The Bridgeport Volunteers are a Gospel group from the Pacific Northwest. They are located in Oregon's Willamette Valley, tucked into the foothills of the coast range. The group was formed in
August of 1992 when local musicians were asked to provide music at a corn feed. After the corn feed they decided, "hey, we ought to get together and jam with each other", and after several months of playing together, decided to go public. And why Gospel music? Gospel music is always
positive, in trial, tragedy, sorrow or despair, it continues to put forth a message of hope (try and find that in most "even my dog left me" country songs). The group has had as high as 8 members and presently has 5 core members and 2 occasional members (that would be Hershel Olmsted (pictured with the group above) and Jim Rose) (remember, this is a volunteer organization), they are, Jim and Judi Plummer, Kenny and Jodi Frederic,Hershel Olmsted, Jim Rose, and Nancy Kurz. Jim plays guitar, banjo (doesn't admit it), and hammered dulcimer. Judi plays various percussion (and is the keeper of the set list).
Kenny plays the washtub base and tenor guitar (also tells Falls City jokes, and is the only Lamerelle' player in the Pacific Northwest). Jodi plays fiddle and various percussion (she is the keeper of the tempo and you better not slow down).Nobody knows for sure how many (and different) instruments Hershel plays, but we do know that he plays the saw really well. Nancy
plays guitar and mandolin (she does the groups' photos, and doesn't even charge for it). Jim Rose plays harmonica, bones, and occasionally the mandolin.
Schedule Every 5th Sunday of the month,we are at the Union Gospel Mission in Salem.
EVENTS
Besides playing at different churches and The Union Gospel Mission in Salem (this is on going and
our favorite place to play, and we're their favorite also), other events that we have played for
include The Luckiamute River Valley Music Festival, Summer In The City (Salem), Art in the Park
(Dallas), both Dallas and Monmouth summer concert series, Pioneer Picnic (Brownsville), Linn
County Lamb and Wool Fair (Scio), Polk County Fair,Guest appearance on Oregon Territory TV
program, and several other events
