Bios
Wild Rose Xpress will tantalize your bluegrass taste buds with the fervor of rolling banjo licks and Monroe style mandolin picking. From haunting ballads to old time fiddle tunes; this Calgary based band emanates their love to play music together.
Steeped in traditional bluegrass, this fun loving group features:
Sandy Hirth, guitar, lead and harmony vocal,
Karl Lingwood, banjo, dobro and harmony vocals
Tim Babey, mandolin and harmony vocals
Randy Jones, fiddle and harmony vocals
Morgan Luchinski, bass and harmony vocals
Sandy was born in Sussex, New Brunswick and was raised in a musical family, influenced by traditional songs of Atlantic Canada along with old time country & Bluegrass music. Sandy's love for singing started at a young age when she sang harmony with her sister at family gatherings, coffee houses and Country & Western Jamborees. Sandy left the Maritimes and moved to Calgary to work in the "oil patch" and continues to work in this industry as a Technologist. Throughout the years she has continued to pursue her passion for music by singing in various groups throughout the Calgary area. Her enthusiasm for Bluegrass music was rekindled when she joined the Foothills Bluegrass Music Society and decided to form a bluegrass band. Although small in stature, Sandy has a big beautiful voice that radiates her love for music.
Sandy's husband, Norbert, not only supports her musical quest but shares her passion for music, as he writes songs, plays accordion and dabbles on the banjo. Just recently Sandy & Norbert have been writing songs together and Sandy hopes to be sharing some of these songs in the near future.
Sandy Hirth
Karl Lingwood
Karl started early in music at age 6 with woodwinds, and was classically trained in Youth Orchestra and Concert bands throughout his teens. He also played in Jazz and Dixieland bands hoping to pursue a career as a high school band teacher. Things went slightly off the track when he decided to become a pilot, changing his career direction for the next 28 years. On a charter flight to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and a visit to a music store, he bought his first banjo. He is now what we call a "banjoholic" as he currently owns a total of 6 banjos but he says knowing the problem is the first step. Karl has been playing bluegrass music for the past 10 years but when you hear his rolls and licks, you would think he has played banjo all his life!
Karl is supported in his musical endeavors by his wonderful and musical family, wife Marie and daughters Amanda, Elyssa and Katherine.
Tim came from Ontario to Calgary on a quest to find the mountains. He met some good friends that took him down the sordid path of bluegrass music. He started to play guitar at an early age and then switched to mandolin. Tim is a songwriter and one of his orginal tunes I Ain't Done Walkin' can be heard on our new CD, Wid Rose .
Tim performed extensively with a bluegrass group called Osprey, honing his creative talents and working on his chops. His influences include the White Brothers, Doc Bellows, the Dillards, and oddly enough, a bunch of disco loving Travoltas from the 70's.
Tim works in the culinary field, but looks forward to the day when he can play music full time.
Tim's new wife, Deborah and his new family all support Tim's love of music.
Tim Babey
Randy Jones
Randy was raised in Tofield, Alberta and has played fiddle since the age of 9. He grew up in a musical family with his Dad on the fiddle and brother playing guitar and banjo. Randy first began playing fiddle in a band at the age of 13 and has been actively involved in bands ever since.
Randy has taught at fiddle camps in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan and has hosted many Jamborees and is often asked to judge contests. He has been actively involved in the Alberta Society of Fiddlers since its inception in 1990, promoting the preservation of fiddle music in Alberta. Randy currently is coaching two groups of Bow Valley Fiddlers along with his wife Barb.
Morgan Luchinski
Morgan was born in Saskatoon into a very musical family and began playing guitar at the age of 12. His Dad plays guitar and his Mom sing and plays the piano, a brother plays drums, keyboards and guitar and his sister also plays the piano. Out of necessity to form a band with some friends, Morgan learned to play the bass. Now Morgan teaches students how to play bass as well as guitar.
Morgan has played various genres of music from jazz to rock ‘n roll and was eager to try playing bluegrass music. He brings to Wild Rose Xpress a vast knowledge of music and has also helped to drop the average age of the band considerably! Morgan is currently learning the art of making stringed instruments and has his sights on becoming a luthier.
