklahoma State Championship two times and judged at Weiser in 2000. He is in constant demand as an entertainer and judge and plays a wide variety of styles - country western, bluegrass and so on - but his first love is and always will be traditional old-time fiddlin'. J. C. has two Oklahoma Champion fiddle tapes which can be ordered by calling 918-224-2904. Back to Top |
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Tommy Burger
Master of Ceremonies, former President and Director of the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association. Back to Top |
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Ed Carnes
Ed has won fiddle championships in 5 states - KY, IN, TN, AL, OH , and placed as high as Runner-Up in the Grand Master Fiddler Championship. He has won numerous other championships, such as the Mid-America Championship (5 times), Empire State Championship, Western KY. Championship and many others. Ed has fiddled all over the US, and also in Canada. An accomplished and Nationally Certified Fiddle judge, Ed has judged the KY State Championship several times, the IN State championship, the U.S. National Contest in Weiser, ID, the Western Open Contest in Redding, CA, and many other contests. Ed has two solo recordings of his music available, and has been featured on several collections. Ed is also one of the organizers of the Grand Master Fiddler Championship Competition, restarted in 2005, and serves on its Board of Directors. Back to Top |
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Amy Carwile Originally from Idaho, Amy has been playing the fiddle for 19 years. She has competed in fiddle contests throughout the United States and Canada. Her resume includes the Northwest Regional, Washington State, Pend O'Reille International, Rocky Mountain, and Colorado Open Fiddling Championships as well as many others. In addition to competing, Amy has served as a judge at numerous contests and will be a 2004 judge at the National Old-Time Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, Idaho. More > > > Carwile String Studio Back to Top |
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Daniel Carwile Daniel has competed in virtually every major fiddle competition in the More > > > Carwile String Studio Back to Top |
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Tristan
& Tashina Clarridge
Tashina won the Open Division in 2001. In 2002, Tristan won 3rd and Tashina won 2nd in the Open Division, and together they won 1st in the Twin Fiddle Contest. Two weeks later, Tristan won Grand National Champion at the National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest in Weiser, ID Back to Top |
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Reunion of Clear Creek members Ron Hunt, Martin Sheridan, Ted Smith, Ken Woods with Jana promises an exciting time for all. They will repeat the reunion in French Gulch near Redding, California where it all started. Playing with this group inspired Jana to pursue performing . . . Back to Top |
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Common Tyme Common Tyme, featuring flat picking champ Cody Frost, has a high-energy sound that is blazing new trails in the Oklahoma's Bluegrass scene. This Band brings a refreshing mixture of Traditional Bluegrass to some New Grass. Together, their two ,three and four part harmonies are a delight to the ear, a mixture of different styles using standard, traditional Bluegrass instruments - Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Bass. L to R: James Womack, Scott Schmidt, Cody Frost, Tedd Woodward, Jerry Howland Back to Top |
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Chris Daring
Chris is the 1996 National Adult Fiddling Champion. She judged the National Fiddling Championships at Weiser in 1992 and 2002. Chris has taught fiddling as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Southern Colorado, the University of Colorado at Denver and Texarkana College. Many of her private students have become Colorado State Champions, one was the 1998 National Junior Champion and the 2000 National Young Adult Champion and several have placed in the top ten in their age groups at Weiser. As a performer, Chris’ band played throughout the southwest for many years and her family provided the music for the private dinner of eight world leaders, including the President of the United States and their wives at the 1997 Summit of the Eight Conference in Denver, Colorado. Back to Top |
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Junior Daugherty
of Alamagordo, New Mexico, long-time winner at Weiser, in demand as guest artist, including Jay Ungar's Ashokan Fiddle Camp. Back to Top |
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Monte Gaylord
Monte has consistently placed in the top three in the Open Division as well as in many of the other contests he enters. He has broadened the horizons of many young fiddlers, teaching and mentoring. He and his brother, Dave, appear as the Gaylord Brothers Band. Both brothers have toured nationally with artists such as Allen Jackson and Clint Black. Back to Top |
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Les Gilliam "The Oklahoma Ballader" has performed at Gene Autry Days and Rex Allen Days, and is a very popular member of the Oklahoma Arts Council Touring Program. Back to Top |
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Fluid
technical command, natural expressivity and a remarkable versatility distinguish
guitarist Matthew Greif, who has performed internationally. Raised in a family
of musicians, Matthew’s early musical education took place on many
instruments, in many musical styles. It was finally the guitar which captured
his full attention. His awards include the Andres Segovia Award presented at the
University of Southern California, a grant from the National Endowment for the
Arts, and first place in the American String Teachers Association California
Guitar competition. Matthew was also named Outstanding Graduate of the U.S.C.
guitar department upon completion of his studies with James Smith and William
Kanengiser. Matthew's
critically-acclaimed debut recording, Permanent Transition, on Metro Records
features the world premieres of internationally-influenced modern guitar
compositions as well as duo improvisations with Andrew York of the Los Angeles
Guitar Quartet and guitarist/composer Dusan Bogdanovic of the Falla Guitar Trio.
Matthew also recently recorded a duet with Scott Tennant for his Delos recording
Wild Mountain Thyme. Matthew's
latest recording has just been released. El Encanto features favorites of the
classical guitar repertoire. Matthew is also working on a recording of original
jazz/rock compositions. The project includes bassists Ric Fierabracci and Adam
Cohen as well as drummer Jason Harnell. After
a year of study at Northwestern University, Matthew earned his Master and
Bachelor of Music degrees at U.S.C. Matthew has also studied in masterclasses
with David Russell, Christopher Parkening, Manuel Barrueco, and many others. He
spent two summers studying in Spain with José Tomás and Pepe Romero. He has
studied improvisation with Joe Diorio, Mark Pratt and Frank Potenza. Matthew
teaches guitar at Westmont College and at Santa Barbara City College. Visit Matthew Greif's homepage Back to Top |
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Brad Hawkins
Brad Hawkins has been involved in fiddling for over 28 years. He has won contests in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas. He has won the Adult Division here at the Grove contest. He has placed consistently in the Tulsa State Fair Contest. He won the Intermediate Division at the World Series of Fiddling. He is currently instructing 7 fiddle students and 3 guitar students. He has recently organized contests in Oklahoma. When not fiddling he is a science teacher and a Pastor of a local church. Brad’s favorite fiddle influences are fiddlers such as Terry Morris, Ricky Turpin, Wes Wesmoreland, and Rudi Booher. Brad is thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for giving him the gift of music and the joy that it brings to the heart of both the musician and the listener alike. Back to Top |
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Wayne Head
Wayne is a 4th generation fiddler hoping to
follow his father's Back to Top |
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Leroy Hendren Noted Oklahoma speaker, auctioneer, and realtor. Back to Top |
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Bubba Hopkins
Bubba is a consistent winner in the Grand Lake National Fiddle Contest, a tribute to his talent and dedication. He has placed in the top eight in the Open Division and in in the top three in other divisions. He teaches fiddle, mandolin and guitar and is also in high demand as an accompanist, winning first in 2006. Back to Top |
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Known nationwide, these outstanding musicians tour throughout the with Jana Jae, appearing at 70-100 shows, fairs and festivals each year. Left to right: Judge Porter, Drums: Merle Baxter, Bass Guitar; Jana Jae; Jack Boydstun, Lead Guitar.
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J. C. Hounshell
of Lufkin, TX, inducted into the Texas Oldtime Fiddlers Hall of Fame in 1993, respected contest judge including Tuscaloosa, AL, Athens, AL, Mt. View AR, Hallettsville, TX (for 10 yrs straight!), Crockett, TX. Back to Top |
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Shawn Howe
2005
Grand Prize Winner Back to Top |
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Five-time National Champion, five-time State Champion, Grand Masters Champion Back to Top |
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Lilly Brothers &
the Lilly Mountaineers
The
Lilly Brothers are masters of bluegrass music and icons of southern
Appalachian music. They put on a great show that appeals to all music
lovers and all ages! On October 17, 2002, the Lilly Brothers became the
20th inductees into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall
of Honor, the highest honor that bluegrass can bestow.
