John is the leader of the band, and is well-known for his solid rhythm guitar playing and gentle lead singing.  His style is reminiscent of the late Lester Flatt.  John grew up with this music – his father, Jack,  was an old-time fiddler, his uncle Jim played guitar and sang bluegrass and country ballads, and his uncle, Mac Martin, continues to be a huge influence.

John is great at finding old songs for the band that are well-suited to bluegrass, and he has also written several tunes.

Wendy is the banjo player for the band.  She plays Scruggs style banjo, but is also interested in melodic and clawhammer style. Wendy learned to play banjo from watching the late Billy Bryant, Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers’ banjo player.

In addition to banjo, Wendy picks finger-style guitar and sings.

Jack Mackin, John and Wendy’s son, is the fiddle player for the band.  Jack’s forte on the fiddle is playing beautiful waltzes in keys that are nearly impossible for the rest of the band. He has helped us all to become much better musicians!  In addition to playing the fiddle, Jack is an accomplished guitar player and superb vocalist.

We are fortunate to have Jeff Goetz playing mandolin with the band. Jeff has a background in music ranging from slavic to cajun, old time and bluegrass.   He can be found around local jam sessions playing banjo, electric bass, accordion and a little flatpicking guitar.  Jeff and his wife Jean also play for square and contra dances in the Pittsburgh area.

Jeff is undaunted by the obscure and sometimes complicated material that the band throws at him!

Richard Gordon learned to play guitar, bass, and mandolin by hanging out with all the wrong people in all the wrong places. He has played in old-time, Celtic, folk, bluegrass, and ballroom dance bands since 1987, and had won many awards for his playing.  Summer of 2018, he moved to Pittsburgh, where, as Mandorichard, he hosts a folk, bluegrass, old-time, and traditional country radio show on WRCT, Pittsburgh, heard also on stations in Newark, DE; Chattanooga,TN; and Mckeesport, PA.

We are really happy to have Richard with us in the John & Wendy Mackin Band!