Modern And Tradional Bluegrass-Style Music
On Banjo: Mark Epstein, nominated 1997 Colorado Banjo Player of the Year (Pete Wernick got the vote), has been playing Bluegrass and acoustic music for 25 years. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Mark has been in several bands including The Edge City Ramblers, On and On, The Untied String Ensemble, and Fret Knot. Mark lives in Denver. 
On Guitar: Mark Merryman, originally from Morrison, Colorado, and now living in Denver, has dedicated his musical attention to acoustic string instruments for over 29 years. Long time member of Down Home Again (15 years) left the country rock group to take a more bluegrass direction in 1989. Other bands include The Off Centre Family Band, The Cullpeper Cattel Company, The Untied String Ensemble, and Fret Knot. 
On Fiddle: Bruce Lites, from Boulder, began his bluegrass career in 1974 as a member of Telluride's Fall Creek Bluegrass Band -- the group that staged the first Telluride Bluegrass Festival in that year -- and has continued playing bluegrass, swing, and jazz in various groups on Colorado's Front Range and in Seattle, including Boulder Grass, Haystack Mountain Boys, Ragged But Right, and The Tritones. 
On Mandolin: Kevin Yost lives with his family of four musicians in Strassburg, Colorado, and has been wowing audiences with his mandolin and multi-instrument talent for over 20 years. Kevin was a founder of the White Lightning String Band, and member of the Snowy River Band, Bijou, The Big Deal, and the Highbeams. 
On Bass: Benny Galloway. Benny Galloway fell off of a truck, we still don’t know which one. From Sunshine Canyon, Benny has been a songwriter and bluegrass musician for over 20 years. Benny was voted 1997 Songwriter of the Year by the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society. There’s been a lot of talk about Burle Cletus, and we happen to know that Benny taught Burle everything he knows! Benny, a fixture in the front range bluegrass community, is one of the founding members of the Wingnuts, Burle and the Cletus Brothers, and the Sleepy Cowboys. 
Don't worry-it's onlybluegrass!
Copyright 2000 Fret Knot
