Name: Glenn G

Birthplace: Westfield, MA

Currently residing: Memphis TN/Hot Springs Village AR

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I have been involved in music in some way, form, or fashion for the past 40 years or more whether it be simply playing in a local band, in church, accompanying a vocalist or recording some of my own music.

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1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present? Talk about a difficult question.  My taste is quite eclectic, so I love a variety of styles and genres of music!  I LOVE classical music and have been influenced quite a bit by the great composers like Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Schubert, and alike although that probably isn’t too evident in my recorded music.  I grew up on Rock n’ Roll (60’s/70’s) so I have also been influenced by such favorite bands as the Beatles, the Beach Boys,, The Ventures, Booker T and the Mg’s,  the Grateful Dead, and others.  Finally I developed a real love and appreciation for Country music through the various Country Rock and Southern Rock bands of the early 70’s including but no limited to the Charlie Daniels Band (one of my favorites…have met Charlie several times…great guy!).  What else?  Wow…I love Bluegrass artists like Rhonda Vincent and Ricky Skaggs, get into some Jazz and Easy Listening and appreciate Celtic and various World Music as well.  So I guess you could say I am into a little bit of everything!!!

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

Oh boy…you like tough questions, don’t you?  I love Gospel and Christian music and I am always moved deeply by the great hymns of the faith such as “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”, “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, and others.  I am also deeply moved by great classical works like Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s symphonies (particularly the 5th, 7th, and 9th), Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony, and a number of other great works.  Then…wow…”God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys really moves me as well.  Again..quite eclectic here!

3. How would you describe your perfect day? Actually I can think of a number of different kind of perfect days, but I think a beautiful day relaxing on the beach with the sound of the surf, the seagulls flying overhead, and breathing the fresh salty air is pretty much as close to perfect as one can get this side of heaven.

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

Friends tell me that appreciate my sense of humor. I often tell people it’s the only sense that I have most of the time!

5. What is your most valued material possession? Again…another really tough question.  I should say one of my musical instruments!  Probably my most valued possession however would be my home because without a home to live in you can’t do much of anything else, including music!

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

I was a little bit nervous meeting Charlie Daniels for the first time I guess, but I have met a number of musical artists before and since then and they are just normal people who have found success in their craft.  Most of them (that I have met anyway) are very humble and down to earth and I have enjoyed my brief interactions with them.

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

If I could blink my eyes I would be on a beautiful beach or lake somewhere.  Of course, not in the middle of winter as I am writing this!

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Oh yes, I would love to do more with music! Because I have had to work full-time in a non-music profession for most of my adult life and also due to some relocation and family responsibilities, I have not been able to pursue my musical interests as much as I would have liked.   I would definitely like to do more with music in the future!

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

Well, considering I am not 56 years old at the time of this writing, I would like to be retired or at least close to it; not in the sense of not working at all, but in the sense of being free to pursue things like music on a full-time or at least a regular basis rather than trying to work it around my full-time job.

Name: John Rosett

Birthplace: Durham, NC

Currently residing: Missoula, MT

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I’ve been playing guitar since I was a teenager, and have played banjo, mandolin, and steel guitar in different bands, from bluegrass to jazz, but now I play guitar and steel in a western swing/honkytonk/kitchen sink band called Cash For Junkers and also a little swing mandolin from time to time.

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1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present? Frank Zappa, Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Wills, Hank Garland, Jethro Burns, Django Reinhardt, Andy Statman, Steve Goodman, David Bromberg, Tom Morrell…

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

There are too many to list. Much of Django Reinhardt’s music is moving

3. How would you describe your perfect day?

Walking my dogs, spending time with my wife, having a band rehearsal and/or gig.

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

Either my sense of humor or my excellent hygiene.

5. What is your most valued material possession?

My 1966 Epiphone Sorrento guitar.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

I have met several of my “heroes”, and they were nice, regular people, so I don’t feel very nervous about meeting anyone.

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Weiser, Idaho, during Fiddle Week.

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Playing more music!

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

In ten years, I’ll be 66, and I hope that I’ll still be playing music with great musicians, enjoying my family, and telling bad jokes with my friends.

Oh, and I’d like to have a trust fund…

Name: Robbie Walden

Birthplace: Anchorage, Alaska

Currently residing: Nashville, Tennessee

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I started off as an acoustic artist in the folk/Americana genre with some country roots. Playing anywhere they would let me play, which usually was cafés and so forth. I then created a band, which has become quite known for its lively stage presence and energy. The band style and sound is a cross between the Texas red dirt/outlaw and a rocking vintage country with a mainstream twist, and since that time have become a national touring act.  I released one acoustic album, and a full album with my band, “bartime stories” available on iTunes and so forth. I had a song from the album called  “don’t leave me” which was on the TV show Hart of Dixie, on season one episode four. We have since, recorded a bunch of new songs for our new album which will be coming out as an EP first, in the very near future. So stay tuned.

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1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

My favorite artists and bands consist of “the band”, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Randy Rogers band, the Marshall Tucker band, and the Zack Brown band. I’m also a huge fan of Otis Redding and Ray Charles.

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

This old violin by Johnny paycheck. As well as this old road and why me lord by Kris Kristofferson, and seven Spanish Angels by Willie Nelson and Ray Charles.

3. How would you describe your perfect day? Writing a great song and then getting to spend time with my daughter.

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

My loyalty and I’m very driven.

5. What is your most valued material possession? Pictures and videos from my training days with my older brother who is since passed away. Next, would be my one of a kind Tacoma guitars.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

Jesus.

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Lake Crescent in Washington State.

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

More touring. I would like to be doing 250 to 300 shows a year if possible.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

Leaving a tremendous legacy that my daughter will be proud of.

