I started the MRBA because I could see that there were many fellow musicians in our area who were wanting to sing and play bluegrass music, but our only opportunity at the time was to join the Montana Old Time Fiddlers. I wanted an Association that catered to Bluegrass and I wanted to provide a way to organize activities and get the word out to everyone who I knew would be interested. I wanted it’s name to reflect where we are located but I didn’t want to use Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Association because it’s over used in our area so I flipped the words and named it the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association.

I agreed to be President for the last bunch of years because they promised me I could be first in the pot-luck lines. 

I love all kinds of music, but Bluegrass is my favorite. I have worked and supported MRBA since It was founded by Raynae Redman. I have been the President  and was the Merchandise handler for 13 years. I love to M.C. and try to encourage anyone that comes into our fold. I'm so grateful we have a great Bluegrass family here in the Bitterroot Valley. My hero is Ralph Stanley and the real old-time music that we stand for.

I’ve been a bluegrass music fan since about 1971, when I wandered into a neighborhood bar called Paul’s Saloon that was just starting to feature bluegrass bands.  One of the first groups I heard was The Phantoms of the Opry, with Pat Enright, Robbie MacDonald, Paul Shelasky, Chuck Wiley, and Brantley Kearns.  I was hooked from the first note, then I got a job as a bartender there and worked a couple of nights a week for 12 years - bluegrass heaven.  I became a “professional listener” and made lots of friends who picked.  When I moved to Montana many years ago, I decided to learn to play the mandolin and have been taking lessons from Mike Conroy ever since.  I’ll never be a pro, but I’m happy to be part of Montana’s incredible bluegrass family and have made my dream of “pickin’ with friends” a reality.

I started playing music shortly after marrying Mike and we've played together ever since. Our love is Bluegrass. Bluegrass music is unique, as it draws the most fun and caring people you will ever meet. 

I am a three-finger picking – Scruggs style banjo player. I have been a board member and the newsletter editor for the MRBA for 12-years and have performed in several bluegrass bands.  I enjoy sharing my love of bluegrass music by organizing jams, writing articles for the newsletter and playing at local nursing homes.  

I came to bluegrass in 1998 when the late multi-instrumentalist Brian Hall grabbed me and said, " Come on, you're gonna learn to play the guitar." You can blame him for everything that happened afterwards. It has been one of the great joys of my life to experience the profound talent and heart of Montana's musicians and their friends. 

When Bluegrass is your favorite hobby, it only seemed natural to join the MRBA, to keep in contact with all of my fellow pickers, and it’s been a blast.