One of my favorite things in the world was strumming and singing for my Grandma Jo – mostly Jimmy Buffett but a few songs with more than 3 chords. When she passed away she left me a few dollars and I knew just what to do with it. I went to the Pick’n Parlor, bought a Martin D-16, and signed up for guitar lessons from local guitar instructor Dale Miller. Although I was a solo acoustic musician for a few years, a buddy took me to see the Sons and Brothers family bluegrass band at the Black Rose Acoustic Society down the road. I was mesmerized by the combination of tight harmonies and slick acoustic compositions. That night was the beginning of my bluegrass journey and little did I know that 2 years later I would start my own family bluegrass band with my sons.

I got my first guitar for Christmas when I was 7 years old and took classical guitar lessons for 3 years from Dale Miller. In 2009 my 5th grade class was performing Shakespeare’s “A Winters Tale” and I played part of a traveling rogue. We happened to have a mandolin sitting at home and I told the teacher I would play that instead of a guitar. Once I picked it up and started figuring it out my dad saw the potential for a family bluegrass band and 2 months later we took the stage for the first time. My favorite mandolin picker is Chris Thile.

When I was 5 years old I met Brian Walnicki, a family friend, play the violin and I knew that was the instrument for me. My parents thought I was too young but I kept bugging them until my dad finally broke down and bought me one for $5 on ebay (big spender, I know). I started lessons when I was 6 with Shari Russell and also got to be in my school’s orchestra. I always liked the faster, challenging songs like Devils Dream and Swallowtail the best, so I was excited when I began fiddle lessons with Luke Tripp (www.theredfiddle.com) when I was 8 years old. My favorite fiddle player is Andy Leftwich.

I tried the piano, guitar and mandolin before finally choosing the bass when I was 7 years old. I had only been playing 2 months when we recorded our first cd. If you were dazzled by my playing on that album, it is because most of the tracks were laid down by 2-time Grammy award winning bassist Gene Libbea. I did, however, play on Cripple Creek and Will The Circle Be Unbroken with my school loaner 1/8 size bass. My favorite bass player is Gene Libbea (big surprise).

Sam is a multi-instrumentalist to include hammered dulcimer, fiddle, mandolin, and keyboard. Growing up Sam played in his own family band called My Three Sons Plus One. He joined the WMDs in 2010 as lead guitarist.