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.

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, with the newest--and for a change, female--addition to the group in September 2005, the band numbers six 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 Kopp on mandolin, began playing bluegrass when he was only 13 years old and an elderly neighbor sold him an old mandolin for a few bucks.  He came from a very musical family--his grandfather played fiddle and piano, his mother played piano, and all his brothers played something.  Not only did Denny play a part in forming Iron Ridge, but also the Piney Creek Ramblers and Pipe Creek Bluegrass Band, both of which groups he played with throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia from 1975 to 1992.  He also played with the Interstate 83 Band for about two years.

Denny's great talent won him second place on the mandolin at the 2001 and 2002 Fiddler's Convention.  But that's not where his talent ends.  Not only has he played mandolin for 35 years, he's also played guitar for 36 years and banjo for 3 years, and lately he's been playing the fiddle as well.  He sings lead as well as other parts, and writes original songs and instrumental compositions--some of which you can hear on the group's six CDs.  Live at Arcadia features his songs Arcadia Stomp and Blue Sky Morning; and Iron Ridge--On and On features his song Lucketts Saturday Night and instrumentals Iron Ridge Breakdown and Polly's Breakdown.  Down By the River features five of Denny's tunes--Down By the River, Memories of the Mountains, Flyin' High, I'm Going Home, and Wye Oak Tree.  My Little Cabin Home also features five of his original songs.  And of the 14 songs offered on IRON RIDGE-A NEW BEGINNING, seven were written by Denny.   HEAVEN LIGHT SHINING, their latest--all Gospel--CD offers Denny originals such as We'll Be Forever There, Just Lift Up Your Eyes, Call to Him, and more.

By day Denny plies his trade as Shurfine's meat manager in New Oxford, PA.  He and his wife Joyce reside in Hanover, PA.  They have three grown children, Bradley, Stephanie, and Greg.  And in September 2003, Denny and Joyce were presented with their first grandchild, a bouncing baby boy named Seth.  They were again blessed on July 11, 2006, with a second grandson, Josh.  Josh was born with LOTS of red hair!  Denny already has a mandolin ready for young Seth and Josh to learn to play!

Jerry Leitner on rhythm guitar grew up with a love for old-time country music, thanks to his mother who was born and raised in the mountains of southern Virginia.  Since the late 1980s bluegrass has become his passion.  "I only wish that I had been introduced to this form of American music at an earlier age.  I feel that I have missed so much," he says.

Jerry applies his talents on guitar as well to his songwriting and musical composition, and to singing lead and tenor.  He has a real "bluesy" voice, reminiscent of the great Hank Williams Sr., who was and still is a favorite of his.  Jerry's original songs include The Blues Are Just Outside My Door, I Just Sit Here Alone, Papa Didn't Tell Me, the title cut on the band's CD My Little Cabin Home,  Cannonballs, a favorite of Iron Ridge fans, and IRON RIDGE-A NEW BEGINNING features his Black Shiny Stone and The Grass Is Greener.  Jerry won first place for vocal performance at the 2004 Deer Creek Fiddlers Convention.

Jerry makes his living doing home improvements in the Carroll County area, where he and his wife, Jane, have made their home for the last 24 years. 

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 24 years.  When he was 16 years old he played with a band named The Colonials, and for many years now he's played with his family's bluegrass gospel group, named--appropriately--The Mosley Family.  Jay plays the banjo the way it was intended by the likes of Earl Scruggs.  He says his playing is also influenced by Little Roy Lewis, J.D. Crowe, and his own grandfather, Bill Mosley.  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 IRON RIDGE-A NEW BEGINNING  is his composition Jesus Hold To My Hand, a poem written by his grandfather which Jay found in a family bible and put to music in an especially inspirational rendition.

Jay was born in Carroll County, Maryland, and lives in Hampstead with his wife Diane 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 has become a full-fledged member of  the group!  And Jake joins the band on stage now and then to pick the mandolin.  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.

Jen attended Mark O'Connor's fiddle camp in Nashville, Tennessee in 2007, coming back with a few new licks.  Jen also has added her vocal talents to Iron Ridge's newest CD--Heaven Light Shining--singing the haunting song In My Time of Dying and also played clawhammer banjo on Will the Circle Be Unbroken.  She also picks up the mandolin on some tunes.