Biography
Carla Greer grew up listening to bluegrass music in Idaho from a collection of bluegrass records her father had collected that collection included sounds of Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs and The Stanley Brothers. Dad played bluegrass music with a band about every weekend and growing up with that influence it was only natural that Carla would carry on in playing and singing bluegrass. Early in Carla and Marla’s teenage years they heard the Louvin Brothers and were blown away by there harmony singing and song writing. Carla saved up her allowance and purchased her first very own album ‘Boonecreek’ which brought a more progressive sound to the music she had listened to up to that time but she loved it.
After working as a family band Carla and Marla decided to start their own bluegrass band in the early nineties. This band included several premier musicians from the Pacific Northwest that included Mike Stahlmann, Leonard Sutton, and Pat Massie. The Greers were honored for their music by being the fourth bluegrass band ever chosen to take part in the Western States Art Federation Association touring roster in the 1990’s. The Greers chose to play music that was original as well as several classic bluegrass songs. The Greers performed throughout the Northwest and Canada. In 1998 Carla and Marla decided to move to the Midwest in hopes of playing more music and meeting more musicians we have been warmly welcomed.
Carla picked up playing the bass early in the family band as that was the instrument that was left (there were four girls in the family) she enjoyed playing bass until she started learning guitar from her dad. Carla has been singing harmony since she was a young girl and in the last few years has started singing more and more lead in the band. Carla enjoys song writing and finding old ‘new’ songs to share with the band and working up duets with the boys in the band as well.
Carla handles most all the M.C. work in the band and is always eager to meet fans of bluegrass and share her clever sense of humor.
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Marla Greer grew up listening to bluegrass music in the mountains of northern Idaho.
At a very early age she heard bluegrass gospel music. She remembers times when she and Carla would sneak into the kitchen behind the stove to watch in wonder at all the amazing sounds. Dad was having a jam session. He had owned many bluegrass records and that is what we listened to. It never crossed our minds at that age that other people didn’t do this on weekends.
She started singing very early with the family band when she was sixteen she picked up the guitar just to see if she could learn it and found out that the bass seemed to be more appealing to her. She has been on bass every since.
Shortly thereafter she began singing with the family band The Greers in a variety of churches and other family events.
Later as she and Carla got a little older and the other band members went on to pursue other interest the band became Marla, Carla and their dad Bud. They would pick up a banjo player as they needed one.
They started branching out to play other events, festivals, fairs anything that was considered a family show. Up and down the west coast and Canada.
Later as Marla moved away from home her and Carla kept singing and playing together. They have played many events with many of the people they grew up listening to and admiring. Singing with each other is one of the greatest gifts they have been given.
Songwriting has always been an important part of The Greers shows and Marla wrote six tunes from their latest CD release “Scorched Heart & Ashes” and has a real respect for songwriters.
Marla now resides in Southern Illinois and The Greers have been warmly welcomed by the bluegrass community. She has made some wonderful friends and loves to meet bluegrass music fans.
She now does primarily all the booking and band business for the band and likes to learn more and more about bluegrass music and the people who play it.
The influence that bluegrass music made on her life at a very early age is immeasurable.
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