The Band:

Cedar Hill is led by Frank Ray who has been the recipient of numerous great honors during his impressive career. He was inducted into the National Traditional Country Music Association’s Hall of Fame in 2008, received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, and was inducted into the SPBGMA Hall of Greats and as a Pioneer of Missouri Bluegrass by the Missouri Bluegrass Preservation Association last year.

Cedar Hill has received numerous awards and accolades, both individually and as a group, during its long-lasting career. The Band has stayed consistent and true to its Ozark roots with its signature emotional brand of bluegrass music with the talents of Frank Ray on mandolin and vocals; Bill Cross on banjo and vocals; Pete Brown on fiddle and vocals; Patti LaFleur on bass and vocals; and Dalton Harper on guitar and vocals.

As just announced by the International Bluegrass Music Association, Cedar Hill has been chosen as an IBMA Official Showcase Artist and will perform during the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble September 28-October 2, 2021, in Raleigh, N.C.

Mike Smith:
In 1982, Smith launched the Ozarks’ celebrated bluegrass radio series, Seldom Heard Music, from KSMU—the NPR affiliate on the campus of Missouri State University, serving Springfield, Missouri, and much of the greater Ozarks Plateau region. He has manned the microphone every Saturday night since—surpassing 2,000 episodes earlier this year. It is, he believes, the longest-running bluegrass radio show in Missouri.

Today, he is a “reporting DJ”—documenting and sharing his playlists for Seldom Heard with Bluegrass Unlimited for its monthly National Bluegrass Survey of the top 30 tunes from bluegrass DJs around the country.

NoteWorthy Music:
is a collaboration of two word-nerds from the Ozarks. Additionally, each of us has a lifelong love affair with music. As writers, we are drawn to the song and deeply interested in the creation process. Our appreciation goes beyond this to gratitude and respect for all creators and enjoyers of music.

We have developed our music journal—in particular, our popular 20:20 Q&A series—to be a salon platform giving voice to a growing chorus of diverse artists. We are transgenre, embracing art without labels. We celebrate art and artists by honoring the genuine creation and spirit of all who create and by receiving all art with respect and kindness—and without prejudice.
Based in Springfield, Missouri, NoteWorthy Music seeks to bring quality shows to the Ozarks, ranging from listening-room, house concert-esque solo acts to theater-filling, headlining bands.