Born in the Clear Creek community near Beckley, West Virginia, the
Lilly Brothers, Everett and Bea, playing mandolin and guitar
respectively, began their musical career by singing in churches and at
area shows. The Lilly Brothers were influenced by Bill Monroe and
others. They soon joined the influential WWVA Wheeling Jamboree
broadcast on 50,000-watt WWVA in Wheeling. Everett played mandolin and sang tenor harmony with Lester Flatt,
Earl Scruggs, and the Foggy Mountain Boys, including participating in
fourteen recordings that included classic duets with Lester Flatt. When
Everett joined Bea, the brothers began a long-term engagement at the
Hillbilly Ranch in Boston, joined by Don Stover and various support
musicians from time to time. The club became a mecca for both local
musicians and nationally-known touring artists who visited and often sat
in. Now with six band members, including the hot young West Virginia
current banjo champ, they tour throughout the States, as well as
internationally, including a recent highly successful tour of Japan. Back to Top |
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Dr. Logsdon, a talented singer and guitarist who entertains audiences all over the nation, is also a noted music historian and Director of the annual Oklahoma Cowboy Poetry Gathering held at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Back to Top |
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The Lost & Found was founded in 1973 by original members Allen Mills, Dempsey Young, Gene Parker and Roger Handy. They were a group of guys "lost" in other kinds and styles of music until they "found" each other. That’s where the name came from. Allen and the fellow band members were asked to do a local cable TV show. Before that the band had not played anywhere too far from their own basement. To meet that deadline they decided to use the name The Lost & Found until they could think of a better one. That was over 26 years ago, and now the name The Lost & Found is one of the most respected and recognized names in bluegrass music. Their TV appearances lead to wider attention among bluegrass music fans, which soon lead to recording and traveling, both of which became a way of life. This would cause the groups first member change. After three recording projects on the Outlet label Roger Handy would leave the band, being replaced by Bubba Chandler. The group started getting national recognition in 1980 when they signed with Rebel Records in Roanoke, Virginia. Their first self titled Rebel session The Lost & Found, produced a song called Leftover Biscuits, written by Harold Handy who is Roger’s brother. Leftover Biscuits would be the start of what every band must have to survive. Every band has to have a signature song or songs that people will recognize The
Lost & Found's next Rebel project, Endless
Highway,
produced more of the same. Allen Mills, Wild Mountain Flowers for Mary,
and Love of the Mountains, still remain today what we all know as
standards. It was during this period that the group enjoyed a highly successful
European tour, as well as the States and Canada. The
middle 80’s would bring more member changes. Steve Wilson joined the group on
the guitar, and fiddle player Steve Thomas was added. The Suns Gonna Shine
project on Rebel was recorded by these new members and is still one of the
groups best sellers, with songs like The Rabbit Song and Whitehouse
Blues. The Deal and Hymn Time was recorded on Rebel by the
same band and would be original member Gene Parker’s last recordings with the
group. Since that time Allen and Dempsey have had players and singers come
and go but they have never lost their trademark sound or their widespread fan
base. The
newer Lost & Found recordings on the Rebel label such, as January Rain, and
Ride through the Country, as well as Just Pickin on the Copper
Creek record label, are still fan favorites.
The
Lost & Found, always entertaining and always there for the folks who have
always been there for them.
Visit The Lost & Found homepage Back to Top |
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Aaron Lowe Aaron has played guitar for thousands of fiddlers including past National Champions Benny Thomasson, Dick Barrett, and Herman Johnson. Placed in the top 5 in the Open Division at Weiser and is a past NW Regional Champion. In 1976 he was the youngest person to have ever judged at Weiser. Back to Top |
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Jack Luker Respected contest judge and fiddler. Jack is always ready to play twins, contest tunes or Western Swing. Always a supporter and participant in the Festivals--and a good friend of Jana, Jack will be greatly missed. He lost his fight with leukemia, March 30, 2005. Back to Top |
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Lou Maiuri, Clogging Contest Coordinator Director and Founder of the Appalachian Country Cloggers, Lou has years of experience as a Mountain style square dance caller and teacher of clogging, flatfoot and square dancing. He currently serves as Treasurer and workshop Chairman of America’s Clogging Hall of Fame. He is also a certified judge of clogging and traditional style square dancing.
