Submitted article
The Crawford County Community Concert Association brings the DePue Brothers Band to North Central Ohio for this season’s Christmas Show. “Grassical,” coined by the DePue Brothers, is a combination of bluegrass and classical music, with elements of jazz, blues and rock included.
The core of the DePue Brothers Band is made up of four siblings – Alex, Wallace, Jason, and Zach. All are classically trained, very successful musicians in their own right. Alex is a classical violinist as well as a rocker and an award-winning fiddler who has toured with county star Chris Cagle, rock legend Steve Vai, and Mexican guitarist Miguel DeHoyos. Wallace is also a classical violinist with a degree in performance from the University of Texas-Austin, was assistant principal with the Austin Lyric Opera, toured as associate concertmaster with John Williams’ Star Wars National Tour Orchestra, has performed as an extra with The Philadelphia Orchestra and is presently assistant concertmaster of the Philly Pops. Jason is a member of the first violin section of The Philadelphia Orchestra, former concertmaster of the New York String Seminar and acclaimed recitalist. Zach was once a first violinist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, is currently concertmaster for the Indianapolis Symphony, and is a founding member of the garage band/classical trio – and Crossover favorite – known as the Time for Three.
These violinist brothers encompass a vivid blend of several American fiddling styles such as bluegrass, old-time and Texas Swing, along with classical, jazz, folk, American country and rock genres.
From their beginning as a musical family group, they have been making music together for over 25 years. They were named “American Musical Family of the Year” in 1989 by presidential decree, awarded by President George H. Bush, Sr. They were also featured in the 2005 documentary “Music From the Inside Out.” The first DePue Brothers CD, “Classical Grass,” was recorded on Music Row in Nashville, TN in 2003 and sold out of its first printing in less than three months. The band’s most recent CD, “Weapons of Grass Construction,” was released in 2010.
Alex, Wallace, Jason, and Zach DePue are joined by the principal timpanist/percussionist of the Philadelphia Orchastra, Don Liuzzi; 1995 national flat-picking guitar champion, Mark Cosgrove; legendary banjoist Mike Munford; and long-time Philadelphia jazz bassist Kevin MacConnell. This eclectic line-up makes the DePue Brothers one of the most breathtaking, diverse musical groups in the United States today.
Seats are still available for this exciting show at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the Bucyrus Elementary School Auditorium, 245 Woodlawn Ave., Bucyrus. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A “taste” of this program is available on-line at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENxo_5tkN-U.
For additional information on these shows and ticket information go to the Concert Association website at www.crawcocommconcert.com or call Barb at 419 562-3244.