Hard-Charging Mix

GAMBIER, Ohio (October 27, 2004) Reid Burgess and Ted Pitney, Class of 2001, discovered their love for bluegrass music as students at Kenyon. This week, they return to their alma mater to share some of that passion with the college community that helped them get their start.

Burgess, Pitney, and other members of their band King Wilkie will play at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, October 29, in Rosse Hall, one of several stops on their current national tour. After graduating from Kenyon with degrees in music, Burgess and Pitney moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, started King Wilkie, and signed with Rebel Records. The band plays at concert halls around the country, including the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, where they will appear November 5.

This is not the first time Burgess and Pitney have returned to Kenyon with their band. Burgess, who does vocals and plays mandolin, and guitarist Pitney have put on several shows in the past, including performances at Horn Gallery, Philander's Pub, and the 2003 Summer Send-Off concert.

"It is really cool to see such a young group of guys be so talented in this genre of music," says Jessica Cheatwood-Alvarez, coordinator of the Kenyon Social Board, which is sponsoring this free, public concert.

Named Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2004 International Bluegrass Music Association awards ceremony, King Wilkie has produced two full-length albums, including their latest, Broke, released earlier this year.

For more information, visit King Wilkie's Web site at www.kingwilkie.com.

By Sarah Bill, Class of 2005