The Mountain Angels are an all-female group of musicians from the
Upstate of South Carolina. What originally began as an informal get-
together of friends grew into a group that has now been playing for
over 5 years. While we absolutely love bluegrass music and any
chance to play and sing, our primary focus is to use our God-given
musical talents as a ministry. And while we hope that our music will
be a blessing to others, we have found that we have been the
recipient of far more blessings than we could ever give! All five
members sing, and we are known for our tight harmonies. The name
“Mountain Angels” comes from a Dolly Parton song, and while we all
grew up in the mountains or foothills, we are still working on the
“Angel” part! We like traditional as well as more modern bluegrass,
and some of our favorite musicians include Allison Krauss, Lynn
Morris, Claire Lynch, and Laurie Lewis.
Upstate of South Carolina. What originally began as an informal get-
together of friends grew into a group that has now been playing for
over 5 years. While we absolutely love bluegrass music and any
chance to play and sing, our primary focus is to use our God-given
musical talents as a ministry. And while we hope that our music will
be a blessing to others, we have found that we have been the
recipient of far more blessings than we could ever give! All five
members sing, and we are known for our tight harmonies. The name
“Mountain Angels” comes from a Dolly Parton song, and while we all
grew up in the mountains or foothills, we are still working on the
“Angel” part! We like traditional as well as more modern bluegrass,
and some of our favorite musicians include Allison Krauss, Lynn
Morris, Claire Lynch, and Laurie Lewis.
The
Mountain
Angels
Karen Henson is the founder and originator of
the group and plays dobro. There aren't too
many women dobro players around, and we're
glad she adds that unique quality to our band.
Karen remembers going to her Uncle Roy's
house and hearing her uncle and grandpa
playing music, and that's what ignited the
spark. A neighborhood friend showed her
some basic guitar chords and then Uncle Roy
put her on the bluegrass track by teaching her
"Wildwood Flower" and "Cripple Creek." She
still plays guitar occasionally when she is
singing lead on a song. Karen is the spiritual
leader in our group, always willing to take time
to help others in any way she can. Her mother,
Mama Rose, is the official "band mother," and
keeps us supplied with the world's best ham
salad sandwiches!
the group and plays dobro. There aren't too
many women dobro players around, and we're
glad she adds that unique quality to our band.
Karen remembers going to her Uncle Roy's
house and hearing her uncle and grandpa
playing music, and that's what ignited the
spark. A neighborhood friend showed her
some basic guitar chords and then Uncle Roy
put her on the bluegrass track by teaching her
"Wildwood Flower" and "Cripple Creek." She
still plays guitar occasionally when she is
singing lead on a song. Karen is the spiritual
leader in our group, always willing to take time
to help others in any way she can. Her mother,
Mama Rose, is the official "band mother," and
keeps us supplied with the world's best ham
salad sandwiches!
Tracey Anderson is an outstanding
multi-instrumental musician. She plays lead
guitar and mandolin for the Angels, and
teaches both of those instruments as well.
Tracey has really come into her own in the
past few years, and is well known in the
upstate of South Carolina and in North
Carolina as one of the hottest flatpickers
around - we call her our "secret weapon!"
She cites her main guitar influences as
Clarence White, Tony Rice, and her friend
Ronnie Monroe. On mandolin, she credits
Butch Baldassari and Adam Steffey. What's
really incredible is that Tracey is self-taught
on her instruments. Her patience, quiet spirit
and tasteful playing are a great asset. Tracey
is married to Mack Anderson, a well-known
and accomplished banjo player in the area,
and they have a son, Isaac.
multi-instrumental musician. She plays lead
guitar and mandolin for the Angels, and
teaches both of those instruments as well.
Tracey has really come into her own in the
past few years, and is well known in the
upstate of South Carolina and in North
Carolina as one of the hottest flatpickers
around - we call her our "secret weapon!"
She cites her main guitar influences as
Clarence White, Tony Rice, and her friend
Ronnie Monroe. On mandolin, she credits
Butch Baldassari and Adam Steffey. What's
really incredible is that Tracey is self-taught
on her instruments. Her patience, quiet spirit
and tasteful playing are a great asset. Tracey
is married to Mack Anderson, a well-known
and accomplished banjo player in the area,
and they have a son, Isaac.
Andrea Monroe was the original bass player
for the Angels, and after an absence of a
couple of years, is now back playing bass
and singing lead and harmony. She loves to
introduce new songs, and is great at
arranging songs. Andrea credits her love of
bluegrass music to her granny, who played
banjo, and her father and uncles. As a young
girl visiting family in Kentucky, she heard
"Cabin On The Hill" sung in sweet
harmonies, and her dad would sing
"Knoxville Girl" and make her cry! Her
husband, Ronnie Monroe, is also a fine
guitar player in the finger-picking style.
for the Angels, and after an absence of a
couple of years, is now back playing bass
and singing lead and harmony. She loves to
introduce new songs, and is great at
arranging songs. Andrea credits her love of
bluegrass music to her granny, who played
banjo, and her father and uncles. As a young
girl visiting family in Kentucky, she heard
"Cabin On The Hill" sung in sweet
harmonies, and her dad would sing
"Knoxville Girl" and make her cry! Her
husband, Ronnie Monroe, is also a fine
guitar player in the finger-picking style.
Growing up in the Shenandoah Valley of
Virginia gave Sarah Caldwell some great
exposure to bluegrass music, and she
began playing banjo about six years ago.
Her playing is clean and precise, attesting to
her daily hours of "woodshedding." That's a
musical term which means practicing the
basic techniques over and over until the
fundamentals of the instrument become
second nature. From the traditional
influences of Earl Scruggs and J.D. Crowe to
the more progressive stylings of Alan Munde
and Jens Kruger, Sarah has developed a
style all her own. Her enthusiasm keeps us
all "charged up" and her heart for people is a
blessing.
Virginia gave Sarah Caldwell some great
exposure to bluegrass music, and she
began playing banjo about six years ago.
Her playing is clean and precise, attesting to
her daily hours of "woodshedding." That's a
musical term which means practicing the
basic techniques over and over until the
fundamentals of the instrument become
second nature. From the traditional
influences of Earl Scruggs and J.D. Crowe to
the more progressive stylings of Alan Munde
and Jens Kruger, Sarah has developed a
style all her own. Her enthusiasm keeps us
all "charged up" and her heart for people is a
blessing.
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Kathy Strickland plays rhythm guitar and
sings lead and high harmonies. She
absolutely loves to sing and has a knack for
picking songs that really suit her voice.
Always smiling, Kathy is a blessing to the
group. She got her start singing with her
sisters and has a good ear for the
harmonies. It's good to have her back after a
short time off!
sings lead and high harmonies. She
absolutely loves to sing and has a knack for
picking songs that really suit her voice.
Always smiling, Kathy is a blessing to the
group. She got her start singing with her
sisters and has a good ear for the
harmonies. It's good to have her back after a
short time off!