The Wooden Bridges Bluegrass Band
officially started practicing together in March, 2005. After a few practices, Rich, the band leader decided it was time to show off, and he picked up a couple of gigs for us to play. As with any band, our first few performances were non-paying. Then one day, a group cancelled for a fall festival, and we filled in. The $50 was equally split by the band members and allowed us to buy enough gas to get home. At that point we figured we had hit the big time, but shortly thereafter we found ourselves playing in the dark and swatting mosquitoes between measures.
Rich has promoted the group well, and since then, we have found a steady series of places to play. We have played at bluegrass festivals, weddings, and restaurants.
Word must be spreading, our regular audience is getting larger with Jackie, Glenda and Russ leading the pack. Jackie is also an honorary member of the group, singing and playing the guitar at some of our performances. Tom Nolan from Front Porch Boys (et. al.) sometimes fills in on banjo.
Rich and Mark are the founding members of the group. Rich is the leader of the group. He creates the set lists, and schedules the gigs. He enjoys celtic music and that's how these songs got on our list. What Rich does well is that he keeps adding songs to the list. About 20% of our songs are new every few months. So, if you've heard us play before, we'll have different songs the next time you come. This adds a lot of variety to our playing and drives the banjo player crazy (but he's almost there most of the time). We've tried songs from Bob Dylan, John Denver, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and even the Beatles. Our guitar player will to do most requests, so, even we don't always know what's coming.
Mark also heads a gospel group, so he adds the gospel songs to the repetoir, and he writes some of our songs. Mark is the workhorse of the group. He has all the sound equipment that we use, so he puts in twice as many hours as the others, loading and unloading his van.
Rudy joined the group as a guitar player and one day Rich told him he needed to sing, so he started singing and found out he was pretty good. He also likes to sing at bars for tips. He enjoys country music and after a fight we added country songs to our list. The bluegrass police visit occasionally to try to get us back in line.
Jeff was the last to join. Rich found him at a jam session, and tricked him into joining the group. Jeff is a "whatever" type of person and goes along with anything. That's why we keep him around. After all, how hard can it be?
Mark Thone - Bass and Vocals
Mark is a third generation musician who also plays the guitar, mandolin and banjo and has written several songs. Along with Wooden Bridges, he also heads a gospel bluegrass group called "His Own" String Band. He was first exposed to the bluegrass sound by his father's band call "The Roadshow Entertainers", in the late sixties. His early influences include: Glen Campbell, The Smothers Brothers, Peter, Paul and Mary, Willie Nelson, and the Roches.
He lives in Menomonee Falls with his wife Nancy, and son Andrew, who is also a multi-talented musician.
Rudy Custer - Guitar and Vocals
Rudy took his first guitar lesson at the age of 10, and that's a LONG time ago. He was inspired and encouraged by several musician relatives, including a very talented guitar playing uncle. None of them ever got rich, and that tradition continues to this day.
Rudy played lead guitar for a seriously nondescript rock band when he was a teenager. He has played intermittently throughout the years, and was a stand in for country groups. Even when his music was supplanted by other interests, he always owned at least one guitar. Some would say that was one too many.
Rudy fell in with bad companions in 2003, when he was exposed to bluegrass music, and quickly became hooked, even though he didn't inhale. He shares a home near North Lake, Wi. with his wife, three sons, and a retired laborador-retriever. He works as a manufacturing engineer to keep them all fed. The dog appreciates his efforts.
Rich Schwartz - Mandolin and Vocals
Rich was a musician all through school including a year at college, but stopped playing during his 20's and 30's. He's glad to be back. This is the third bluegrass band he has started, and he really enjoys playing with Mark, Rudy and Jeff.
He is a long time fan of old-time, folk and bluegrass music, and he started the monthly jam at Hartland Music (3rd Tuesday of every month).
Rich works as an engineer at an automated machine company. He lives in North Lake with his wife Chris and sons William and Steve who are also talented musicians.
Jeff Mann - Banjo
Jeff is new to the group. He is from Wales, Wi. A long time bluegrass fan, he only recently started playing the banjo. When he's not playing music he doubles as a ski and snowboard instructor at Sunburst Ski Hill.
He lives with his wife Dale, son Nicholas who plays the cello, and his daughter Olivia who is learning the trumpet.