Duo

I set up some parameters for this new band and started searching for songs. Fortunately I didn’t have to look far; I’ve always had an interest in “western” songs and already had a good number in my repertoire.

I soon contacted fiddler Ryan Shupe, who had played in Powder Ridge with me, and Blue Sage was born. In addition to being one of the most gifted musicians I’d ever heard, Ryan was attending Weber State University near my home and was available! The duo was soon playing shows all over Utah.

Trio

While Ryan and I got Blue Sage up and running, my wife, Shauna, was working on the bass fiddle. I may be a little dense, but after watching her receive numerous offers from bluegrass bands in our area, I finally caught on to the idea that she might be a good addition to Blue Sage! The duo became a trio.

Ryan eventually left the band to pursue his own career in music and I was fortunate to find another equally amazing fiddler to take his place. I’d watched Rob Ricks grow into the only fiddler who could fill Ryan’s shoes, and I was humbled that he was willing to take Ryan’s place in the band. For those familiar with our ‘Live At The Junction Theater’ CD, Rob is the musician responsible for the incredible fiddle work on that album.

About fifteen years into the Blue Sage saga, Rob left to get an MBA at Yale, and once again I found myself without a fiddler. Fortunately, I had grown one of my own! My eldest daughter, Heather, had grown up with Ryan and Rob’s fiddling and to my delight, I found that their unique styles had rubbed off onto her and she was able to slip right into the band when Rob left!

Quartet, Quintet and SextetBy this time, twenty years had gone by and I realized that I’d only accomplished one of my three original objectives! Blue Sage WAS that perfect blend of western, folk, and bluegrass music I’d envisioned so many years before, but there were still those other two goals…

Although I’d been fronting the band with a banjo, most of our instrumental work had been constructed to showcase the fiddle. With the popularity of my clawhammer teaching site continuing to grow, I felt that the banjo needed to take the lead instrumental role in Blue Sage. I knew that if I could shift the focus of the band toward a new-grass/bluegrass sound, it would effectively complete the remaining two goals on my list! Fortunately, I was able to enlist the aid of some world class musicians to make this happen.

I’ve been blessed with some truly amazing talent in my bands, musicians such as Matt Flinner, Ryan Shupe, Rob Ricks, Ken Sager and Jake Workman, without who’s help I would never have been able to achieve my dream. I am humbled that players of this calibre have been willing to join me in introducing a full fledged “new-grass” band fronted by a clawhammer banjoist!

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North Front Sound provides fun, uplifting musical experiences to ourselves, our fellow chorus members, our families, and our community. We promote lifelong singing and extol the physical, mental, and social benefits that singing provides.  We achieve harmony by consistently striving for musical excellence, promoting fraternity, encouraging individual participation and commitment, fostering learning and growth, supporting music education, and inviting involvement in ways that are affordable, accessible, and considerate of the values of our members and community.

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