Episodes #5 and  #6

Featured Vocalist - Peg Carrothers

​Peg Carrothers was born and raised in "Nordeast" Minneapolis. Her musical training began as a young child, learning songs from the family for every season and occasion, singing in church, and harmonizing out the window with her mother whenever a rainstorm was brewing.  

​Her love for song and a music scholarship led her to pursue a music degree at St Catherine’s College and finish up at the University of Minnesota, studying in the classical opera tradition before vocal jazz was a developed curriculum.  It was during these early college years that she met Bill Carrothers, who suggested Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday for her thirsty young jazz ears. Turning to the jazz community, she built a standard repertoire, performing in local venues with many talented musicians. Along with Bill Carrothers she's shared the stage with Dean Magraw, Chris Bates, Jay Epstein, Jacqueline Ferrier-Ultan, Adam Linz, and others and is featured on cellist Matt Turner's CD, "The Voices That Are Gone" (Illusions). ​

Bill Carrothers - piano
A native Minnesotan, Carrothers now makes his home in Michigan's Copper Country. He is an acclaimed jazz pianist and composer who has been featured in top ten lists published by Jazz Magazine, Le Monde, and JAZZIZ Magazine. Down Beat called him "a probing, intelligent player" with "a beautiful touch and a wide stylistic range" who "never sounds less than a musician who thinks on his feet and channels emotions freely." ​Carrothers was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for Jazz in 2004 and was nominated for the Les Victoires du Jazz (French Grammy Award equivalent) in 2005 and 2011. When not performing, Carrothers is a lecturer of music at Lawrence University (bio)

Harry South - bass
Harry graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2013 from Northern Michigan University  with a degree in Music Education. He teaches for the Negaunee School System and is an active player in Marquette's orchestras. 

 (Carrie Biolo – Percussion 
Fifth generation Marquette native, Carrie Biolo brings highly experimental sound, rhythm and movement into her work, Biolo has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Japan.  She has recorded over 25 CD’s and her music compositions can be heard on Ira Glass’ This American Life, and Chicago and Boston Public Radio. Biolo teaches World Music at Northern Michigan University, is the Band Assistant at Marquette Senior High School, facilitates a bi-monthly drum circle with members of Lake Superior Hospice’s Adult Day Services and is the founder of the Percussive Attack Camp in Marquette. ​

Martin Achatz- Poet Laureate of the U.P.

Marty grew up in and currently resides in Ishpeming, Michigan.  He attended Northern Michigan University, where he received a BA in English.  He also holds a Master’s Degree in Fiction and an MFA in Poetry from NMU.  He has taught at Western Michigan University and is currently a Contingent Professor in the English Department at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, where he has served as Poetry Editor of Passages North.  His work has appeared in Kennesaw Review, The Paterson Literary Review, The MacGuffin, and Dunes Review, among others.   He has twice been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and he was awarded third place in the William J. Shaw Memorial Prize for Poetry.  Martin is also a musician, and has a CD of Christmas essays with music by Linda Smith and Seamus Collins.  Martin was selected as the 2017-1018 Poet Laureate of the Upper Peninsula in February of 2017.

Red Jacket Radio Actors

Ruby Birkelbaw
From St. Paul, Minnesota, Ruby is a freshman at Michigan Tech studying engineering.  Throughout her middle school and high school years, Ruby was active in school and community theater.  Ruby performs the roles of Mada'am LaBlanc, Molly and sings the Vollwerth's jingle during the show. 

Ralph Horvath
Ralph is an Emeritus Professor in the Electrical Engineering - Computer Engineering Department at Michigan Tech. Since his retirement, Ralph has volunteered for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly and for RSVP in Hancock.  He has acted in about 40 local theater productions.  He performs the roles of several characters in the sketches, "Mada'am LaBlanc" and "Some Place on Fifth" ​

Host - Lena Dorey

Lena grew up in a small town and farm in rural southern Michigan but has resided above the 45th for the last 16 years.  She studied anthropology and video production which led to a career as a documentary producer. She enjoys sharing stories through a variety of mediums including paintings, films, songs and literary arts.  She looks forward to helping to bring storytellers of all ages and backgrounds to the stage at The Red Jacket Jamboree.  Maybe you!