Wayne Gratz — Composer/Pianist

Fall 2010 Listen to selections: By the Sea Willows

Born in Winston Salem, North Carolina, in June of 1954, Wayne Gratz acquired his love for music at a early age. At the age of five, Wayne moved to Reading, Pennsylvania. Inspired by his kindergarten teacher, Wayne began playing the piano at age six and studied piano into his high school years. He then began studying guitar. With the onset of cool keyboard bands such as Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Yes, and Genesis, Wayne decided to return to the keyboards.

In addition to his love for music, Wayne also did pretty well at swimming, competing at statewide high school meets. "Since you can't really make a living at swimming," Gratz says , "I decided to keep music as my main focus. " A resident of Reading, PA from the age of five through high school, Wayne played in various rock bands. After high school, he began touring the U.S and Canada, ending up in Orlando, Florida in 1976.

Over the past 13 years, Wayne has released 7 albums of original compositions on the Narada Label and 4 albums of cover music on the Enso label. Wayne also contributed to some of the most memorable compositions on Narada's best selling collections, The Wilderness Collection, A Childhood Remembered, Piano Solos, and 2 Christmas Collection albums.

Wayne started his own label Wayne Gratz Music in 2002 and has composed and produced 5 albums, to include Sleepy Baby Suite, Christmas Remembered, Soul to Soul, Light, Lands and Shoreline, and his most recent project Two Views. In addition, his music has been used for the Olympic games specialty segments, NBC television specials, and background music for numerous other television/radio advertisements, including a nationally-televised Tiger Woods segment and background music for Thomas Kinkade's new DVD. Wayne's music is featured on Music Choice and can be heard on Whisperings: Solo Piano Radio, WLOQ, and numerous radio stations around the world.

Jim Van Cleve — Grammy Nominated Fiddle Player

Fall 2010

Jim VanCleve is a top-shelf musician in the band that is taking the acoustic scene by storm, MOUNTAIN HEART. In addition to the extensive traveling he does, he is also a full time session musician, and record producer in Nashville, TN.

The last couple of years have been a whirlwind of success for Jim's career. His debut solo project, "NO APOLOGIES" was nominated for a GRAMMY in the "Best Country Instrumental" Category in 2007. The project was also nominated at the International Bluegrass Music Awards for "Instrumental Album of the Year" that same year. The project had an impressive total of three charting singles and was ultimately awarded Album of the Year honors in the Folk Music Category at the Indie Music Awards.

In addition to all this, the lead-off single from the album, "Let the Big Dog Eat", held the No. 1 spot for three months. "NO APOLOGIES" was included in top ten lists for these major Publications: WALL STREET JOURNAL, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, CMT, WASHINGTON TIMES, USA TODAY. Upon its release, "No Apologies" immediately placed in the top ten in the BillBoard Sales Chart for that week, and remained there in the charts each week for over two months following. All this for a debut solo release!

As a solo artist, it is safe to say, Jim has started off on the right foot!! However, this is but one side of coin...

As a session musician working on an ever-increasing number of albums each year, Jim has built a very impressive resume. All in the last three years, he has been featured on Carrie Underwood's No. 1 hit single, "Don't Forget to Remember Me", from the Multi-Platinum "Some Hearts" recording, featured as part of his band, Mountain Heart, on the recording, "Strumming with the Devil" (with David Lee Roth of Van Halen), and was prominently featured on the "Best Country Album" Grammy Award Winning, "Livin',Lovin', Losin': A Tribute to the Louvin Brothers". As a session musician, these are but a few projects he's been asked to take part in recently.

Jim also was recruited to write and record a new Awards Show Theme Song by the International Bluegrass Music Association (an honor previously held by the great Jerry Douglas, and the incomparable Mark O'Connor before him). The new theme song, "Road From Rosine" debuted at the 2007 IBMA Awards Show in Nashville.

Jim was also recently asked to write an instrumental track for a studio project by Sierra Hull, the young mandolin and vocal prodigy you might have seen on television, either sitting in with Alison Krauss, or as an actress in the new Billy Graham movie. Ron Block (of Alison Krauss and Union Station) and Sierra produced her debut solo project and commissioned Jim to write the song, which eventually was entitled SMASHVILLE. Sierra's album, Secrets, is now available on Rounder Records. Check it out!

Last year, Jim was also a featured special guest performer on the ACM Awards Show, live from Las Vegas with country superstar, Sara Evans. The song they performed was called "Coalmine", which spent several weeks in the Billboard Top 10 and featured Jim throughout.

Jim has also become, since the release of his solo project, an in-demand record producer. Recent projects he has produced include songs or albums for Carrie Hasler, Clay Jones, Mountain Heart, and Taylor Swift.

In addition to all this, some of the artists he has recorded and/or performed with includes: Johnny Cash, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Skip Ewing, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Alison Krauss, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Dierks Bentley, Emmy Lou Harris, Joe Nichols, John Cowan, Ronnie Bowman, Linda Ronstadt, Bryan Sutton, Stuart Duncan, Rodney Crowell, Sonya Isaacs, Carrie Underwood, Sara Evans, Ricky Skaggs, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Glen Cambell, Sam Bush, Chris Thile, Tim O'Brien, Doc Watson, Del McCoury Band, Blue Highway, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Patty Loveless, Terri Clark, Ronnie Dunn, Rhonda Vincent, and Nickel Creek.

