main
music
CDs
mp3s
schedule
lyrics
news
gallery
biography
contact
links
|
Biography
Jerry Firth is the equipment manager and music critic for the High Desert Band.
A practicing powder monkey who's equally at ease with a stick of dynamite or a mandolin, he still has all of his fingers and uses them to pursue both interests. An avid guitarist for years, Jerry began playing mandolin about 8 years ago after successfully building one, following instructions in a how-to manual. Building and repairing stringed instruments is now a favorite past time activity. Jerry's played in several acoustic bands in Oregon and Idaho and enjoys a variety of acoustic music including Irish, traditional old-time, bluegrass, western, Appalachian fiddle tunes, gospel and modern folk. So much music, so little time!
Cathy Bourner's voice has been described as "sounding like the Little Mermaid" and "operatic bluegrass." With nowhere to go but up, she occasionally sings harmony in addition to playing the bass. She is currently working on boundary issues with Miss Gidget, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who thinks Milo the Cat is the ruler of the world, and Cathy serves no purpose other than opening the door, doling out cookies, driving the car.
Randy Helton was born in 1956, the son of a classic, cartoon quality Kentucky hillbilly father and a highly intelligent Idaho farm girl, Randy spent the first forty years of his life dissing country music and rolling his eyes in embarrassment at his father's musical efforts. His dad only played three chords, sang crazy old mountain songs and yodeled like a demented hoot owl. (Gawd, how could he do that in front of people??). And this at every opportunity, anywhere, any time in front of anybody! Then, on a whim the summer before he turned 41, Randy bought a guitar. To help mollify his wife when he had to tell her of the purchase, he signed up for six months of beginner lessons and vowed to follow through. When he had a hand full of chords and knew the names of the strings, he discussed musical styles with the teacher and was introduced to flatpicking and bluegrass. Armed with books and practice CDs and an introduction to the Idaho Bluegrass Association's beginners jams, he set about learning to play in earnest. Then, in 2003, after a couple of years of closet picking and jamming with friends, Randy decided it was time to try singing. The first song was the hardest; keeping the guitar strumming after opening the mouth to sing seemed impossible. But persistence paid off and three songs were learned. Upon discovering Randy's new "talent", his jamming pals orchestrated the next step. Forced at mandolin point on to the stage at the Council Mountain Music Festival's open mike sessions, Randy fought down panic, sweating and a stomach rebellion to sing for the first time to an audience. The audience voted Randy the prize for best guitar player, (a plastic microwave egg cooker and a pair of pliers). The rush of pleasure at not passing out, the kindness of the audience and the thrill of successfully performing went right to Randy's head. He immediately went about learning as many songs as he could with visions of stardom dancing before his eyes. Randy's head has since returned to nearly it's original size but his commitment to developing his singing and picking skills and his desire to perform and please listeners is stronger than ever. His only regret as he sings crazy old mountain songs and attempts to yodel is that his dad didn't live to see him discover the joy of family tradition and music shared with friends. Daddy's spirit accompanies him with every note. Randy lives with his wife, Diane, whom he adores, in Nampa, Idaho. The Father of two, Grandfather of three, he dreams of the day his younguns' quit rolling their eyes and join him in singing some crazy old mountain songs.
|
|
|
|
