the peppergrass band

The Peppergrass Band originated at the Fountain Creek Nature Center about 10 years ago when Rick Flores, Theron Jepsen and Ian Wilson got together with their instruments (guitar, harmonica and banjo) to simply make some music for fun.

Nancy Bernard, upon hearing their tunes encouraged them to continue with their music and perhaps start a band to play for the nature centers. They did, and they called themselves Peppergrass, after the winding road that leads into the fountain Creek Nature Center.

After several jam sessions they were asked to play for Nature Center functions; Christmas programs, gigs at Bear Creek and Fountain Creek, Volunteer Recognition Events, Children's Programs, Sleigh Rides with Santa, and Nancy Bernard's retirement ceremony.

As other volunteers, ultimately, joined and departed the band, Peppergrass’ horizons expanded. Ian Wilson left El Paso County parks and was replaced by Diane French on banjo. Donna Flores and Brenda McCreight came on board as vocalists.  Al Kinsel joined Peppergrass to offer his talents on anything percussion related, including the washboard. Theron left the group due to health reasons. 

Frank Sanchez, a semi career musician, joined the group, contributing his talent as bass player. Frank was also instrumental in putting together everything needed to produce a long-anticipated CD titled “TALES FROM THE CREEK”.

Rick has written 14 or more songs that are nature related and the group has now recorded these songs on a long-awaited CD to be distributed by and for the El Paso County Parks. Included in these compositions is one called “Grandfather Cottonwood”, about the nearly 200-year-old Cottonwood tree that sits on the banks of Cottonwood Creek.

Among the venues Peppergrass has had the opportunity to perform outside the parks are; The Palisades st Broadmoor Park, Fulton Historical Society, The Black Rose Acoustic Society in Black Forest, and for the fifth year the El Paso County Fair in Calhan, Colorado. Peppergrass brings a variety of music styles to hear, including; old folk songs, mild folk rock country, old standards, and tunes that people can recognize and perhaps sing along with. 

Pepper grass began with just a couple of folks getting together to have fun making music and the current band consists of folks still getting together to have fun making music!

We play traditional folk music containing storytelling-based tunes inspired by nature and rural life. The songs are organic roots music, using minimalist equipment to maintain an authentic sound. We are just a bunch of folks who have fun making music and hopefully making people happy 

Our Tales from The Creek Album is truly an organic performance of roots music. We recorded this in Rick’s basement on a 10-year-old laptop on a free version of Presonus Studio One software using one mic and a $30 Yamaha mixer. Rick recorded the guitar and vocals on one track (just the old days). The overdubbed percussion was a hickory baseball bat that was cut up to be used as a wood block and claves. Overdubbed the banjo, harmonica, and background vocals.  Mixed it all at home and uploaded to CD Baby for distribution. 

Rick took the picture of the creek and I put together the cover and graphics using the on-line tools on Disk Makers.