Check out Jim's website for more information on the album, "No Apologies". It's a groundbreaking next step for Jim, and for Acoustic Music in general! Also, there's plenty of info there about Jim and some other interesting stuff, such as photos from the road and studio, and upcoming shows that he'll be involved with!

Josh Shilling — Singer/Songwriter

Fall 2010 Listen to selections: Sweet Like Sugar After the Pain Is Gone Road That Never Ends

Versatile singer/songwriter Josh Shilling boasts an impressive combination of experience and musicianship, belying his youth. Only 25 years-old, Shilling's musical forays have been diverse and considerable, ranging from jazz and funk-tinged ensembles to soul and contemporary country, jam-band, and folk projects.

A Martinsville, Virginia native, he began playing the piano at a mere 7 years old. As a child, his voracious musical study traversed rock, jazz, and classic country. He matured into a skilled pianist whose playing style capably relays honky tonk, rock, funk, or soul grooves. Shilling also developed steadily as a guitarist, while honing his natural vocal ability.

As a teenager, Shilling fielded offers to tour nationally with professional bands, and at 17, he graduated high school one year early to begin his musical pursuits. He began traveling with The Kings, a successful regional band from Roanoke, Virginia. The deceptively junior new member stunned audiences with his soulful vocals and confidence. Subsequent gigs soon followed with nationally touring artists including Cimmaron, country star Billy "Crash" Craddock and Chicago's Bill Champlin, who proclaimed Shilling "has the potential to be one of the greats."

His 2005 collaboration with Detroit-based Balancing Act led to resounding affirmation of Shilling's songwriting skills. In addition to providing lead vocals and keyboard work, he penned several compositions for the group's album. One of the tunes attracted the attention of MTV, who obtained licenses to incorporate the song into episodes of popular shows Punk'd and Making the Video.

2007 found Shilling joining acclaimed bluegrass ensemble Mountain Heart. His robust vocals, evolving signature piano stylings and nimble guitar work enhance the group's rich acoustic sound. Noted music journalist Jon Weisberger praised Shilling's addition to the band: "He's going to fit right in with Mountain Heart's signature sound, while bringing some new dimensions to their music...there's no apparent limit to the upper end of his range." The same year, Shilling wrote or co-wrote all of the four new songs featured on the group's live album, The Road that Never Ends, including project's title track, which reached the 4th slot on Billboard's bluegrass chart.

Mountain Heart's January 2007 appearance on the Grand Ole Opry introduced Shilling to an eagerly receptive crowd; he earned a standing ovation and encore that evening -- a rarity and intoxicating distinction for any artist on that revered stage. Since that night, Shilling has played on the Opry stage over 30 times, has opened several shows as part of Lynyrd Skynyrd's 2008 summer tour, and is currently touring and performing with legendary guitarist Tony Rice.

Now based in Nashville, Shilling continues to perform with Mountain Heart while pursuing his solo career. When he's not recording or writing for new projects, guest appearances with artists who inspire him also line his schedule. "I always try to be involved with something that's truly special - something innovative," Shilling explains. "I want to be a part of something that's real. No matter what style it's rooted in, I want the music and experience to be heartfelt and authentic." He embraces music in its totality: His fierce immersion in one genre is enhanced by his passion for the others. Young but prodigious, Josh Shilling's future promises both success and tireless innovation guaranteed to delight music lovers all over the world.

Josh has shared stages with artists ranging from country stars Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Miranda Lambert, and Diamond Rio to Rock and R&B legends like Michael McDonald, Tower of Power, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Road That Never Ends

Bing Futch — Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter

Winter 2010 Listen to selections: Sunday Morning Seminole Solstice

With a deep-rooted passion for music of all cultures, Bing Futch weaves together traditional, original, and popular tunes in wildly entertaining concerts featuring his expressive tenor vocals and two uniquely American instruments: the Plains Indian flute and the Appalachian mountain dulcimer.

His original songs are rooted within international folk music, mixing African and Native American tribal rhythms and melodies, blues, bluegrass, funk, jazz, Dixieland, Celtic, country & western, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, and Latin influences with original rock, roots, and pop grooves.

Named "2006 Songwriter of the Year" by the Songwriters Showcases of America with a 2007 award for "Song of the Year" (Crazy Feels Like), Bing writes and sings tunes that defy comparison due to their genre-hopping nature and rollercoaster approach to subject matter. Songs that deal with dusty drunk tanks, star-crossed robbers, Irish immigrants, conflicted bombers, spicy food, interminable interstates, and ill-fated gators get appropriate dashes of drama and whimsy, alternately touching and hysterical.

His distinctive voice whispers and wails from smooth, soulful depths to soaring heights, intertwined with imaginative arrangements that are as unique as they are catchy and memorable. Equally adept at performing old chestnuts as well as covers, it's not unusual to hear Bing break out rollicking fiddle tunes and then segue into a reggae skank.

This genre-blending showman has opened for acts such as Scott Ainslie, The Crests, and Molly Hatchet. He's also shared the stage with Zydeco great Chubby Carrier and mountain dulcimer legend Robert Force. His laid-back, upbeat nature, and engaging stage presence has made him a festival favorite from Phoenix, Arizona to Hamden, Connecticut, and his positive spirit shines through in every performance.

For Joy