BIO
Born and raised in the cornfields of Iowa, the members of Skinny and the Bootleggers take pride in their Midwestern and small town roots. They play a variety of bluegrass/Americana/old time music that can best be described as “Country and Midwestern" music. International recording artists in their own rite, they have sold albums all over the U.S. and many countries in Europe. Raised in Red Oak, Iowa, Kirk “Skinny” Webb came to music through listening to his mother and grandfather play old time music on Saturday nights. At 5 years of age he began to play guitar and harmonica during these Saturday night jams. Since then he has studied classical guitar and theory, won the National Old Time Country Music Mandolin Championship, and has been a studio musician in the Omaha and southwest Iowa area playing everything from rock to country. He has also toured the country playing all of these styles from Canada to Texas. However, ask him what music he prefers to play for fun and the answer will be a simple, “old time acoustic music”.Terry Ray has had over 40 years of experience playing guitar. He lived through playing clubs in the 60’s, survived the mud at Woodstock, and cultivated a career as a school guidance counselor at the same time. Now he is contributing his wealth of musical experience as a "bootlegger" and having the time of his life. He is an asset in the form of comic relief during the bootlegger's show and isn’t afraid to pull a prank or crack a joke to get a few laughs.Phil Lamb has been playing music all his life and has spent over 20 years playing in the club and bar trenches. He started out playing guitar but picked up a bass early on and never looked back. Once he got an upright bass it was all over. He started playing bluegrass and came on over to the dark side.Eric Nelson has been a solo artist, guitarist, and songwriter in the midwest music scene for over 20 years. He has released 3 albums of his own and toured extensively in support of his music. Originally from Kansas City, he moved to the southwest Iowa area in the 80's and we are glad he did.Skinny and the Bootleggers will often have guest appearances by some of the best musicians around the midwest. Some of the musicians that have played with them are fiddler Josh Krohn, Washboard player Chuck Kluver, multi-instrumentalist Dennis White, and Banjoist Stan the barber.Ya'll come back now, ya hear.
