But now Jan “became a regular practicing machine and practiced like crazy.” Before long she was jammin’ Wednesday nights at a local restaurant which hosted a weekly Celtic Music Jam. “It was good to have a place to play without being in the spotlight,” she recalls. There she met new friends with whom she meshed well. Soon they formed the five-piece Spoon River String Band which played together for a couple of years at festivals all around Texas, including the widely-touted Dickens Festival on the Strand in Galveston. When that band dissolved she, some new folks and some of the same members formed a new band called Morning Sky. “Supporting the habit with a good day job,” Jan spent several years in the mid ‘80s attending festivals all over Texas and Oklahoma. Although she loved to play, Jan did not want to make music a career “because then it becomes your work.” In 1986 she became a founding board member of the Bay Area Bluegrass Association (BABA) which, similar to BRAS, hosted open stages every third Saturday. Jan’s expertise in sales and marketing was a welcome addition to that organization.

Not one to gather moss, Jan transferred to Colorado in 1989 when her company presented an opportunity for her in Denver. She already had friends here whom she knew from various bluegrass festivals. And guess where she went first upon arrival. To a jam session, of course. Jan met Barry that same year while volunteering at the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society (CBMS) booth at the Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Festival. Their bluegrass wedding is still the talk of the family. After the ceremony the wedding guests repaired by chartered bus to a restaurant in the mountains where their friends, Mountain Standard Time, played and everyone jammed and sang and enjoyed great food for hours. They live in Franktown with their dogs Annie, a dogpound spaniel and Katy, a Brittany spaniel who loves the banjo. Jan and Barry are crazy about their dogs but their pride and joy is the Gospel Jamboree and Pie Supper which benefits the homeless shelter at the First Baptist Church in Denver. It began as a chili supper and gospel jamboree but then Jan approached Village Inn which now donates the pies for the social with enough extras for the men in the shelter. Jan is particularly proud of this endeavor because the event helps the homeless shelter, provides a musical evening unlike any other in the region and introduces an entirely new audience to bluegrass music.

Producing the Gospel Jamboree put Jan in touch with many musicians in Colorado. Three of them were other women with whom she discovered she liked to pick and sing. Soon they formed Ladies’ Choice which played at first at open stages and during the breaks where their friends Mountain Standard Time were performing. Before long Ladies’ Choice was invited to play all over -- at Swallow Hill, Pueblo Bluegrass on the River, Ken Seaman’s Midwinter Bluegrass Festival and some private affairs. Jan says, “Music was a passion. You play for the love of the music and for fun and then someone gives you a check”. “But,” she adds, “some of the best gigs didn’t pay a thing.” The highlight of her musical career came when Ladies’ Choice played at RockyGrass in 1994. Friends and family came from all over to celebrate the occasion with her. It was their last concert since one band member was moving away. Jan plays stand-up bass and mandolin and is not in an official group at the moment although she “loves to jam” and picks often with friends. In fact, she learned about BRAS at jam sessions even before it was formed and has been a loyal supporter from the beginning.

Jan is Colorado Regional Representative for the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and served as President of CBMS for two years. She continues to be a steady and faithful volunteer. Last summer she and Barry went to an IBMA Festival in Holland where the “people who play bluegrass are essentially the same great people. They just play louder and faster.” During her term as CBMS President Jan approached the BRAS board suggesting a co-sponsorship of Pickin’ in the Pines with CBMS. That yearly camp-out has become a BRAS favorite. “By the way,” Jan suggests, “you can mark your 2000 calendar for August 11-13 now. Everything is set and ready to go.” Since Jan loves to see young people playing music, she couldn’t let it drop when she heard that Bonnie Raitt had donated several guitars to the Boys and Girls Club. Jan proposed a BRAS sponsorship providing music lessons for the kids and some funds for supplies. Friends from IBMA donated books and tapes and BRAS member Rob Tobiassen donated several instruments. Then she phoned a few friends and enlisted them as teachers. Last summer Jan took 10 kids from the Boys and Girls Club to the Pueblo Festival. They loved it!

Would you be surprised if I told you Jan recently changed careers again? She loves to “tinker with computers” and has been taking classes for a while now. She is interested in design and development and wants to really learn how the computer works. Eventually she plans to put the knowledge to use for web page designing and marketing. Currently she works part-time at Centura Health where she provides technical support in the Information Systems Department This position allows extra time for attending festivals and volunteering. As of April next year she will be volunteering elsewhere when she and Barry say “Aloha” to us and move into their new home overlooking the beautiful Kona Coastline on the Big Island of Hawaii. “But don’t worry,” Jan assures, “ I will be back often-- for the Midwinter Festival, Pickin’ in the Pines, Pueblo and others.” Since Barry is a pilot for United she can easily hop a plane. At all times, however, she’ll only be a click of the mouse away at jan@pinevalleymusic.com. One thing is for sure, those Hawaiians will quickly discover that pómaika’i (good fortune) has come their way. Hmmm... I wonder what great things Jan will dream up for them?

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