Choose a member's name above for their biography
Photos by Lisa Schaffer
Geoff Gay
My
first musical endeavor was drumming. I started at age 8 and still play
today with a rock band. I grew up being forced to listen to bluegrass
and never took it seriously until 1998 after seeing Ricky Skaggs and
Kentucky Thunder live.
I grew up in Bensalem, PA. I'm currently a Tactical Aircraft Technician for the PA Air National Guard. I served over eight years active duty and currently serve as a National Guardsman. I've done tours stateside as well as overseas; peacetime and combat.
My earliest musical influences are drummers: Neil Peart, Phil Ehart, Buddy Rich and Dom Famularo. Bluegrass early influences are my father, my brother, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Josh Graves and Larry Sparks
Influences today are my father, my brother, Jerry Douglas, Mike Auldridge, Josh Graves, Tony Rice, JD Crowe, Dan Tyminski and The Reno Brothers.
I play a 2006 Ray Fairchild quilted maple Large Body squareneck and a 2004 Tim Scheerhorn curly maple L-Body squareneck.
My first bluegrass band was Frontier Spirit in Anchorage, AK. In PA I've played with The Lost Ramblers, The Mill Creek Boys, Chester Johnson and the Foggy Mountain Grass, and still play with Second Wind on occasion. I've sat-in with Louis Setzer and the Appalachian Mtn. Boys, Stained Grass Window and Heavy Traffic.
Outside of resophonic guitar, I play drums, acoustic guitar, 5 string banjo and acoustic bass.
Richie Kalikow
In ninth grade I heard a Flatt and Scruggs record and from that moment on I was a bluegrass fan. I grew up in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania and have been playing the mandolin since 1971.
I'm an Endodontist, which is a dentist that specializes in Root Canal Therapy. (I'm not sure what it means, but a lot of people say that they would rather have a root canal than hear me play the mandolin!)
My main mandolin is an F-5 made by John Monteleone in 1977. The biggest influences on my playing have been Clarence White, Bill Monroe, J.D.Crowe, David Grisman and Sam Bush. I also play guitar, both electric and acoustic.
I've played with a number of bands...The most well known are The Bluegrass Five from Georgia, and local Philadelphia bands Skookil Express, The Lewis Brothers and the Mark Cosgrove Good Medicine Band.
In 1985 I was fortunate to place fourth in the National Bluegrass Band Competition in Louisville, Kentucky.
Dave Lucas
I grew up in the small town of Bellefonte, which is 10 miles from the Penn State campus in central Pennsylvania. I have been into music for as long as I can remember. I started playing guitar after seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan (younger readers can research this topic on the internet, or in history books), and got into bluegrass after someone told me that’s where the money is.
My engineering work
in the telecommunications industry has taken me to Dallas, Sacramento,
and my current home in the town of Collegeville, PA.
I play guitar and dobro in bluegrass bands, and
play the electric guitar when working with country and rock bands. In
the few years since I moved to PA, I have been a member of Steppin'
Out and Walls of Time, as well as filling in for several
local bands. My bluegrass influences are Flatt and Scruggs, Reno and
Smiley, The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, The
Seldom Scene, and countless others that have embraced the tradition,
power, and beauty that comes from acoustic ensemble work.
In my spare time, I enjoy travel and motorcycling. The best friendships
that I have were made through making music, and I am happy to be playing
with the guys in Blue Roots.
Ed Lick
A next door neighbor was starting to play guitar (Larry Hunsberger) and my dad had always listened to bluegrass but it got into my soul at age 13 when “Dueling Banjos” was blasting the airwaves in 1973. My parents surprised me with a banjo for Christmas that year. I haven’t been the same since!
Collingswood, NJ is where I grew up. It’s a great town and enjoyed my childhood there.
Currently I am a Computer Aided Design (CAD) Analyst and Manager at a large Engineering firm. Like most jobs its demanding but just as rewarding for me.
During the 70’s the Seldom Scene and John Stey, the leader of a Philadelphia based bluegrass band, Skookil Express were very influential. Those that really influenced me were all the band mates of Jersey Grass. My son Jimmy and his musicianship inspire me today.
I currently have two favorite banjos. One I’ve had for five years it’s a 1985 Stelling “Golden Cross” and recently purchased a Huber “Lancaster”.
There were many local musicians that I have had the pleasure of jamming, performing and getting to know as close friends. I am truly blessed with that. At age 15, I was a fill in banjo player for The Whites. I played pedal steel for a while and our band, High Noon opened for many name acts – Kathy Mattea, T. Graham Brown, Charlie Daniels and Eddie Rabbit.
Rhythm guitar and Pedal Steel are other instruments I love to play but more for my own personal enjoyment now.
I formed a pickup band to compete at the first annual Bannock County Bluegrass Festival in Pocatello Idaho. We took second place. The real rewarding part about it was the friends I made there. They’re really hospitable!
Owen O'Malley
Growing up, I was the youngest of five children (and I still am). We
were into the folk scene, and the Beatles drove me to
playing music. I listened to a lot of Weather Report,
Return to Forever, and Yes. I became very
interested in Jaco Pastorious and what he could do with a bass.
Eventually, I was introduced to The David Grisman Quintet album. I
became a huge fan of Tony Rice and his style of guitar playing. I
listened to a lot of Sting, and really liked his work with Police.
My CD collection goes from Andreas Vollenweider to Bill Monroe and
everything in between.
I have lived my whole life in Voorhees, NJ. My "day job" is being a
sales rep for a wine & liquor distributor.
I am an avid collector of Martin guitars, and love playing guitar at
home. My main "playing" basses are a 1958 Fender Precision and a late
1800's carved top Czech Upright.
I have been a member of Jersey Grass, Walls of
Bluegrass, Mark Cosgrove & Good Medicine, and Keep The Change.