GERRY JOST

Mandolin, blues harp, fiddle, dobro, harmony and lead vocals

Gerry helped organize the band in 1993, holding informal jam sessions at his Newton, WI home. Still plays host to the band's weekly practice sessions. Loves bluegrass and plays a whale of a bluesy mouth harp on several of the band's selections. Gerry has also penned several of the band's originals, including "Marie" which he wrote in honor of his grandmother.

ELDON KLEIN

Guitar, lead vocals, harmony

A retired law enforcement officer, Eldon likes telling stories almost as much as he enjoys playing his guitar and singing. He is the elder statesman of the group. Loves singing harmony on the band's gospel numbers and enjoys doing those familiar Johnny Cash tunes and soulful ballads. Eldon enjoys writing songs and melodies in his spare time and has contributed several songs to the band including "Run, John, Run", "Hot Coffee" and "What If."

CHRIS JOST

Lead guitar

Chris enjoys a wide range of music, and likes it complex. The youngest member of the group, Chris excels on flatpicking standards like Cherokee Shuffle and Dueling Banjos. Just don't ask him to sing!

MIKE MATHES

Rhythm guitar, lead and harmony vocals

Joined the band in 1999 and loves to belt out those old bluegrass standards.
Serves as the band's emcee sharing the background of the songs that RSE presents to its audiences.

SUE WOODWARD

Fiddle, vocals

A grea fiddler and an outstanding vocalist, Sue adds great depth to the Red Star Express lineup. Equally comfortable with the fiddle strains of haunting Gospel or her own funky innovations on Orange Blossom Special, Sue lends her unique talents to the stage.

STEVE NOTHEM

Bass, humor

Steve brings his outstanding musical background to the band with his upright bass. He also excels at guitar and dobro. Steve has extensive background in polka and country western music, and is a huge fan of the late Johnny Cash. He also never runs out of jokes about the banjo.

GALEN "TEX" HUNT

Banjo

Galen's Scruggs-style banjo picking puts the bluegrass bounce in Red Star appearances. Galen also fires up the dojo (a cross between a banjo and dobro) to put a special highlight on several RSE songs. His background in bluegrass harmonies is exceptional, and he offers his unique voice to many of our harmony blends. If he isn't singing, he's helping us with the harmony arrangements.

MARILYN STENSKE

Vocals

Marilyn brings her many years of singing experience to the stage for Red Star Express. Not only is she a great lead singer, she also blends well on harmonies. Her voice carries the melody on a number of tunes made famous by Patsy Cline, Allison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent, Claire Lynch and Emmylou Harris.