Biography

Although it plays old-time traditional music that sounds like it could come from the 1930s or earlier, the Foghorn Stringband is made up of five men who grew up listening to rock. Nevertheless, they were attracted to Appalachian folk music and traditional country, and took up instruments to play it. They began encountering each other at the National Fiddle Championships in Weiser, ID, and in 2000 formed the first version of the band, which they dubbed Foghorn Leghorn. It featured Stephen "Sammy" Lind on fiddle and harmony vocals, the Reverend P.T. Grover, Jr., on banjo, Caleb Klauder on mandolin and harmony vocals, Brian Bagdonas on bass, and a fifth member who later dropped out and was replaced by lead singer and rhythm guitarist Kevin Sandri. They based themselves in Portland, OR. Changing their name to the Foghorn Stringband, the group recorded its first album, Rattlesnake Tidal Wave, in September 2002 and self-released it on their Foghorn Music label in June 2003. Reap What You Sow followed in August 2004, and in August 2005 the group was picked up by the Nettwerk America label for their third album, Weiser Sunrise. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi