Josh Wanstreet

Profile edited with CricketSoda's Myspace Editor Profile edited withJosh Wanstreet began playing old time music in 1995 and has primarily concentrated on learning the music of central West Virginia. He was introduced to Elmer Rich at the 2005 Gardner Winter Music Festival by fiddler Joe Coe and was fortunate to have been Elmer's neighbor from April 2007 until January 2009. Living only four houses apart, Josh began visiting Elmer at his home to play and learn tunes and soon began playing regularly with Elmer and the Brew House Crew. Josh and Scott Phillips have played together in various combinations for the past few years for local square dances and festivals."Elmer Rich is a living legend, having won numerous fiddler's contests in West Virginia and surrounding states while in his eighties. Born in 1919, Elmer, his dad and brother played for a dance in Arthurdale, WV that was attended by none other than First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Elmer learned to play fiddle from his father Harry and his uncle Sanford. He credits tunes like Whistlin' Rufus and Harry's Waltz to his dad and his great version of Colored Aristocracy to his Uncle Sanford." -Ray Hicks-Elmer placed first in the fiddle contest at the Vandalia Gathering held at the West Virginia Cultural Center in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He also placed first in the senior division at the 2000 Appalachian String Band Festival a.k.a "Clifftop". He regularly performs at the Augusta Heritage Center as a guest master musician and actively plays in the Morgantown area. Elmer has recorded three CD's, "It's About Old Time" with the Brew House Crew, Tom O'Brien-guitar, Judy Heirgeist-bass and "New Deal Fiddler: A Rich Legacy" with Ray Hicks-guitar. The Augusta Heritage Center is scheduled to release his third CD sometime in summer 2009.