Marilyn Kay & Company

Marilyn Kay and Company is an exciting new band featuring outstanding vocal harmonies and exceptional instrumentals, playing a refreshing mix of original compositions, traditional bluegrass and country classics! The bands acoustic bluegrass influences are unmistakable, but not overpowering. They seamlessly unite tradition with modern sensibilities through the honesty and charm of Marilyn Kay’s original compositions, chilling harmonies, tight instrumentation and an innovative approach to acoustic music.

Marilyn Kay is the principle songwriter and lead vocalist. Her songs range from classic honky-tonk tunes to beautiful ballads to pure bluegrass gospel. Add a healthy dose of Cliff’s tenor harmonies, percussive mandolin and old time fiddle, stir in a measure of Jr.s rhythmic guitar, sizzling dobro and baritone vocals, heap in few pounds of Jerry’s rock solid bass lines and vocals then top off with Rochelle’s perfect timing and smoking hot banjo licks and you have a recipe for a toe-tapping heck of a good time at any of their performances.

Marilyn Kay

Marilyn Kay was born in Twin Falls, Idaho. She grew up as a farmer’s daughter with four siblings. Her mother played piano and later guitar and music was a daily part of their life. This lifelong love of music blossomed several years ago when she began writing her own songs. Her gift as a songwriter quickly flourished and a hobby became a passion. Marilyn has a lot to say and she says it well with a diverse collection of songs.
Her beautiful and poignant “Indiana Sweetheart” tells the story of timeless love, while the honky-tonk’n “Good Girl Gone” reveals the relief of a good women getting out of a bad situation, the nautically themed “Buy a Boat” is a tale of a man who retires and buys the boat of his dreams. Only this story is told from the perspective of his wife.

Her music combines influences from the many places life has taken her. Her subjects are broad and varied, but always with an undertone that reflects her family’s religious roots. Her songs have a familiar blend of old time flavor and story-telling lyrics that hit home with a range of emotions. And without fail the audience greets them with toe-tapping and smiles and often the find themselves singing along to the chorus of a song they have never heard before.

"I don't quite understand it myself,” Marilyn says, “I just know the songs and lyrics come together and make people feel good. I am thankful for the group. They are a big part of this music and their participation in arranging the music and making it work is greatly appreciated. They are my music family.”

Rochelle Munger

Rochelle was born to Pacific Northwest Bluegrass royalty and she has picked up the scepter (in the shape of a banjo) and carried it well. Barney Munger knew exactly what he was doing when he got Rochelle her first banjo and showed her a Scrugg’s lick. She has played the banjo for over 30 years and has become one of the top players on the scene. When she cuts loose on her raucous version of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” the crowd always stops in their tracks and fixates on the music. Her original instrumental “Washaway Beach” and ballad “Tramp Harbor Moon” prove the depth and breadth of her musical skills. Her impeccable taste, timing and tone make her and her John Hartford Deering stand above other players. She lists Earl Scruggs, and of course, her dad as her major influences, but “just about any bluegrass” has shaped her picking.

“Of all the banjo players I’ve picked with, Rochelle is one of them”
Marilyn Kay, March, 2009.

Cliff Simpson;

Cliff was born and raised in no man’s land Oklahoma He has rustled cattle, drilled oil wells and drove submarines, but his true love is bluegrass music. At age 13 he received a hand-me-down guitar from his cousin Scott and never looked back. Cliff now plays mandolin and fiddle (with an occasional opportunity to flatpick when Jr picks up the dobro) for Marilyn Kay & Company. His mandolin style was influenced by Bill Monroe’s barking chops and perfect rhythm and Jesse Cobb’s “duster’n.”
When picking his Martin his main influence is the legendary Tony Rice. But, he says, “You just can’t beat the way Del McCoury plays rhythm and knows exactly where the G run should be.” Cliff has had numerous offers to play in different bands (mostly from Jr and Jerry) but loves the independence and originality of Marilyn Kay’s tunes and the free range she gives her musicians to alter, arrange and do a little “duster’n” to them.

“He is the best fiddle player we could afford.”
Jr. Agne, Feb 2009

Daniel “Jr.” Agne

Jr. was born and raised on Bainbridge Island. If you ask him if he lived there all his life, he’ll retort, “Not yet.” No one is quite sure when Jr. first saw the light, but since his conversion to acoustic bluegrass music he has become a prodigy of the first order. His flatpicking is blazing and his rhythm is steady and so