Sep 15 2010
About
I was born in Sulpher Springs, Texas into a music loving family. I grew up listening to radio and live jamborees, produced by my Dad, Lou Erck, a popular DJ on KSST Radio in Sulpher Springs and later on KRAE in Cheyenne, Wyo. and later on KHAP in Aztec, NM and later on KGMY in Missoula, Montana.  My musical roots were stimulated at an early age in the pews of the Sourthern Baptist church where I learned to sing harmonies with the church choir and with my siblings who all sing. I studied piano throughout grade school and high school and sang in choirs and vocal ensembles in high school and college. After high school, music took a back seat to marriage, kids and career.
My “day job” career took me in New England where in the 90′s I started attending bluegrass festivals and eventually got my first Dobro, a Regal. This was the beginning of a fun journey pursuing music as a hobby and semi-professionally. In 1998 I formed the band Blue Angel with Victoria (Ginty) Hawkes and we recorded the album Dance a Little Closer. In 2002 I returned to Montana and formed the acoustic duo Ramblin’ Rose with Curtis Rathburn. We recorded the EP Ramblin’ Rose Bluegrass. In 2009, I started picking the piano back up in hopes of playing in my band setting. In 2010 I joined the band Hot House Tomatoes. In 2011 I formed a rock band River Rock and a bluegrass band Alley Cats. I currently actively performs with all of these bands as well as with the bluegrass band Blue to the Bone in Missoula, Montana.
I’m currently serve as the President of the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association and hostess a winter bluegrass jam series 2nd Saturday’s Jan-Mar at Ruby’s Inn & Convention Center, in Missoula, MT and produce the concert series Ruby Jewel Jamboree.