M.D. Elsworth

I was Born in the Southwestern Appalachian's "Cumberland/Shawnee" Region in the Ohio River Valley. I've been playing guitar and singing for over 19 years. I got my first guitar from my Grandfather, or Papaw, as I called him. He urged me to learn old-time country blues and to sing. As a teenager, I had the good fortune to learn old-time mountain dance music from the master fiddler/luthier family, The Ratcliffs, in Carter County Kentucky. This is where I spent many moons learning to play old-time rags, jigs, and waltzes. Toured the Central Kentucky music circuit of clubs, bars, and harvest festivals. in 2002/03 I even wound up on some of the same bills as David Grisman, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, and the legendary Wailers...to name a few. Moving to Freak Mountain, Oregon in February 2004 to aid the non-electric music revolution, I was inevitably asked to join The CONJUGAL VISITORS regional Jug-Grass band, that Autumn. Since then winning three Local Awards with the Visitors including "Best Acoustic Act"-Eugene Weekly readers poll. As well as playing shows with such national artists as Danny Barnes, Baby Gramps, Asylum St. Spankers,Bruce Hornsby, Maria Muldair, and Hillstomp. My intentions with this music is to instill Joy in your soul. I have Hope for the future, the children, our families, and the Earth, our Mother. I believe that music is a gift for the Divine Spirit and should be used as such. May this Music be a "Joyful Noise". I believe Music is like a bridge to the Spiritual World where Love and positive thinking creates "good vibrations" for the upliftment of our souls and our planet. With this in mind, I humbly offer this music to you.