Artist Bios
Jerusalem Ridge
The Band
Hailed by some as modern-day Canadian bluegrass pioneers,
Edmonton-based Jerusalem Ridge take its band name from the
western Kentucky birthplace of Bill Monroe, considered the
“Father of Bluegrass music.” It’s been a grand old ride for the
Alberta bluegrass quartet who over the past 17 years has served
up seven albums, Canada’s first bluegrass video single, and a
brand new, ground-breaking bluegrass-goes-to-the-symphony show
entitled “Fire on the Mountain: A Bluegrass Music Experience!”
on its way to becoming one of the longest serving and most
successful bluegrass units in the country.
Formed in 1989, band members quickly discovered they had the
bluegrass “X factor” to win over fans with their stellar
instrumental proficiency mixed with a genuine gift for
entertaining. Within a couple of summers on the western Canadian
folk festival circuit, and following the 1991 airing of their
video single North Wind on CBC-TV’s Country Beat, MuchMusic and
CMT, as well as a string of appearances on CBC Radio with
Morningside host Peter Gzowski and Vinyl Café yarn-spinner
Stuart McLean, Jerusalem Ridge found itself at the top of the
bluegrass community in Canada.
In addition to numerous appearances on TV and radio, the
award-winning recording group has performed at many popular
North American bluegrass and folk music events, performing or
sharing the workshop stage with such artists as Del McCoury,
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, The
Fairfield Four, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Chris Thile &
Nickel Creek, Tim O’Brien, Laurie Lewis, Peter Rowan, Jerry
Douglas and more.
The band’s sixth album, Together, recorded in 2001 with
California dobro great LeRoy Mack, netted the CD an early ballot
nomination for “Recorded Event of the Year” at the annual
International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards in
Louisville, KY.
In January 2006, Jerusalem Ridge embarked on an entirely new
direction in a unique, ground-breaking
bluegrass-goes-to-they-symphony program entitled “Fire on the
Mountain: A Bluegrass Music Experience!” The program had its
debut Jan. 17 with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and will
tour Canada beginning in Fall 2006.
Individual Performer Biographies
Craig Korth (Banjo, Dobro, Vocals)
Craig Korth picked up the banjo at age 12 after his mother
saw an episode of TV’s 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. But Craig, a Western Canadian Banjo
and Guitar Champion, is also a busy musician. He has performed
for the past 16 years with Jerusalem Ridge and is a
much-sought-after session player and producer in and around
Alberta.
Craig’s other musical credits include performing and touring
with his wife, songwriter Julie Kerr, as well as The Bills,
David Francey, Maria Dunn, Billy Cowsill, Ronnie Hayward, and
Tom Phillips and the Men of Constant Sorrow. Korth released his
first solo album, Bankview, in 2002 to critical acclaim.
An avid and knowledgeable collector of vintage bluegrass
instruments, he's also the host of Fire on the Mountain, a
weekly bluegrass program broadcast province-wide on Alberta’s
CKUA Radio. Korth is also a contributing editor and columnist
for Bluegrass North magazine, the voice of the Canadian
bluegrass scene.
He resides in Calgary, where these days he's perfectly happy
spending time with his wife and their two young daughters, Ella
and Amy.
Byron Myhre (Fiddle, Mandolin, Vocals)
Son of Alfie Myhre, western Canadian old-time fiddle legend,
Byron Myhre grew up competing in old-time fiddle competitions
and has become a nationally recognized, award-winning performer
in his own right.
Adept at a variety of musical styles, Myhre is a ferocious
bluegrass fiddler who has appeared on record and on stage in
North America and Europe with Jerusalem Ridge, John Reischman &
The Jaybirds, Keb Mo, Craig Young, the Craig Korth-Julie Kerr
Band, Tammy Fassaert, Maria Dunn, and others since he first
joined Jerusalem Ridge in 1994. Myhre is equally talented on
mandolin and guitar.
When he’s not playing music, Byron operates his own Edmonton
music store (Myhre’s Music) specializing in acoustic and
bluegrass instruments. Byron, his wife Kim, and their four
children reside in Sherwood Park, Alberta.
Joe Teichroeb (Guitar, Vocals)
Jerusalem Ridge’s newest member is guitarist/vocalist Joe
“Smokin’ Joe” Teichroeb (pronounced “Tike-robe”). His soulful
lead vocals contribute the band's driving style. Joe’s deft
guitar work is featured prominently at live shows and often
brings rousing applause from audiences.
Writes Bluegrass Now magazine: "He is an excellent (Tony)
Rice-influenced player whose resonating vocal style shines on
several numbers."
Joe performed with Manitoba’s highly successful Dry River
Boys for 11 years prior to joining Jerusalem Ridge in early
2005. The Boys were featured on TV’s Bravo Channel and over the
bluegrass radio airwaves, recorded four albums and toured Canada
extensively, winning a loyal following from coast to coast.
Joe and his wife Jaime live in Winkler, Manitoba – the heart
of southern Manitoba’s Mennonite community.
Keith Burgess (Upright Bass, Vocals)
Upright bassist and vocalist Keith Burgess, a 27-year veteran
of bluegrass and roots music, has performed with a variety of
bluegrass and folk artists, including Jerusalem Ridge, Del
McCoury, LeRoy Mack, Restless Lester, Tom Wilson and more.
An experienced musician, booking agent, producer, instructor,
journalist and author, Keith is a former Acoustic Musician
columnist, Bluegrass Canada Magazine advisory board member, and
author of a self-help manual for musicians, entitled
Establishing Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Performing Roots Music
in Canada.
Keith resides in Edmonton with his boisterous and active
family menagerie: wife Bev, teenage son Peter, daughter Sarah
and son-in-law Tim, Harley the Dog, and Sam the Guinea Pig.
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