Name: David Cleaves

Birthplace: Sacramento

Currently residing: Billings

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I play music and love being on stage mainly with my mandolin but i have been known to tickle the keys or toot a horn.

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1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Brant Losinski, Mike Dion, Bob Marley, Grateful Dead or anything related, Ben Harper, Peter Paul and Mary, Billy Joel, Tchaikovsky, Nine Inch Nails, Fugazi, Sam Bush, Ryan Montbleau, Tribe Called Quest, Widespread Panic, Leftover Salmon and this list could keep on going but i think i am moving onto the next question

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

pretty much anything that’s about growth….community, personal, environmental, trees or children…..growth could also mean change.  I like songs that give power to the people….bring’s people together to overcome their troubles.

3. How would you describe your perfect day?

it would have to be unexpected and different than any other day…part of it would have to be filled with all the people i love in the world…which is everyone in the world.  I would also need time alone and time with my wife.  I would want healthy vegan food but then also a cheesecake and bacon burger at some point. I would be playing music with the whole world dancing.

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

Not sure….you would have to ask them. I know i try to always be there for my friends no matter what it is and I always try to be the best person i can….so hopefully they appreciate everything i am or do.

5. What is your most valued material possession?

it would be a toss-up between two things….one being my James Curtis Mandolin and the other being my labradorite locket with a picture of my son, Cedar in it.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

I guess anyone dead

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

it’s not a place i would be in…it’s who i would be with.

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

breathe

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

Northpole making toys for kids

Name: The Lowest Pair

Birthplace: Arkansas and Minnesota

Currently residing: in a Nissan Maxima..but soon to be Olympia

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: Kendl is a solo artist on K records.  She grew up listening to punk rock in Arkansas and followed it out to Olympia, picked up a banjo, started super grass group, the Blackberry Bushes, and had just stepped out of that when Palmer T. Lee, Minnesotan, Boys n’ the Barrels, fellow banjo songster called her up and suggested a banjo duet. They…we.. figured what more could you want and hit the road with it before we’d even worked up a full set. We found a good name without much to live up to, The Lowest Pair, and the rest is now.

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1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Kendl: Soophie Nun Squad, Dead Moon, Bela Fleck, Mirah, Tender Forever, Trampled By Turtles, Bonnie Prince Billy, Townes Van Zandt, Mason Jennings, Gillean Welch, Lucinda Williams, Dolly Parton, TLC, The Blow, Foghorn Stringband, Charlie Parr, John Hartford

Palmer: Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Gillian Welch, Charlie Parr, Paul Simon, Led Zeppelin, John Hartford, Punch Brothers, Bruce Molsky,

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

Kendl: Oooh Child, by the Five Stairsteps always, without fail.

Palmer: The blind leaving the blind

3. How would you describe your perfect day?

Kendl: Early quiet morning, coffee, writing, a long run, stretching, fruits, veggies, friends, practice, finding yummy mushrooms, cooking, hanging, being warm, wine, buddies, music sharing…love

Palmer:  A little bit of coffee, a little bit of sunshine, lots of picking,

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

Kendl: creative energy

Palmer: my kind heartedness

5. What is your most valued material possession?

banjos.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

Kendl: Bela. my bottom lip just kind of hung out on the floor and it made it hard to talk

Palmer: Kendl’s Mom

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Kendl: home or the Olympic Mountains in early September

Palmer:  Wabasha County

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Kendl: more music, more hiking, more growing, more hanging, more running, more stretching, more loving, more writing, more drawing, more reading, more

Palmer: gardening and cooking

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

Kendl: doing it all better.

Palmer: satisfied

Name: Terri Hendrix

Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas

Currently residing: San Marcos, Texas

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: I began writing songs when I was about 8. It’s kept me sane but sometimes drives me nuts, too. Especially when I have writers block. I loved music so much that I majored in it. I dropped out when I was about 21. I began doing open mics and then bought a PA and launched a career. It’s over 20 years later and I’m still at it. My idea of “making it” was to be self-employed and write songs. I’m still in chase of the muse and am still performing full-time. I feel like I’ve been on tour for 20 years though and want roots. So I’m building an arts center in Hays County for the next generation of songwriters. It’s called the OYOU and the website is ownyourownuniverse.org …

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1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

Singers

Ella Fitzgerald

Musicians and Bands

Tom Petty

Guy Clark

Nanci Griffith

Mary Chapin Carpenter

Paul Simon

John Prine

Dolly Parton

Joe Ely

Robert Earl Keen

Lucinda Williams

Enigma

B-Tribe

A3

Jonsi

Enya

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

“How dark is it? It’s so dark you can smell the moon.”

— Guy Clark

3. How would you describe your perfect day?

I go to bed the same day I wake up. I’m a night owl. So for sure coffee. Then I write. All I do is write. The business takes care of itself. I just write. Then I play ball with my dogs. It’s about 80 degrees outside. I take some ranch dressing and go to dinner … in my garden. I don’t even wash it. I just eat it. Sun sets. Moon rises. Friends come over. We have Pine Ridge Merlot and watch a movie.

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

I know how to listen. I do not give advice.

5. What is your most valued material possession?

My music collection.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

Ann Richards. She passed away before I got to meet her.

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Italy. I’ve never been. I want to go.

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

I would like to write more. I would like to have some time off to just create. When I have time off I sputter and putter.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

House paid off. Great health. I want my parents to be in great health. I want my brother and sister to be happy. I want my 18-year-old dog to still be alive. I want to help other people. I want kids to play music. You can’t knock people out if you’re occupied with art. I’d like to have a part in fixing things. And no matter what, I can’t have any bills. I’d like my art to bring money so I can have the means to do what I want with the OYOU and beyond. I’m not a good fundraiser. So, in ten years I’m gonna need to have created and released a golden football.