Bruce Rupert (mandolin, vocals)

       Growing up in eastern Pennsylvania, Bruce Rupert comes from a musical family.  His mother studied opera, his father was an accomplished cornet player, and his great grandfather was an old- time fiddler.  On any given Sunday afternoon, one might hear anything from Johnny Cash, Peter Paul and Mary, Sousa march tunes or Handel’s Messiah coming from the family stereo.  At an early age, Bruce discovered songwriters like Bob Dylan and Harry Chapin, and was later influenced by songwriters like Robin & Linda Williams and Andy M Stewart. He first heard

Bluegrass and old-time music while in his early teens, and soon learned to play the guitar and clawhammer banjo. Influenced by bands like the Red Clay Ramblers and The Hot Mud Family, Bruce formed his own old time string bands while in high school, and performed at local events in the Quakertown PA area. In the years that followed, Bruce was a member of the "Fresh Vegetables", a Lehigh Valley based old-time band, and played as a duet with fellow singer – songwriter Jose Pimienta-Bey while at Gettysburg College, where he polished his harmony skills.  For the past ten years Bruce has been involved in songwriting, and in performing Bluegrass music. Hearing and "experiencing" John Duffey of the "Seldom Scene" was a defining moment in his musical career. Another major influence is Tim O’Brien.  Bruce has been a member of Bluegrass bands "Willow Creek", "Richland Station" and along with Tim Scheetz was a founding member of "Mountain Heritage" in the fall of 2001.  He released a solo CD of his original material in 1999, entitled "So Far From Her" and has appeared on Willow Creek's CD "Remembering" and on Patti Davis & Bandits 2001 release "Lonely Street". He lives in Stewartsville NJ with his wife Doreen and son Daniel.

Mike Terris (banjo, dobro, vocals)

    Mike Terris was first introduced to bluegrass music when he saw Flatt and Scruggs in a live performance back in 1963.  He was attending art school at the time, studying commercial airbrush illustration, a skill he still continues to use professionally.  During art school he also began building instruments, and has continued the craft up to the present time, having constructed custom instruments for some very prominent performers.  Mike feels uniquely fortunate to have been able to support himself comfortably throughout his life by combining art, music, and luthiere.  He plays guitar, mandolin, dobro, bass, and banjo, the latter being his favorite.

Originally from West Virginia, Mike especially likes songs about coal mining and the mountains.

More information about Mike's instruments can be found at www.terrisguitarmaker.com. 

Tim Scheetz (guitar, vocals)

Born in Quakertown, Pa, Tim grew up listening to all types of music including folk, country, big band, pop, rock and jazz. He was fascinated at an early age with the hymns and other music he heard in church and credits his mother (who sings and plays piano) with getting him started with harmony vocals. Tim started playing guitar at age eight, influenced by Roger Miller, Johnny Cash, Don McClean and other artists of the 1960’s. At the age of twelve, Tim started playing alto saxophone in school and won awards in his high school jazz band competitions. After high school Tim played alto sax in various rythym & blues bands including ‘The Great Saturday Nite Swindle’.  One morning, while driving to work, Tim heard ‘Walking in Jerusalem’ played by Ricky Skaggs and was immediately turned on to acoustic music.  He then re-kindled his love for the guitar and went searching for bluegrass wherever it could be found.  Tim joined ‘Willow Creek’ in 1997 and ‘Richland Station’ in 1999 with Bruce Rupert.  Bruce, by the way, is a second cousin to Tim, growing up with each other in southeastern Pa.  Tim lives in Haycock Township, Pa with his wife Judy and sons Paul, Aaron and Isaac and daughter Katie Anne.

Dan O'Dea (fiddle)

    Dan O'Dea plays fiddle and mandolin in a wide variety of styles.  He began as classical violinist at the age of eight, and played in three orchestras for the beginning of his education.  When he went to college, Dan found that he was no longer fulfilled by the classical music, and instead wanted to play the music that he enjoyed listening to: Rock, Jazz, Blues, Funk, Latin, Irish, and ... Bluegrass!  So in the last six years he has expanded his capabilities to include these styles.  Dan has played bluegrass with Barlow, and now plays with Mountain Heritage and the Otters as well.  O'Dea is also involved in a number of other projects, including Clann Fian, an Irish trio; The Rutgers Salsa Band, an internationally touring ensemble that has played in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and is slotted to tour in Cuba and Brazil; G.L.O., a combination of acoustic and electronic dance music, and is currently starting an acoustic jazz trio in the tradition of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli.  However, when he is not involved with these side projects, his other full time band besides Mountain Heritage is a jazz/funk/world/trad fusion quartet called Beyond.  This eclectic four piece is influenced by groups like The David Grisman Quintet, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Jazz Mandolin Project, Medeski, Martin and Wood, and many more obscure groups and genres.    You can find out more about Dan at www.dansbands.com.

    Bassist for Mountain Heritage, Matt Koch is in the Witness Protection Program.  No further information is available. 

(notice the shades! He also always stands in the back of the band.  This photo was a rare sighting!)