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Junior Marriott Respected contest judge and champion fiddler from Missouri. A great fiddler and guitarist. Open Division winner at the 2006 Grand Lake National Fiddle Contest. Back to Top |
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Dale Morris Dale has worked with the likes of Wynn Stewart, Sammi Smith, Johnny Rodriquez, Carl Smith, Leon Rausch and Red Stegall. In 1975, Dale moved to Nashville where he became a member of Stonewall Jackson’s Minutemen. Dale has also been a member of the Marty Robbins band, Ray Price’s Cherokee Cowboys and Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys. In 1981, Dale was named the 17th member of the legendary Sons of The Pioneers, the group founded by Roy Rogers. Back to Top |
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Mount Zion
Band leader Russ Weeks plays mandolin, guitar & fiddle as well as doing most of the lead singing. He is the only original founding member of the group. Russ is a 27 year veteran of Bluegrass Music contributing most of the original material to this group. Steve West plays banjo for the group. He sings Tenor, and has been a bluegrass musician for 40 years. Daniel O'Callaghan is the newest member of Mt. Zion. He is an accomplished guitarist and mandolin player, taking third place in the National Mandolin Picking Championship held in Grove Oklahoma in June 2004. Tyler Weeks just turned 17 and plays and sings Bass in an outstanding fashion. More > > > Weeks Music Store Back to Top |
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This award-winning group, always in demand, consists of adults and young adults. Whatever the venue, they use the same energetic enthusiasm for traditional free-style footwork and square dance routines with elaborate outfits. Showmanship, ability, personality and a love for sharing their performances are evident in the Old Dominion Cloggers. Named for their home state of Virginia, this outstanding group has appeared at Dollywood, Opryland, Rockefeller Plaza, as well as many county and state fairs and festivals. Back to Top |
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Barry's first exposure to playing the Bones was as a child, in the sixties. A Bones player, Cecil Hiatt, had joined in with Barry's grandfather, Lue Berline, while Lue played the fiddle. As it turned out, Cecil had learned his Bones technique from a player in an old west medicine show. Several years later, it was Cecil who gave Barry his first set of Bones and taught him his first clicks. In the years since, Barry's Bones playing has taken him to more places and allowed him to meet more good people than he could ever have imagined. Back to Top |
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Pendleton Family
Fiddlers
Led by sisters Emma Jane (12) and Marina (11), the Pendleton Family Fiddlers can be seen at festivals and theaters around Oklahoma and occasionally on television performing old-time fiddle tunes and Swing numbers with violin, mandolin, guitar, and vocals. Back to Top |
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Prairie Breeze
String Band
Co-chairs of this Festival, Brad and Shirley Adams, and their pickin’ friends continue to entertain audiences throughout the Grand Lake area with their talents and humor. Left to right: Back to Top |
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Donna Reuter
of Hood River, OR, whose Championships include the International Open, Pend Oreille International Open, Washington State Twin Fiddle, Oregon State Adult and Twin Fiddle, she has judged numerous State and Regional contests and has judged at Weiser four times. Back to Top |
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Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Winner of 7 Grammies, CMA's Entertainer of the Year.
