We've assembled the All-Star musicians as the beating heart of the Jamboree.
They'll lay down driving rhythms that'll make you wish you were dancing.
Each are masters of their craft, rooted in history and reaching for the future.
They can't wait to play for you all weekend long.
OSAGE, WV - Born in 1939, Anderson grew up in Osage, a town in the Scotts Run coalfield area outside of Morgantown. His first job was shining shoes. Anderson sang with the Fabians, a four-part harmony rock group, in the 1960s. He was also a member of Billy Ward's group, The Dominoes, and sang lead on their recording of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve". Anderson later worked with Ward in Hollywood. Anderson is active with the Scotts Run Museum and is known as the “unofficial mayor” of Osage. He is featured on the “Songs of Scotts Run” CD.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ian B. Walters plays spirited, updated blues and standards as well as contemporary tunes. Known for his unique piano sound, dripping with soul vocals, and all-around good vibes, Ian’s inventive interpretations of great old songs make them new again. After studying classical piano for 13 years, he found his musical voice in vintage blues, R&B, American Standards, and early Rock-n-roll. One of the most sought-after performers in the Washington DC area, he can often be found playing blues festivals and clubs solo or with numerous bands. He uses various styles, including Boogie Woogie, Honky Tonk, and New Orleans Stride and Ragtime to demonstrate a historical approach to the development of American Popular Music.
CLARKSBURG, WV - Ryan Cain is a WV native musician who has traveled the East Coast for more than twenty years performing early rock 'n' roll hits and his original material.
A multi-instrumentalist, Cain is equally versed in the honky-tonk and country sounds, as well as early soul and doo-wop, giving his live shows a range and variety rarely seen in modern professional shows. Prompted by audience requests, Cain will readily dive into surf-rock instrumentals, country, or soul classics.
MORGANTOWN, WV - Levi Houston Sanders is no stranger to all things Rockabilly and Western Swing. Hailing from the green rolling hills of West Virginia, it is always a delight to visit the rolling plains of Texas recreating the sounds of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. Also 1/5 of the world famous “Hillbilly Biscuits” Bluegrass band, Sanders translates the high energy of the Five String Banjo over to those swinging sounds of the 1940s. Shucks, his middle name is 1940.
Western Swing is dance music first and foremost: a blend of early country, jazz and blues that offers front-porch warmth. It is a cousin to blues and rural string band traditions like old-time music. Many genres are rooted in western swing, such as bluegrass, classic country, boogie and early rockabilly.
Since the 1930s, western swing has filled dancehalls and barns with a driving backbeat that begs you to dance. Western swing is a music genre not a dance step, therefore it is fantastic for two-step, lindy, or just plain shaking your tail feather!
A Honky Tonk is a nightclub or dance hall where live country music fills the air. It is the descendent of the Juke Joint, originated by rural black-owned businesses as a center of community. Both Juke Joints and Honky Tonks functioned in their communities as crucial social spaces for music and socializing, especially among marginalized groups. These spaces were integral to the development of some of America's best musical forms.
Doo-wop is a form of rhythm and blues music that originated in African American communities in the 1940s. Its distinctive and captivating vocal harmonies led to its peak popularity in the 1950s and 1960s.