What About Me?

I am frequently asked to stop yodeling. Just kidding. More often I am asked how I learned to yodel and why I started. There certainly are no yodel teachers, therefore I had to teach myself. If you have experience yodeling you know what I mean. I picked up cassettes, and albums from many different German, Austrian and Swiss yodlers.

Shortly after beginning to yodel, I began to play accordion for accompaniment. The accordion is a great sound with the yodels. You can hear it in some of the sound files

In 1986, Brian Phillips, Brian Ahlbrand, and I began the Indianapolis, Indiana based Original Alpine Express band. Our instrumentation was accordion, trumpet, and drums. Brian picked up yodeling and sang great double and harmony yodels. Phillips was like Gandalf on the sticks, unstoppable. After a couple years he moved out to Colorado to pursue his education. Go figure.:)

The band added Jeff Minard and Ahlbrand's soon to be wife Barbara Pevasy. They played drums and clarinet respectively. At its peak, the Original Alpine Express performed 75 engagements a year. Though performances were primarily in and around Indiana, the group traveled as far as Iowa, Tennessee and Chicago.

Brian Ahlbrand left the band to play drums and teach full time. Barbara also left to take a full time job. Replacing Brian and Barbara was Mike White and Amy.