Craig Korth 

craig.korth@ckua.com



Craig Korth is a driving force on the Western Canadian bluegrass scene, probably best known as the front man for Edmonton, Alberta's long-running, ever popular Jerusalem Ridge. With JR, Craig achieved heights reached by few bluegrass musicians, performing his original tunes backed by symphony orchestras across Canada in Fire on the Mountain: A Bluegrass Music Experience!

Craig is also a certified banjo monster and past Western Canadian Banjo and Guitar Champion. Bluegrass Now magazine called Craig's 2002 solo CD Bankview "a massive undertaking replete with fortitude to challenge and defeat constraints and expectations" (jeepers!) and his playing is "tastefully restrained but can make a jaw drop in flat-out wonderment".

Craig first picked up the banjo at age 12 after his mother saw a TV episode of The Beverly Hillbillies and asked him if he'd be interested in learning how to play. He did. Thirty years later, he's still playing. Craig is a much-sought-after session player and producer in and around Alberta. He has performed and toured with acts such as with his wife, Julie Kerr, The Bills, Tom Phillips and the Men of Constant Sorrow, Maria Dunn, Billy Cowsill, Ronnie Hayward, David Francey, and numerous other artists across musical styles and genres.

Currently he has been performing mostly with the modern/traditional bluegrass band Widow Maker, where he steers the band with a steady and rhythmic hand. With Widow Maker, Craig uses his collection of vintage instruments to showcase his mighty fine picking. Craig co-writes many of Widow Maker's songs and sings the low harmonies. He also in 2007 recorded and produced The Awful Truth, Widow Maker's first recording, his own new solo release, Suspicious Minds, as well as Julie's new solo album Deeper Still.

Recently, the wilds of the southern British Columbia interior have beckoned Craig and his family, and they heard the call. In the summer of 2008 they moved to Nelson on the edge of the deep and mysterious Kootenay Lake. Craig continues to spin a great combination of old and new bluegrass on Thursday nights, and returns often to the province of his birth to play music and visit friends, and to hang out with his CKUA extended family.

On those times when he's not on the road or in the studio, or being tied up and tickled into submission by his 2 lovely daughters, Ella and Amy, a large part of Craig's world revolves around those afore mentioned fine vintage fretted instruments. When not talking about them, playing them or dreaming of them, he buys and sells them. Well, mostly buys....

myspace.com/craigkorthmusic
widowmakerbluegrass.com