Bios

Chris Howie CHRIS HOWIE is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, banjo and pedal steel guitar, with occasional dabblings on electric guitar, autoharp and pennywhistle. His style ranges from Folk to Irish, Bluegrass to Bossa Nova, and Country to Swing. Any kind of music is fair game for his arrangements, which include fast flatpicking of fiddle tunes, fingerpicked Beatles songs, soulful Swing and Big-Band songs on pedal steel, and rousing banjo numbers using either frailing or Scruggs-style picking. The Bluegrass Conspiracy is a vehicle for some of this variety, and conspires for more room to include it in the band's repertoire

GREG DAVIS has been interested in old time and country music since his Jr. High days, when his dad was in a country dance band. His musical career began with accordion and progressed to piano, guitar, and finally mandolin. Previously, Greg was with The Mountain Dew Boys, an old time dance band, for over 20 years. Greg Davis

Dave Wright Since he was 15 years old, DAVE WRIGHT has played the guitar for pleasure and family. Meeting Greg and his family in 1986, he discovered a love of bluegrass music and played with them often until connecting with the INBA in 1996. Dave played with many impromptu bands formed of INBA members over the next years, when he met Chris and Milt in 2001. The Conspiracy formed out of that meeting when the musical bond became obvious.

MILT ASHER credits his late father for his interest in music. Milt remembers singing with "Okie Asher and the Western Playboys" on live radio shows when he was only 6. At 13, he learned to play guitar and often accompanied his father at dances and concerts. Two years later, his father's musical focus changed from western swing to country gospel, and they played in several different bands over the next few years for church activities, including services for inmates at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Later, business obligations forced Milt's music into retirement until early 2000, when he was introduced to the INBA. Suddenly having a connection allowed Milt to rekindle his interest in music and meet other talented muscians. It was not long before Milt and Chris teamed up with Dave, Greg, and Kathy to form Bluegrass Conspiracy. Milt's musical interests, in addition to bluegrass and country, include classical and contemporary Christian music. Milt Asher

Pat Foster

PAT FOSTER first became interested in music while singing harmonies with her friends around the campfire in girl scouts.  At 13 she began piano lessons, and at 16 picked up the guitar.  She minored in music at college, and studied voice privately.  Since then her musical career had gone in fits and starts.  After college, she took a break from music until her early 30’s when she formed her first band, Heart’s Delight.  They played folk, reggae, and blues in the Okanogan area.  Later she moved to the Spokane area and took another break from music.  About ten years ago, she again picked up the guitar, began to learn about bluegrass music, and joined the Inland Northwest Bluegrass Association.  About six years ago, she began playing bass, and fell in love with it.  She has been in several bluegrass bands including Seldom Herd and A Wing and a Prayer.  She joined Bluegrass Conspiracy in June of 2007.  She hopes to sing and play until her last breath!

Kathy Murbach KATHY MURBACH has been singing most of her life, beginning with high school, where she was in trios and chorus. For the past 16 years, she has been singing in Sweet Adelines, a barbershop chorus. Bluegrass music has filled another space in her life, as she loves to harmonize. In addition, it has given her the opportunity to learn to play bass and be the rhythm foundation.