Contemporary & Traditional  Folk and Bluegrass Music, est. 1973

The  founder of the band in 1973, Bob has played guitar and added vocal leads and harmonies since the beginning.  When it became necessary to add a mandolin to the instrumentation Bob reluctantly became the lead guitar and mandolin player.

Bob studied music theory in his college years and utilizes the skills learned as a theory major in both the band arrangements and his own highly improvised guitar playing style.

Likes jeans, Labrador retrievers, afternoon naps, good music of many styles, high end recording, sound reinforcement equipment and great guitars with new strings.  Hates opera and twangy country western music, sappy love songs, liver, cauliflower and brocolli......

Bob is the youngest and  heaviest member of the band.  woohoo!!!!

A frequent musical guest of the band since it's inception in 1973, Bill moved to Peoria to join the folk music community in 1976.   He has been a great asset to the band ever since joining us in 1976.   He has the amazing ability to look intently at an idiot spewing stupidity and not laugh.  This has proven very useful throughout the band history. 

It is certainly accurate to say there would not likely be an Applegate and Company if Bill had not been the most stable personality in the band.   He is one of the cooler heads that you hear about prevailing.

Bill likes good guitars, fast cars, new strings, in tune G chords, button down shirts and Ozzie Nelson sweaters.   Bill plays piano and knows hundreds of songs, always coming up with a new song or unusual new chord.  Bill hates clutter, dirty cars, and most B strings.

Bill has owned several electronic tuners, none of which are as accurate as his ear.  Bill is the oldest and lightest member of the band..

Rich Mitts - 1980 to Present

Rich joined the band in 1980 when we were in a significant period of musical transition.  We had been  playing a combination of mostly folk and pop songs with some bluegrass instrumentals and we wanted to change musical direction to encompass some acoustic jazz ala David Grisman and some more complex vocals ala "How High the Moon".  Rich and Mitch Corbin joined the band and immediately things clicked.

Rich brings a wealth of knowledge about several different instruments and as many styles which makes it easy to just begin a pattern and have an arrangement when the jamming is done.  In addition to playing the low notes Rich also adds the middle and high harmonies.

Rich likes not having to change bass strings till they break (they never do) and good steaks.  Rich also likes everything Beatles.  Rich (like all of us) hates 50+ year old people with full heads of hair.

Steve ("Doc") Hatfield had played with this band as a guest musician on several occasions prior to joining us full time in 1997.   Interestingly, Steve began playing banjo after hearing this band in the early 70s, and even then was willing to go on and learn the banjo. 

Steve has played in several more traditional bluegrass bands, notably Slick Water Creek and McGee Creek before joining Applegate and Company.   Steve likes many styles of music: Gospel, Folk, and Bluegrass are likely to be found on his CD player on any given day. 

Steve is the first band "Grandpa" (soon to be Grandpa for the second time) and fits that role exceptionally well.    I know Steve loves his family, but in thinking about it, I'm not sure if Steve really hates anything.  I'll check into it and get back to clarify it later.