This band from the flat prairie land of east central Illinois has been entertaining audiences for over 20 years. We aim at the heart of the high-lonesome sound, full of foggy bottoms and smoky mountain tops. We air out three and four part harmonies on top of scintillating banjo, skirling fiddles and Monroe-style mandolin all played to the insistent rhythms of guitar and doghouse bass. From our beginning days as house band for a local production of the musical Cotton Patch Gospel, High Cotton searches out song and instrumental material to zestify your day with hard-driving, tasteful music. No emotions are neglected and a lot of the good ones are encouraged. If you need some bluegrass in your life we invite you to pick High Cotton!
Bill Blickhan plays guitar. He hails from the Monticello area and is Vice President at one of the city's banks.
Dan Defend plays banjo. His day job is engineering manager for a hi-tech company.
Emily Erickson plays mandolin, banjo and other instruments. She is a nurse at a local hospital.
Kendall and Catherine King recently joined on mandolin and fiddle.
Rick Rhodes plays bass fiddle. He has a formal music background but not enough to hurt his bluegrass. He is an insurance agent in Monticello.
All members sing lead and harmony vocals.
Bill Blickhan plays guitar. He hails from the Monticello area and is Vice President at one of the city's banks.
Dan Defend plays banjo. His day job is engineering manager for a hi-tech company.
Emily Erickson plays mandolin, banjo and other instruments. She is a nurse at a local hospital.
Kendall and Catherine King recently joined on mandolin and fiddle.
Rick Rhodes plays bass fiddle. He has a formal music background but not enough to hurt his bluegrass. He is an insurance agent in Monticello.
All members sing lead and harmony vocals.