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Ted is from Placerville, California, and has been a Certified National Judge at Weiser. He won the California State Flat-Pick Championship several times and won National Guitar Accompanist two-times. He finished third place in fiddle and mandolin at Winfield, Kansas, and twice finished second at the Kerrville, Texas international mandolin competition. During his professional career as a musician, singer and songwriter, Ted has played guitar, mandolin and fiddle with the Oak River Boys, Clear Creek with Jana Jae, South Loomis Quickstep, California Quickstep, Lefty Spurge, and Steve Kaufman. He has also performed with Elvin Bishop, Byron Berline, Doug Dillard, Junior Daugherty, Justin Bishop and Mark O’Connor. Ted’s music can be heard on around twenty-five record albums, including five by South Loomis Quickstep and one by Mark O’Connor. He has done videos for Coors Beer, Miller Beer and Wells Fargo Bank and has several radio and TV jingles to his credit. Back to Top |
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Mike recently celebrated his 10th Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Since Mike's induction, the banjo-playing country comedian has played over 1,000 shows on the Opry. During seven years as a regular cast member of the syndicated television show "Hee Haw", Mike shared the stage with many country stars. Mike also has made over 150 appearances on TNN's Nashville Now and Music City Tonight. Mike also hosted TNN's "Fairs and Festivals" series and did six more TNN specials. In addition to opening for various country music artists, he speaks and entertains at concerts, banquets and conventions across the nation. Along side Mike are three of the finest musicians in the world - Bobby Clark, Charlie Cushman, and Blake Williams. Mike has currently recorded 10 albums full of humor, banjo picking, and harmonica playing. He has also recorded two television videos. Back to Top |
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Gene hails from Merkel, Texas, and is a Director of the Texas Old Time Fiddlers Association. In 1997 he won the Texas Senior State Championship, in 1999 the Red River Gamblers Contest and was Grand Champion of the Tehachapi California Fiddling Down the Track contest. In 2000 he won numerous contests in Texas. He enters and judges contests all around the country and loves it. Gene has been inspired by great friends and fiddlers Merle David, Terry Morris, Texas Shorty, Benny Thomason, Jimmie Don Bates, and Gene Sewell (Ace Sewell’s father). Gene and Merle David played twin fiddles for Billy Thompson and the Starliters, one of the best swing bands in Texas. Gene also appeared on Cliffy Stone’s Town Hall Party in California and worked with the late great Faron Young. Back to Top |
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Still on the Hill
Still on the Hill has set new boundaries of originality. This duo uses traditional instruments from their home in the Ozarks (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica and scrub board) as well as other exotic offerings (Moon guitar from Japan, African Mbira, and Tenor Ukulele) to create a kaleidoscope of musical color and texture. Back to Top |
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Fred Stoneking Well known in the Fiddle Contest world. Also restores and repairs violins. His entire family is musical. Back to Top |
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Taking Chances
Along with Wayne Graham of Crescent, OK, “Taking Chances” is a trio with outstanding vocals featuring the mother-daughter team, Lorri and Chelsea Pontious of Kingfisher, OK Back to Top |
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Bobby Taylor
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The Tennessee Valley Authority bluegrass band was started in 1972. Over the years the band has won numerous awards including the prestigious National Bluegrass Band Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. The band has performed with Bill Monroe, Johnny Gimble, Flaco Jimenez and Junior Brown. They have toured with Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Uncle Josh Graves and Kenny Baker. They have opened for Michael Martin Murphy, the Country Gazette, Tony Trischka, Gary P. Nunn, Hot Rize, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and the Dixie Chicks. In addition, the TVA has played many bluegrass and acoustic music festivals including the Kerrville Bluegrass Festival, The Texas Folklife Festival, Six Flags Over Texas, The Kerrville Folk Festival, Night in Old San Antonio, The King William Fair, Fiesta Texas, and The Jimmie Rodgers Jubilee. The band was also a part of the WOAI Country Jubilee radio show with Riders In The Sky, Asleep At The Wheel, Tammy Wynette and The Whites, among others. TVA recordings include Live at the Pioneer House, The TVA’s Greatest Hits, Flying South (with Josh Graves and Kenny Baker) and Same Old Line. Band members include: Back to Top |
