Host Lena Dorey
Lena grew up in a small town and on a farm in rural southern Michigan, but has resided above the 45th for the last 16 years. Studies in video production and anthropology 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!
John Davey, Singer-Songwriter
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From Indiana’s Wabash River Valley to Music City, Nashville, Tennessee to the wilds of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, John Davey has been on the move during the last couple of years. The words and melodies of Middle-America follow this singer-songwriter everywhere.
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Watch John performing "Cabin in the Pines" by Billy Hill in Episode 9 of the Red Jacket Jamboree.
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Mean Mary
Mean Mary (Above) performing at the Red Jacket Jamboree
accompanied by the Copper Cats (Carrie Biolo and Harry South) |
''Mean Mary' James, a Florida native now based in Nashville, began life as a musical prodigy—could read music before she could read words and co-wrote songs at age five. By age seven she was proficient on the guitar, banjo, & violin, and entertained audiences across the US with her vocal and instrumental skills.
Her life has been one long road show interspersed with TV, radio, and film. She has performed more than 500 live TV shows and over 4,000 road shows—including national festivals, fairs, cruises, colleges, theatres, clubs and house concerts. |
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Watch Mary perform a tune from her latest CD- Blazing - a tune she performed live on the show!
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The Copper Cats
The RJJ House band responsible for the extraordinary music at show! The band performs original music, period music, jazz standards and other selections from the Great American Songbook. They're also responsible for musical accompaniment for our sketches and readings. They're at EVERY show and they don't disappoint! These exceptional musicians are listed below.
Jerry Younce - guitar (RJJ- Music Director)
Younce, a professional guitarist, has performed Jazz, Rock, Top 40, and Country music in show bands and various musical groups during his 30+ year career as a musician. When not performing at The Red Jacket Jamboree, he performs with his son in Younce Guitar Duo, an acoustic improvisational collaboration inspired by jazz, fusion, and world music. Born and raised in Detroit, he started his professional career performing in Jazz bands around the city. He has called northern Michigan home for the past 30 years. View video of Younce Guitar Duo.
Carrie Biolo – Percussion
Fifth generation Marquette native, Carrie Biolo, currently tours as the percussionist with the legendary Wayne Newton. Biolo performs on timpani, mallets, congas, bongos and accessories, providing a charismatic rhythmic backdrop to Newton’s classic Vegas style show. A world-class percussionist who 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.
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 South began performing music in Flint, MI at the age of 14. After a few years of playing electric bass in rock bands his ear was drawn to the sound of the upright bass. Upon arriving in Marquette, MI in 2007 he began study upright bass in earnest. Harry enrolled in the music education program at Northern Michigan University and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2013. In college he studied classical styles and supplemented his income by playing gigs and teaching music lessons. Harry student taught under esteemed orchestra director, Janis Peterson, and remains involved in Marquette's orchestras. He has a successful private lesson studio and directs an after school strings program for 4th and 5th graders in the Marquette public schools. Harry has maintained several weekly gigs since 2013 and frequently plays with singer/songwriter, Michael Waite. Harry's future plans are to continuing honing his teaching and playing skills in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula.
Jerry Younce - guitar (RJJ- Music Director)
Younce, a professional guitarist, has performed Jazz, Rock, Top 40, and Country music in show bands and various musical groups during his 30+ year career as a musician. When not performing at The Red Jacket Jamboree, he performs with his son in Younce Guitar Duo, an acoustic improvisational collaboration inspired by jazz, fusion, and world music. Born and raised in Detroit, he started his professional career performing in Jazz bands around the city. He has called northern Michigan home for the past 30 years. View video of Younce Guitar Duo.
Carrie Biolo – Percussion
Fifth generation Marquette native, Carrie Biolo, currently tours as the percussionist with the legendary Wayne Newton. Biolo performs on timpani, mallets, congas, bongos and accessories, providing a charismatic rhythmic backdrop to Newton’s classic Vegas style show. A world-class percussionist who 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.
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 South began performing music in Flint, MI at the age of 14. After a few years of playing electric bass in rock bands his ear was drawn to the sound of the upright bass. Upon arriving in Marquette, MI in 2007 he began study upright bass in earnest. Harry enrolled in the music education program at Northern Michigan University and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2013. In college he studied classical styles and supplemented his income by playing gigs and teaching music lessons. Harry student taught under esteemed orchestra director, Janis Peterson, and remains involved in Marquette's orchestras. He has a successful private lesson studio and directs an after school strings program for 4th and 5th graders in the Marquette public schools. Harry has maintained several weekly gigs since 2013 and frequently plays with singer/songwriter, Michael Waite. Harry's future plans are to continuing honing his teaching and playing skills in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula.
Martin Achatz- Poet Laureate of the U.P.
Martin 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.
In addition to sharing his personal poetry and essays, Martin performs numerous roles in our sketches.
Martin 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.
In addition to sharing his personal poetry and essays, Martin performs numerous roles in our sketches.
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" and is the lovable dispatch man in "911 in the 906".
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" and is the lovable dispatch man in "911 in the 906".
