Biographies

There is a tendency to think of West Coast bluegrass as being softer, jazzier, and somehow “other” than traditional. This can be the case, but there is also a school of bluegrass in Northern California which has, from the beginning, been steeped in Monroe-based tradition—as well as welcoming to women and original songs.

Kathy Kallick has been leading bands in this traditional brand of West Coast bluegrass since co-founding the internationally-acclaimed band, Good Ol’ Persons, in 1975. She continues to evolve as one of the music’s extraordinary composers and vocalists, releasing 15 albums, which include over 100 of her original songs. Along the way, she has:

- won a Grammy and two IBMA Awards for her part on True Life Blues: The Songs Of Bill Monroe …

- had three title tracks and three albums -- Call Me A Taxi, Walkin’ In My Shoes, and Warmer Kind Of Blue – each spend a year in the upper echelon of the Bluegrass Unlimited National Survey (“the charts”) …

- appeared on three high-profile Rounder collections of bluegrass songs by women, as well as noteworthy collections of songs about baseball, trains, spiritual matters, families, broken hearts, Christmas, and mothers …

- performed and recorded with the Frank Wakefield Band …

- written and recorded award-winning music for children and families …

- toured throughout North America, Europe, and Japan …

- received a Lifetime Membership from the California Bluegrass Association … and …

- collaborated with the country’s top acoustic musicians – including her fabulous current band:

Tom Bekeny: mandolin, harmony & lead vocals
Dan Booth: acoustic bass, harmony & lead vocals
Greg Booth: dobro, banjo, harmony vocals
Annie Staninec: fiddle, harmony vocals