The Discovery String Band is pleased to announce that award-winning guitarist and fiddler Kelly Werts, of Fairway, Kan., has joined Cathy Barton, Dave Para and Bob Dyer to add his powerful and dynamic musical talents to the group. For two decades, Kelly has played traditional music throughout the Midwest, delighting audiences with his playing and his infectious love for music and folklore.

“Home on the Range,” a recording/book combination Kelly produced about the Kansas pioneers and their music, garnered praise throughout the state and led him to featured musical spots in various regional television productions, the TNN special, “Music of the Wild West,” the Hollywood film “Ride With the Devil,” and the July 2005 film, "CSA - Confederate States of America".

Kelly continues to concertize with longtime collaborator Connie Dover in her concerts of Celtic and American music. Kelly’s extensive experience in concert halls and school auditoriums has kept him in touch with audiences of all kinds. A fifth generation Kansan, he is dedicated to perpetuating and invigorating the musical tradition of the western pioneers. “Kelly’s classical training has given him a tone well-suited to the period music that the band plays and a presence that contributes to our show.” Dave says, “His love for traditional music gives him a drive and edginess compatible with the music Cathy and I have been playing throughout our career.”

For the past two years, Kelly has teamed with Cathy and Dave to present a multi-media school assembly program on the Lewis and Clark expedition, so he has absorbed much of the band’s traditional and original repertoire. It will be a challenge for Kelly to fill the space left by Paul and Win Grace who have left the band to continue exclusively their duo musical career. The Graces helped form the band two years ago and produce the album “’Most Perfect Harmony’ Lewis & Clark: A Musical Journey” on Dyer’s Big Canoe record label. The album has received high accolades in both folk music and historical circles, especially for the original material by Cathy, Bob and Dave. The American Library Association named the album a Notable Recording. The group received standing ovations during their intensive tour up the Missouri River and surrounding region last year during the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the voyage of the Corps of Discovery.

“We’re grateful for Paul and Win’s major contribution to the project,” Bob says, “and we will miss them. But I think this transition will be both smooth and enjoyable.”

While the band will perform much of its early repertoire represented on the album, members continue to compose new original material as well as research and arrange additional traditional and period music for a dynamic telling of this entertaining and educational epic.