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The group "took off" from the very start, winning first place at the 2001 Fiddler's Convention in Westminster, MD. Ever since, Iron Ridge has been in great demand! They enjoy performing at many local--and no-so-local--shows, fairs, and festivals. Fans have enjoyed Iron Ridge performances at Arcadia (MD) Fire Company's popular bluegrass festivals and indoor concerts, at the famous Lucketts Community Center in Virginia, and at schools, parks, carnivals, fire companies, churches, and clubs far and wide. Since its origin, there have been a few changes in the makeup of Iron Ridge, as seems to occur with a lot of bands over time. A couple of the boys have gone on to other endeavors. Meanwhile, Iron Ridge continues in high style....these boys have bluegrass running richly through their veins! Now the band numbers four members, all who are dedicated to preserving the old-time traditional bluegrass in the style of Bill Monroe, Dr. Ralph Stanley, and others. Most bands have only one lead singer, but with Iron Ridge everyone sings lead on different songs, so the band's "sound" offers a great variety. Check out their performance schedule and come hear for yourselves. You won't want to miss the awesome picking and fabulous three- and four-part harmonies of Iron Ridge!
Denny lives in Hanover with his wife Joyce, who can be seen manning the band's CD table at most of Iron Ridge's shows. Denny credits Joyce and daughter Stephanie with getting him back to the stage after a bout with colon cancer and undergoing chemotherapy in 2003. Since then all is well. Denny and Joyce also have two sons, living in California and Connecticut, and two grandsons--Seth and Josh--both of whom he has written songs about-...Seth's Reel and Just Joshin.
Jay was born in Carroll County, Maryland, and lives in Hampstead with his wife Diana and four children, Justin, Joey, and twins Jacob and Jeremy. Joey seems to be following in his dad's footsteps.... He picks a mean guitar, and became a full-fledged member of the group at age 10! Jake joins the band on stage now and then to pick the bass. The future of bluegrass is in good hands with youngsters like Joey and Jake, who both won awards at the 2004 Deer Creek Fiddlers Convention! When Jay's not electrifying folks with his exceptional musical talents, most likely he's electrifying folks in other ways all over town--by day he works as a skilled electrician for Summit Electric Company. Jay would like to thank his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the gift of music, and allowing him to use it for his honor and glory.
Max was born in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, and now resides in Seven Valleys, PA with his wife Vicke and two children, Katelin and Jared. He is a computer software engineer for Black & Decker in Towson, MD.
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Fate played a big hand in the birth of the
Iron Ridge Band. In January 2001, after spending a year or so jamming in
various local spots throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland, the original members
of the group just sort of
individually gravitated to the weekly Monday night Jam Sessions at the Dutch Country Restaurant in
Hanover, PA. It didn't take long for the guys to realize what a great sound
they produced together and they soon decided to form a band. After tossing
around a few other names, they finally settled on Iron Ridge, after a quaint village located in the Pigeon Hills of Pennsylvania where
Denny and his wife Joyce
found themselves exploring one afternoon.
Denny Kopp,
mandolin player, songwriter, singer, composer, has, been playing bluegrass since he was
about 13 years old. Denny started playing and singing with his brother,
learning to sing harmonies at an early age. He has played with a few
different bands throughout the years --The
Piney Creek Ramblers, The Pipe Creek Bluegrass Band, Interstate 83
Bluegrass Band , and ,of course, Iron Ridge, which he helped form in 2001.
Denny even had the pleasure to help out Jerry McCoury and Friends for a show a
few years ago. Denny has written many songs included on the bands six
CDs--about 30 of them--and has shown no signs of slowing down when it comes to
writing a good sounding Bluegrass song. Tennessee Mountain Man and
There Is a Home, are just a couple of his newest songs, yet to be
recorded. Bluegrass to Denny is more than just a pasttime...it's a passion
that he hopes never goes away.
Jay Mosley
on banjo joined the Iron Ridge Band in March of 2001 and wasted no
time proving himself by winning first
place on the banjo at the Fiddler's Convention that year out at the Carroll
County Farm Museum in Westminster, MD. Jay's been playing
the banjo for 30 years. When he was 16 years old he played with a gospel band
named The Colonials, and for many years now he's played with his family's
bluegrass gospel group, named--appropriately--The Mosley Family. He says
his playing is influenced by Earl Scruggs, Little Roy Lewis, J.D. Crowe, and his
own grandfather, Bill Mosley.
Jay plays a Huber, Lancaster model banjo, and uses GHS PF140 strings. One thing's for sure, Jay's great picking and wonderful voice
make a valuable contribution to the Iron Ridge sound. And a notable
contribution featured on 
Joey Mosley
on guitar (and train whistle) when he
first became a member of
Iron Ridge, now has also mastered the dobro, mandolin, and even the upright
bass! In August of 2002, at age 10, he started
performing with the group and now, at age 18, not only is he pickin' the fire
out of that guitar but has started to sing. He does his daddy Jay proud.
Joey says he loves bluegrass music! He falls asleep to it
every night, and frequently practices with brothers Jacob on
mandolin, Jeremy
on guitar, and Justin on guitar. Some guitar pickers that have
had an influence on Joey's style are Tony Rice and Bryan Sutton. Joey
plays a Martin D18 Golden Era, and uses Martin SP strings. Joey is a
senior in high school this year, and has been an honor role student since 9th
grade. After graduation he plans to go to Word of Life Bible Institute for
a year, and then on to East Tennessee State for the bluegrass program, and major
in math.
Max Allison
on upright bass joined Iron Ridge in January 2005, and he brings to the band a fine sense of timing and
a fine singing voice to blend with the boys on their many three- and four-part
harmonies. Max has been playing bluegrass for over 30 years, during
which time he played with Denny's Pipe Creek Band back in the 1990s.
He is an accomplished, multi-talented musician....he not only plays bass
but the banjo, guitar, and mandolin as well. And he,
too, did Iron Ridge proud at the 2006 Deer Creek Fiddlers Convention, winning
first place on banjo and second place on guitar.