The Hard Travelers: Kenn Roberts, John Glik, Ira Gitlin, Mack Bailey, Mike Munford

New member Marc MacGlashen often joins the Hard Travelers for concerts:

(Click on thumbnail photos for larger, higher resolution versions)

 Kenn Roberts (Lead Vocals):

Kenn is the only remaining original member of The Hard Travelers, a group he founded in the late 1950's at the University of Maryland.  After a long hiatus from the group, during which time he was a real estate developer in Montgomery County, Maryland, he brought the original guys back together for a reunion concert;  the party has continued for another twenty years.  Kenn is founder of the MUSE Foundation, whose purpose is to share the love and power of music as a conduit to raise funds and public awareness for worthwhile charitable causes.  The Foundation produces concerts, directing all proceeds to the chosen charity and has raised in excess of $8 million dollars for various worthy causes.  Kenn co-produces with Kris O'Connor the annual John Denver tribute concerts at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen each October which benefits Challenge Aspen.  Kenn recently received an Award from Governor Ehrlich of Maryland.

Mack Bailey (Lead vocals and guitar):

Well, this is hosted by Mack's website, so take a look at more:  www.mackbailey.com   But, briefly, you can tell a lot about singer / songwriter Mack Bailey by the musical company he keeps - Mary Chapin Carpenter sang on his first album which was produced by Bill Danoff or "Country Roads" and "Afternoon Delight" fame.  Mack is a singer/songwriter who is gaining an ever-larger audience with his strong, expressive classically trained voice, with an impressive range and pure clean quality.  He writes sensitive original songs that express the deepest of human emotion, social conscience, and lighthearted fun.   In concerts, he touches the listener's heart and tickles their funny bone.   As a member of The Hard Travelers, Mack has sung with dozens of folk and country stars. 

Mike Munford (banjo, guitar and backup vocals):

Mike was voted "best banjo player" by Baltimore City Paper.  Born in St. Louis and raised in Baltimore, Mike started playing banjo at age 15.  Two years later he joined his first bluegrass band, Windy Ridge, and played every Thursday night at the Cub Hill Inn in Baltimore for seven years.  A professional bluegrass musician since 1976, Mike spent many years of experience developing his craft.  His fluid style, both tasteful and driving, allows him to easily blend traditional and contemporary influences into his music. 

Mike's distinctive banjo stylings can be heard on such notable recordings as Peter Rowan's Grammy-nominated "Bluegrass Boy", and Larry Rice's "Notions and Daydreams," among others, as well as more recent projects by the Mark Newton Band and a musical segment on the TV show "Americas Most Wanted".  Additionally, Mike has toured throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe with numerous prominent local and regional bands as well as nationally known acts such as the Lynn Morris Band, The Tony Rice Unit, The Rice Brothers and Peter Rowan.  He is also a member of regional bands "Line Drive,"  "The Dede Wyland Band," the "Mark Newton Band" and Bob Perilla's "Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band."  With The Hard Travelers, Mike had the honor of performing "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" with John Denver in Baltimore, which was to be one of John's last shows.

In addition to a busy musical performing career, Mike also does string instrument repair, specializing in banjo and guitar setup and restoration.  He teaches banjo at Baltimore Bluegrass, Inc., where he serves as vice-president and general manager.  "It's like a second home; if I didn't work here I'd probably be hanging around the store anyway."  Mike's hobbies include biking, hiking, railroad history, beach trips and jamming 'till all hours at festivals. 

Ira Gitlin (Bass, banjo and some vocals):

Ira plays guitar, banjo, and bass and is an accomplished composer and arranger.  Since 1986, when he moved to Maryland from his native New York City, Ira has become widely known and respected in Washington - Baltimore bluegrass, folk, and roots-music circles as a versatile multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and writer.   His guitar playing gets its down-to-earth drive from his long involvement in bluegrass and its sophisticated rhythms and harmonies from his interest in western swing and jazz.

Ira has a resumé that includes performances with such nationally known artists as the Johnson Mountain Boys, Peter Rowan, Bill Harrell, the Gillis Brothers, Peter "P.D.Q. Bach" Schickele, and the Pat McGee Band.   Ira's banjo, guitar, and bass work can be heard on nearly two-dozen recordings.  He has written about bluegrass-related topics for several national publications, frequently contributing to Bluegrass Unlimited and Banjo Newsletter.  Ira has taught in workshops at Common Ground, the Maryland Banjo Academy, Winterhawk, and the Gettysburg Bluegrass Comporee.  Today, Ira continues as music instructor of many instruments, particularly bluegrass banjo, at the Musical House of Traditions in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Ira is a sought-after freelancer and can be seen performing frequently singing and performing bass with the Oklahoma Twisters, a DC area western swing band.  He also performs with The Urban Legends, the Blue Moon Cowgirls, The Hard Travelers, Ty Braddock and the Branded Med.   In 1992, Ira won the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas.  Among his other trophies are two Washington Area Music Association awards (1999 and 2000).  A graduate of Swarthmore, Ira was a one-day winner on the television show Jeopardy in 1993.  See Ira's Other Website.

Watch a solo performance of Ira with friends at the Kennedy Center.  Learn to play banjo with Ira, online.

Ira Gitlin ~ Bass
Ira from Takoma Park Maryland is an all-round musician. I don’t know anybody who can learn complex tunes faster than Ira. Incidentally, Ira is also a former winner of the Winfield, Kansas National Championship Banjo contest and was a winner on TV’s Jeopardy show several years ago. He’s also a frequent contributor to several bluegrass publications. Come to think of it, I should have gotten him to write these liner notes.

Jon Glik (fiddle):

Amazing audiences around the world for over 3 decades!  When you're putting on a show and you're looking for a hot fiddle player, Jon Glik is the man to call.  Jon or "Baltimore Jonny as he is sometimes known as, has played with some of the best country bluegrass groups in the country and performed with Del McCoury and David Grisman.  You can hear him regularly on the "basement tapes" on MPR.  If you attend any bluegrass festival in and around the Baltimore-Washington Area, you will see Jon Glik often.  He currently plays with not only The Hard Travelers, but also with the dance company Footworks and Mike Auldridges's Good  Deale Blue Grass Band.  With the Hard Travelers, he had the honor of performing the all-important fiddle part in "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" for John Denver in Baltimore which was to be one of John's last shows.  See Jon's Other Website.  

Jon is a world renowned fiddler He has performed or recorded with Del McCoury to David Grisman, Peter Rowan,Dukes of Bluegrass, Frank Wakefield, Dan Paisley, Dave Evans, Mack Bailey and the Hard Travelers, The Dance company Footworks, The Good Deale Bluegrass Band feat. Mike Auldridge and The Eastman String Band.  His fiddle playing can be heard regularly on NPR and XM radio

Marc MacGlashan (mandolin, fiddle):

Marc is another of those multi-instrumentalists that many of us envy. Blessed with a tremendous amount of talent, Marc is featured here primarily as a mandolin player whose solos reflect his remarkable imagination and taste. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Marc is a resident of Arnold, Maryland, having spent some years living and recording in Nashville, Tennessee. He has played in several local groups, including his family band from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the MacGlashan Brothers.  Other groups or artists with whom Marc has played include:  Ray Hesson, Good Deale Bluegrass Band, and The Gibson Brothers..

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