About Us
Katy Daley had a 30+ year career in Bluegrass (WAMU-FM and Bluegrass Country) and Country (WMZQ) radio in the Washington, DC area. She's a member of the International Bluegrass Music Association and a 2008 graduate of IBMA's Leadership Bluegrass class. Katy was named IBMA Bluegrass Broadcaster of the year in 2009 and 2011. She was honored with the DC Bluegrass Union's 2017 Washington Monument Award. You can read her Q&A articles on Bluegrass Today. Katy wrote a portion of the liner notes "Epilogue: A Tribute to John Duffey" for Smithsonian's Folkways Records and for the re-released "Seldom Scene recorded Live at the Cellar Door" from Rebel Records. Katy will receive IBMA's Distinguished Achievement Award in September 2019. She's working on becoming a jam-worthy clawhammer banjo player.
Howard Parker has been a bluegrass fan since the mid 1970s and active in the Mid-Atlantic bluegrass scene since 1985. He is a dobro player and was a student of Mike Auldridge. Howard's performance activities included festival appearances, recordings and a U.K. tour.
Howard has become involved in other aspects of the bluegrass music business starting with an eight-year stint with dobro luthier Paul Beard. He serves on the board of directors of the Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music and is the stage manager of the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival. Howard is an enthusiastic supporter of IBMA and a proud 2006 graduate of IBMA's Leadership Bluegrass program. In addition to bluegrass Howard is a huge fan of honky tonk country and western swing. You can often catch him on a stage, sometimes in western garb, with dobro or pedal steel guitar.
Akira Otsuka was born in Japan and started playing bluegrass as a teenager. He formed a legendary group “Bluegrass 45” in 1967 and toured the States in 71 & 72. Akira moved to the States in 1973 and since then he has been active as a performer, studio musician, producer, educator and writer. He is a 2017 graduate of IBMA's Leadership Bluegrass. Akira has played at venues such as The White House, Vice President's residence, Grand Ole Opry, Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institute, Birchmere and many festivals including Grey Fox/Winterhawk, Wintergrass, Carlton Haney’s, Joe Val, Bean Blossom and Thomas Point Beach.
Akira released a solo album “First Tear” in 2012 and all star cast “Epilogue: a Tribute to John Duffey” from Smithsonian Folkways June of 2018. Akira was a contributor to Seasons One and Two of Bluegrass Stories.