Judd "Hawk" Hawkins: Fiddle,Vocals
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Hawk has been on the bluegrass scene in and around Baltimore since the early 1970s. His early experience in bands came when he was invited to join "Strings and Things," a local folk group that played the college circuit. His attraction to a banjo and close harmony singing led him to help form a new bluegrass band called Windy Ridge (the name of the street were he lived).


He worked at the famous Cub Hill Inn every Thursday night for seven years honing his skills. He was asked to join another group, Grass on the Rocks, in the early 1980s. Through attrition, Hawk remained with this group long enough to become its leader. The group decided to change its name to accommodate the new wide open approach to bluegrass music. The Satyr Hill Band was born doing a two year gig in the Satyr Hill Shopping Center.

Hawk's early training was classical violin (due to the pressure from dear mom). He also was in the boys choir of the Shrine of the Little Flower parish in Baltimore under the tutelage of a fine but stern Rev. Fredrerick H. Duke (The choir was considered the best of its kind in the city). Hawk attributes his musical discipline and keen ear for harmony to this experience.

Later, Rock and Roll and Rockabilly became his musical interests and helped to broaden his approach to bluegrass music with the band. His favorite bands have been: New Grass Revival, Seldom Scene, Country Gazzette and Boone Creek. He feels his fiddle style has been inspired by Vassar Clements, Byron Berline, Stuart Duncan, Kenny Baker, Allison Krause and Sam Bush.

The Satyr Hill Band says Hawk works them hard, but it shows when they perform. The group is commonly referred to as "extremely tight."

Rick Miller: Guitar, Vocals
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Rick's first exposure to live bluegrass music was in his early teens when he saw the Osborne Brothers open for Dolly Parton at the 5th Regiment Armory in Baltimore, MD. In his freshmen year of high school, he was introduced to the great Tony Rice. "And that was it! The bluegrass-music-bug bit me really hard then." Before long, he put his electric guitar and amps away in favor of the pure acoustic sound. "Between the tight and soulful harmonies and the fiery instrumentals, I was hooked on bluegrass music for good!"

Rick then started performing with local groups: Chesapeake Ridge, Sassafras, Gamber Station and Metro Grass. In 1994, Rick joined the Satyr Hill band and been with them ever since. "The music we play is tightly arranged and well polished vocally. That's what keeps us together."

Rick works hard to balance his home life (with job, wife and two growing young adults) with The Satyr Hill Band. His crisp guitar solos, driving rhythm and clear vocals are testimony to the many hours he spends with the group.

Rick's influences are The Osborne Brothers, Ralph Stanley, Flatt and Scruggs, J. D. Crowe and the New South, Del McCory, Tony Rice, Alison Krause and Union Station and Nickel Creek. The New Grass Revival is his favorite group.

Chaz Smith: Mandolin, Vocals
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Chaz has been the mandolin player and occasionally the bass player for The Satyr Hill Band since April of 1993. He was first introduced to the modern bluegrass style of music by long time friend Rick Miller.

Before 1989, Chaz had been a rock-n-roll and top 40 guitarist since 1970. In 1989 Ricks band Sassafras needed a mandolin player with vocal abilities. Rick knew Chaz had the strong lead vocal ability he needed, provided he could learn to play the mandolin. Chaz decided to give the mandolin a try and now has grown to love the instrument.

Chaz plays a custom hand made F-5 style mandolin made by Steve Longo of Frizzleburg, Maryland. The mandolin was made from the patterns of the original 1923 Gibson Lloyd Loar. This mandolin has a big brother in the shape of a D-28 custom guitar owned by Rick Miller. Both instrument tops were cut from the same Engleman Spruce Tree.

Chaz, born in Virginia in March of 1957, is the fourth of five children lucky enough to be born into a musically talented family. His god-given talent and keen ear has made playing musical instruments and his vocal abilities as a natural as a sunrise. Chaz enjoys fishing, Florida sunsets, music of all kinds (except rap) and most of all, his lovely wife Barbara and his two beautiful daughters, Megan and Shelby.

George Osing: Banjo
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The newest member of the band, George was first introduced to bluegrass by a music buddy from high school. It was a free concert by the legendary bluegrass group The Country Gentlemen. It was to start a long lasting love affair with bluegrass music. George started to play banjo in college (it was a lot more fun than studying!). After about a year of intense practice he started playing with local groups around the area and teaching at the now defunct bluegrass store Baltimore Bluegrass, Inc.

Since 1978, George has performed with groups such as The River Hill Band, Leon Morris and Associates, Dean Sapp and the Harford Express, Mitch Harrell, and many others. Says George, “Working with the Satyr Hill Band is giving me a great opportunity to branch out from mainstream bluegrass. Their intensity is really cool.” His musical influences include banjo artists…Eddie Adcock, Don Reno, Gene Parker, Ben Eldridge, and other artists such as Dan Crary and classical guitarist John Williams. Aside from playing music, George enjoys fishing on the Chesapeake Bay. He is happily married and has a wonderful son and daughter.

Tom Reeves: Bass, Vocals
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Bass Player Tom Reeves joined The Satyr Hill Band in 1995. He has played with many area bluegrass bands including Excalibur and Leon Morris for the past 20 years.

Since his birth in 1960, Tom has been exposed to bluegrass, old-time, country, and gospel music. Much of his family is musically talented and has influenced him greatly. During his late teens he became very interested in the music of singer/songwriters like Prine, Lightfoot, Dylan, and Jonathon Edwards. His appreciation for many types of music, from fiddle tunes to Sting, is reflected in the versatility of his bass playing.

Vocally, Tom sings all of the parts. He sings lead on some of the bands more popular tunes and provides a well rounded, experienced harmony where ever it is needed. For his real time job he sells construction equipment parts. For fun he likes to fish, play tennis, hike, and make home improvements.