Rich Ziffen – Banjo
Banjo player, Rich Ziven has been performing bluegrass music for over 30 years. Beginning his musical career in the band Union Hill originating in Wisconsin, Union Hill was awarded 1st place in the bluegrass band contest, judged by the New Grass Revival at the first annual Mole Lake Bluegrass Festival in 1976. For 2 years, Union Hill toured the Midwest, the East Coast, and the state of Colorado. In 1982, Rich performed for 18 years with The Rounders, one of the Midwest’s premier bluegrass bands. The Rounders toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe and performed at venues such as: “Bean Blossom”, “The Festival of Bluegrass”, “Mole Lake” and the “SPBGMA” circuit. The Rounders were awarded the title: “Best Bluegrass Band” for 5 consecutive years by the “Wisconsin Area Music Industry”, (W.A.M.I.). Rich was also an office manager for a Wisconsin talent agency that managed and booked artists such as: the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Tony Trischka and Skyline, The Jethro Burns Quartet, etc. Rich has been playing with the Manatee River Bluegrass Band for over a year. In his spare time, Rich instructs people to play banjo, guitar, and mandolin.