Album Notes

The Lost Lake Effect music group discovered their name right in their own front yard. The couples reside on Lost Lake, a small inland lake located in Michigan's Hiawatha National Forest - an area that is known for its "lake effect" weather. They joined forces in friendship and then later in their love of music. Ken’s early music interests included piano and guitar. Later he added the autoharp to the list of his achievements. Chelle, also an accomplished pianist, began an interest in the mountain dulcimer. It was Ken and Chelle's participation in a workshop for dulcimers and autoharps that they began to realize how well their instruments blended together. The workshop gave them their first opportunity to play with other musicians. They then decided it would be fun to have their banjo picking neighbor join their music sessions. Marilyn played guitar some years earlier and was now seriously committed to her new love – the 5 string banjo. Thus, Lost Lake Effect was born.

The group lacked a bass line so Barney was encouraged to step in. He joined the group playing a “gutbucket bass” he made out of a pickle bucket, conduit and some weed-whacker line. It wasn’t long before he was ready to move up to the challenge of an upright string bass. Later, Chelle added the hammered dulcimer to her credits, and Mar, the banjola, mandolin and ukulele.

In 2003, the band recorded their first CD entitled, Nail That Catfish, a collection of 16 traditional and contemporary tunes. A second CD entitled U.P. North was released in August of 2005. U.P. North celebrates the flavor of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan featuring several Finnish tunes and an original tune, The East Channel Light, written by Rochelle Schuster as a tribute to the people in the Munising area responsible for saving the East Channel Lighthouse. The spirit of the UP is also reflected in Rochelle’s “Up North” lyrics to the traditional tune, Down Yonder.

The couples played and traveled together for seven years, playing locally and at music festivals at home, in neighboring states and also several southern states. Currently, due to illness, Ken is unable to play with the band but remains a strong supporter.

Lost Lake Effect enjoys playing a variety of traditional music including folk, bluegrass and old-time fiddle tunes.