In memory of our dear friend and fellow musician Ray Deter
Tennessee Osmosis played various clubs, pubs and
colleges during the mid-seventies. The band consisted of a banjo, two
guitars, fiddle and acoustic bass - in addition to two, three and four
part vocal harmonies. Their repertoire included some traditional
bluegrass music but they also did songs by the Beatles, Rolling
Stones, Byrds, Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead and even the
Monkees, in an all acoustical bluegrass style. In addition they
did some original songs written by banjoist Greg Stier.
They were invited to play at the infamous "STOMPIN' 76"
music festival in Virginia. They also opened for such acts as
Tom Chapin, Papa John Creach and Dickie Betts.
The November 1977 issue of New Jersey Monthly Magazine
said about Tennessee Osmosis,
"By the time bluegrass filters up to New Jersey, it becomes newgrass -
that's old-time stuff with a whiff of some other type of grass to make
it uphome as well as downhome. These pickers are among its best
practitioners."
Greg Stier - banjo, lead & backing vocals
Paul Haluko - guitar, lead & backing vocals
Ray Deter - guitar
Howie Waldman - bass, backing vocals
Chuck Riordon - fiddle, backing vocals
Greg uses Gibson banjos & Gibson strings
Paul uses Ovation & Martin Guitars & Martin strings
Ray uses Yamaha & Martin guitars & Martin strings
Howie uses the World Renowned Kay Bass (he never changed the strings)
Chuck uses Stradivarius fiddles and some kind of gut strings he bought
from Ed Gein