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Clearwater Connection

featuring

Bill Hansen & Doris Sotirellis

The sweetest sounds you'll ever hear, accompanied by acoustic instruments and traditional harmony.

It's highly unusual that two people could unexpectedly meet, discover common musical tastes (most of the time) and that their voices would blend instantly - besides truly liking one another. That's exactly what happened when I met Doris in 1997 during Bluegrass Week at the Augusta Heritage Program in Elkins, WV. My impending early retirement afforded me the perfect opportunity to bring my music to the front burner.

Yes, Bill, our by chance meeting at Augusta was most unusual, but I must admit that my hidden agenda was to seek out a qualified, yet "malleable" guitar-playing singing partner. When Bill mentioned his retirement plan, the words possible candidate flashed in my mind like a neon sign. Have I stumbled upon a diamond in the rough?

Bill's musical pedigree is quite diversified. He is a former artist-teacher and faculty co-chairman of the acclaimed Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, IL, where for many years, he taught guitar, and conducted classes and workshops in music theory. Bill has done studio work and arranged and produced recordings for other groups. He also adds his musical talents to other performers' club dates.

Doris has musical whiskers. Before discovering the soul of bluegrass and traditional country music a few years ago, performing in off-Broadway musicals and singing with various choral groups was her cup of tea. Her true musical identity then emerged with her participation in other bluegrass bands, both vocally and instrumentally.

The songs we have re-discovered and chosen to record reflect, in our hearts, a portion of some of the best material available.