Bandbios

Mark McCracken: Mark has been playing mandolin for six years. Many years ago he played banjo, but gave it up. Mark is a high school Social Studies and English teacher, award winning writer, retired Coast Guardsman, avid sailor and even trap shoots every once in a while.

Joel Rogers: Joel has lived in:Wyoming, Montana and Washington. He was classically trained in voice for two years in High School. He has performed in stage musicals, Summer stock and sang in Barbershop Quartets. Joel started playing the banjo 5 years ago.

George Davis: George is legally blind from Glaucoma. This started a music journey from the banjo to the mandolin. George has the blessing of a guide dog: Gomer, to provide him freedom of mobility. George enjoys tying his own flies and wood carving, which he has done for many years. Loss of sight has slowed his production of original pieces, but he continues carving using his sense of touch. George is also the comedy mike for The Bluegrass Spectators.

Mitch Finley: Mitch is a staff writer for the Inland Register, the official newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, and the author of more than 30 books. His favorite banjo-related quotation is from film star and banjoist Steve Martin: "Obsession is a great substitute for talent."

Charlie Matthews: Charlie is the Product Support Manager for a company specializing in instrumentation for Aerospace projects. He played Guitar in High School and College, inspired by the Kingston Trio, Gordon Lightfoot and Doc Watson. He took it up again in 2004 after a 37 year hiatus. He enjoys playing rhythm Guitar, as he says: "Doc Watson is not afraid of me."

Mernie Matthews: Mernie has been a Nurse since 1984. If you are unfortunate enough to break a leg, you may be lucky enough to have Mernie as your Nurse. Mernie has been playing Bass since 2005 after a 40 year hiatus. When she is not jamming with Charlie, she can be found in her flower garden or working on Crafts.

Del Nord: began playing the fiddle when Bernard Shane, who played in the Spokane Symphony for 35 years, gifted his son with a Archibald Hill violin. He had a real love for fiddle music and the opportunity to begin was right there. Thus began a 12 year journey. Learning to play as an adult at 40 years of age was much more intimidating than he had thought it would be. often says that “had I known how difficult it was going to be, I’d have learned to play an instrument with frets.” says he loves the music and loves playing with the Bluegrass Spectators.