whoswho

Who's Who & Our Story

Charlie Laughridge (on fiddle, harmonica, mandolin & concertina) operates a business in rural Council Grove. He played and toured with the band Firewater for 10 years, and played on the soundtrack of the movie Through Martha's Eyes. He is interested in the American West and is an active member of the Kaw Mission. Charlie's antics always add to performances.

Loren Ratzloff (on banjo, dobro & mandolin) is a full-time farmer-stockman from Canton. He enjoys historic re-enactments, portrays Abraham Lincoln at local festivals and school events, and won the 2008 Lincoln Days Lookalike contest. He is building his own log cabin from native timber. Loren also plays with the gospel group Black Kettle.

Carl Reed (on bass and guitar) lives in Manhattan and worked in the international programs of KSU Grain Science for nearly 30 years. He now has his own grain scouting company in Buhler. He learned guitar while in the Peace Corps and bought a bass 15 years ago for bluegrass jams. Carl has written songs recorded by groups such as Special Consensus and Continental Divide.

Annie Wilson (on guitar) is a teacher, mother of three, and helps her husband on their Flint Hills ranch in Chase County. She has managed a rancher-owned grassfed beef coop and been active in conservation issues. Annie frequently plays at the Friday night Emma Chase Cafe jams in Cottonwood Falls, and enjoys writing poetry and songs about the Flint Hills.

Friday night Jam Session on a summer evening, Emma Chase Cafe, Cottonwood Falls

Our Story & Our Thanks

Tallgrass Express String Band began playing together in 2004. Charlie, Loren and Annie were founding members, and they have been delighted to gain the talents of Carl Reed as of fall 2009. Carl adds not only his terrific bass and guitar, but also a beautiful voice and wonderful instincts on song arrangements. Other founders and former members include our talented friends Derrick Doty of Council Grove and Gary Rinehart of Topeka. We also played early on with the late Gary Hughes of Wichita who was a great influence.

We met primarily through the renowned Friday night jam sessions at the Emma Chase Cafe in Cottonwood Falls, and related activities. We are forever grateful to Monty & Sue Smith of the Emma for bringing so much music into our lives. Their sponsorship of these delightful, fun-packed evenings and other events such as Second Saturday concerts, helps build community and fellowship. We are thankful also to their best-in-the-world audiences who help give experience and confidence to developing players. We are thankful to Sue & Monty for sponsoring debut concerts of our CDs.

We recorded our first CD Music of the Emma Chase in 2005 with the encouragement and support of Julia Ryan and Kerry Ahlstrom of Council Grove, as well as Monty and Sue Smith. On our 2007 CD Tallgrass Express Comes Back, we were so fortunate to have the immense talent of Carole Brown on bass, and again the amazing graphic design skill of Julia Ryan. Our own Charlie did the original watercolor painting of us in the stagecoach on the cover. Both of these CDs included some original songs by members Derrick Doty, Annie Wilson, and Charlie Laughridge. Our most recent CD, 2010 Clean Curve of Hill Against Sky: Songs of the Kansas Flint Hills, is an entirely original album, and the first we know of to be focused entirely on themes of the Kansas Flint Hills. It also includes a booklet with photos and background on the songs, designed once again by the phenomenal Julia Ryan. (Also see Section: Music Samples and CDs)

We are so lucky to have the generous support of our friends and community in pursuing our musical efforts, and we hope we can give back to them at least half the fun we are having when we play!