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Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor began his musical journey at the age of seven when his daddy brought home a mandolin and told Shorty and his brother, Allen, that it would go to the first son who learned to play it. Shorty devoted most of the next six years to "pickin' the mandolin". Around 1956 a landmark occurred in Shorty's musical development when he became acquainted with the legendary Bennie Thomasson, who was the then current World Champion Fiddler. Bennie’s unique style of fiddling immediately attracted Shorty and he soon gave up the mandolin and poured all his efforts into oldtime fiddlin.' Three years later in 1959, under the tutorage of Bennie, Shorty won the World's Fiddle Festival. In 1960 he went to New York to appear on a national television quiz show "To Tell The Truth" as the youngest fiddler to hold the World's Championship. He became the second fiddler in the history of the World's Fiddle Festival to attain undefeated status by winning the contest three consecutive times. Succeeding years have seen Shorty win hundreds of fiddle contests throughout the nation, among them the National Fiddle Championship and the Texas State Championship on several different occasions. In the early 1960's, through the efforts of an avid fan, a record company was established to produce Shorty's music. The circulation of the fiddle records over the years has taken his music to every part of the nation. Old time fiddle music has been the first love of Shorty's life for many years and he has encouraged young fiddlers to take up the art. Public awareness of this great music has grown to the extent that a music which was once threatened with extinction has been revived and is once again solidly entrenched in the entertainment world. Back to Top |
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Jim Thompson Long-time Fiddle Fest supporter and major sponsor, Festival emcee, area realtor and musician. Jim Thompson and the Thompson Boys Back to Top |
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Daril Holt & Touch of Bluegrass Daril
Holt is the leader and guitar player for Touch of Bluegrass.
Daril has played bluegrass and country and western music since the age of
12, and is still going strong today.
He is self-taught on the guitar and the mandolin.
Daril played for many years for The Over the Hill Bluegrass Boys. He has
played for many bluegrass festivals around the state. The Over the Hill
Bluegrass Boys were once awarded Bluegrass Band of the Year by the American
Heart Fund Association.
Daril lives in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Sam
Ofields, fiddle player for Touch of Bluegrass, has played fiddle for many years,
and has several contest wins to his credit.
He also played bass guitar for Leon McCuliff’s band back in the late
60's and early 70's.
Sam is very versatile on any type of fiddle tune, almost classical at
times.
Sam resides in Claremore, Ok. Patrick
Holt, bass guitar player for Touch of Bluegrass, is the newest member to
bluegrass music.
He started playing only a couple of years ago.
Patrick was inspired to play bluegrass from his grandfather, Paul O.
Holt, who was the bass guitar player for The Over the Hill Bluegrass Boys.
Patrick is also learning to play the mandolin and the guitar. Back to Top |
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Two Cents Worth consists of four musicians dedicated to promoting traditional American, Irish and Folk tunes. Their music features a diverse blend of acoustic instruments including guitar, fiddle, mandolin, claw hammer banjo, penny whistle, bodhran, dulcimer and concertina. Left to right: Back to Top |
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Canadian National Champion and stepdancer, Weiser Judge '99 Back to Top |
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Rhonda Vincent’s music continues to evolve and her career continues to grow. As a singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and bandleader, Rhonda has become an international ambassador of bluegrass. She was awarded the Female Vocalist of the Year award (2000 and 2001) and the Entertainer of the Year award (2001) by the International Bluegrass Music Association and has risen to meet these and other honors by honing her band and her own performances to new peaks of virtuosity and power. Back to Top |
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The Whitewater Boys band is made up
of four Native Americans who enjoy doing a variety of styles of music -
Bluegrass, Country Western, Swing, Country Gospel. Back to Top |
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Vi Wickam Well-known contest judge, consistent Top 3 winner, and two-time Colorado State Champion. Back to Top |
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Eileen Witler
of West Linn, OR, Northwest Regional and Oregon State Adult Champion and judge of the Western Open, among others. Back to Top |
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Zoograss Boys All the members of this group really do have an association with the Tulsa Zoo: Larry Nunley, Zoo Director--Retired (guitar and vocals); Stephen Walker, Assistant Director (guitar and vocals); Andrew Branson, Animal Curator (banjo); Larry Dobbs, Tulsa Zoo Friend members (mandolin and vocals); Roger Harmon, Tulsa Zoo Friend member (fiddle); and Gary Stout, Tulsa Zoo Friends member (bass). Back to Top |
