These pages provide a history of Fred's six-decade involvement in bluegrass music, research findings on generations of bluegrass artists, books for sale, links to other web resources, photographs, and a listener's guide to bluegrass vocals.
Growing up in bluegrass, Fred Bartenstein had the privilege of knowing and working with virtually all of the music's first generations. The editor of Muleskinner News from 1969-1974, he has also been a broadcaster, musician, festival MC and talent director, founder of a regional association, scholar, educator, and a lifelong fan.
In his professional life, Fred has been a manager and consultant for nonprofits, government and business. He was named a Distinguished Achievement Award recipient by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2006 and is the former chair/president of the IBMA Foundation.