Bill Cagley is a full-time musician who bought his first guitar the day he graduated high school. Bill learned music in Waterloo and Iowa City, Iowa, by listening to recordings and playing with such masters as Al Murphy and Bob Black. He became a full-time musician in 1987.
In 1992 Bill recorded Cagley, Schafer, Black, and Njoes, a collection of old-time fiddle tunes with fiddler Tom Schaefer, banjo player Bob Black, and bassist Sandy Njoes. He also appeared on Greg Brown's recording Down in There.
Bill is a regular solo performer operating with the motto, "Music of all ages for all ages." He entertains at historic sites, senior centers, and family outings, among others. Bill is currently an instructor at the Homestead Pickin Parlor.
Keith Yoder is a multi-instrumentalist who has been teaching music full time since 1994. He currently has 70 students at Yoder Music studying guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass, resophonic guitar, and drums. Keith has led numerous instrumental workshops at festivals in the Midwest.
He has been performing bluegrass music for over 25 years with the McPunk Brothers.
Keith has appeared on many recording projects and last year completed “Tools of the Trade” a collection of 18 songs and instrumentals. He plays all of the instruments on the recording and sings all of the vocal parts.
Keith was the Jamming Instructor and Coordinator for Steve Kaufmann's Acoustic Kamp in 2007 and will be returning in 2008 in the same role. He also led jamming workshops in Oklahoma and Idaho in 2007.
He was featured in the Flatpick Profile column of the May/June 2006 issue of Flatpicking Guitar magazine. An arrangement of his original tune “Skipping Stones” was also featured. Keith has won numerous instrumental contests and most recently placed 3rd in the 2006 Rocky Grass guitar competition.
Being a player of all the instruments in a bluegrass band gives Keith the ability to more fully understand the role of each in jamming and band situations.
“Bob's banjo music is a dipperful of cold well water at the end of a long hot dusty day.” ---Greg Brown
Bob has bluegrass roots going straight back to Bill Monroe, “The Father of Bluegrass Music.” Bob toured and recorded with the late great musical master during the 70’s, learning much about songwriting and performing which he now brings to audiences all over the world.
Drawing on bluegrass, folk, and gospel music traditions, Bob creates his own brand of “Midwestern Roots” music, which features both original and traditional songs and instrumentals.
“…a hero of the 5-string banjo…” ---Bluegrass Unlimited
Copper Creek, Rebel, and Green Valley recording artist Bob Black has performed with Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, John Hartford, Ralph Stanley, Rhonda Vincent, The Whites, Frank Wakefield, and many others. He is a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist of international acclaim. Bob has recorded with Norman Blake, Greg Brown, Kenny Baker, Bill Monroe, John Hartford, Bo Ramsey, Sam Bush, and more (over 30 albums in all). He has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry many times.
“…passion, love, and artistry.” ---The Iowa City Press-Citizen
Bob was the recipient of the 2002 Traditional Arts Award, presented by the Iowa Arts Council in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Arts in Iowa.
Expanding the definition of bluegrass, Bob Black weaves modern sounds into the ancient fabric of tradition. Bob has been giving lessons and banjo workshops for over 20 years.
Bassist, singer-songwriter, and banjo player Paul Roberts provides the solid foundation for Banjoy’s music. Paul has done a great deal of performing with Eastern Iowa’s premier theatrical group, The Old Creamery Theatre. He is also a member of The McPunk Brothers and The Great Bluegrass Herons, and Banjoy. His unusual sense of humor shines through in all his songs and onstage jokes. Featured on numerous recordings, Paul has fans among bluegrass lovers throughout the state of Iowa and beyond. Paul has been teaching students to play the large bass, fiddle, banjo and guitar for 5 years.
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