Door County Bluegrass Camp 2008

Bassist and vocalist Mark Hembree grew up in Appleton, WI. In 1977-78 he played with the “progressive” bluegrass band Monroe Doctrine based in Denver.

In 1979 Mark moved to Nashville, Tennessee to begin a 5-year stint as one of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. Mark can be heard on Bill Monroe's classic instrumental album Master of Bluegrass and the Bill Monroe and Friends record, as well as in several other compilations.

Hembree was a founding member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band (more recently of “O Brother” fame) and bassist in several recording sessions including the all-star album band, Dreadful Snakes, which featured Bela Fleck and Jerry Douglas.
Mark has conducted several seminars and workshops, including “Bluegrass Week” at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, WV. He has remained musically active, recording and performing with the Western Box Turtles (Western swing) and most recently with the Nob Hill Boys bluegrass band.

Instructors

Eric Lewis - Guitar/Dobro/Slide

Eric Lewis is a multi-talented instrumentalist who performs and records with some of the top Memphis artists. He has also toured the country with the first national tour of "Patsy!," E-squared artist, Cheri Knight, and Prairie Home Companion favorites, Robin and Linda Williams.

    In 2003 Eric received the Premier Player Award for Strings by the Memphis Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
    "Eric Lewis has proven himself to be one of the city's finer pickers."- Mark Jorday, The Memphis Flyer
    "...A young fellow with a Collings guitar asked if he could sit in. Sit in? He took the place apart! I have heard many excellent flat pickers, but he was as good as any I've met. He was Eric Lewis from Memphis, Tennessee.” Karl Brandenberg, The Independent Register, Madison, WI

Tommy Burroughs - Mandolin/Fiddle/Guitar

Tommy Burroughs has wowed audiences with his amazing fiddle, mandolin and guitar playing. He has won the NARAS Premier String Player award in Memphis a record of 7 times. He is an accomplished songwriter and is one of the most respected multi-instrumentalists in the Memphis area.

You can find Tommy here - courtesy of Len Villano

Door County Bluegrass Camp 2008

You can find Eric at http://www.myspace.com/ericfuzzyfingerslewis

Mark Hembree - Bass

You can find Mark at http://www.nobhillboys.com/

Karen Mal is a full-time musician based in Austin, TX. Best-known for her effortless and expressive singing, she's also an accomplished muti-instrumentalist on guitar, mandolin and upright bass. With a degree in music from Long Island University, she brings to the table an extensive background in theater, Celtic music, bluegrass, and contemporary songwriting. She tours nationally as a solo singer/songwriter, and as a sideman for other performers.
Karen has won awards for her songwriting from the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Tucson Folk Festival, the Wildflower Music and Arts Festival, the Portland Songwriters Association, and has received national airplay for her three CDs on Waterbug records. Most recently, she composed music for Door Shakespeare in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin for their current season. When she's not playing music she spends as much time as possible in the woods and on the river.

Karen Mal - Bass, Harmony, Songwriting

You can find Karen at http://www.karenmal.com