Blue Moon Cowgirls

About the Artist

Ann Porcella’s musical tastes gravitate toward the gospel music she learned at home from her preacher father and very large musical family. Her voice adapts well to many different styles, though harmony singing is her first love. She has performed solo and with a variety of ensembles at folk venues around the country, including the Augusta concerts and Folk on Broadway. Dana Ward, a native of North Carolina, has never strayed far from bluegrass and early country music. An award-winning singer, she traveled the Southeast with duet partner Bob Kogut performing in concerts and at bluegrass, folk, and old-time music festivals. Karin Collins, a coal miner’s daughter from Southwest Virginia, grew up listening to country music. Currently she is a fiddler and vocalist with the Washington area’s Cajun band, Squeeze Bayou. She has been involved in various types of traditional music for many years and has played and sung in bluegrass, old-time Appalachian, and early country music groups. Ira Gitlin’s 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. A WAMMIE Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and former National Bluegrass Banjo Champion, Ira is in demand as a sideman and music instructor. He can also be heard locally with the Urban Legends, the Oklahoma Twisters, and Bill Harrell and the Virginians.