Born and raised in Alberta, Heather has made Vanderhoof, BC home for just over 15 years and has played guitar since the age of 8. She can remember playing for school Christmas concerts, Sunday school and definitely anytime she visited her grandparents on their ranch in Saskatchewan.
Her introduction to bluegrass music was when she met her future husband, Bob, while she was working as a newly graduated RN in Peace River, Alberta and he was working for Alberta Forest Service in nearby Manning. Bob played the banjo and had a keen interest in Flatt & Scruggs style of playing. Bob was a hit with Heather's family out on the ranch; so much so that her uncle sent her an old Stella "beetle back" mandolin and suggested it might be a good idea to learn to play it if she planned to keep Bob around. She worked her way into a Washburn a few years later but still has old Stella in the living room.
Visits to the bluegrass festival in Chetwynd, BC and local jam sessions in Vanderhoof played a huge part in her increased interest and love of bluegrass. She and Bob were invited to join a local band "Highway 16 Bluegrass" and played with them for several years until 2003 when they decided to call it quits as a result of family committments. It was during those years with the band that Heather began songwriting. It started off purely by accident and has evolved into a semi-serious sideline she is developing. The songs usually arrive unannounced and demand immediate attention which is tricky when she's driving or sound asleep!! Water seems to be very inspirational as far as songwriting goes....she's written several while cleaning the toilet or having a shower.
In 2004, Heather and her son Dylan attended their first ever bluegrass workshop at The Hills Health Ranch in 108 Mile, BC. It was there that they decided it might be fun to play together and The Rusty Bucket Pluckers came into being. She and Dylan played on their own for over a year and a half and were joined finally by Bob and his banjo. In September of 2005, the latest addition to the instrument collection arrived in the form of Jethro, the 3/4 size stand up bass. That brings the number too high to count but needless to say you will always having something to make a tune out of if you come to visit.
Heather is a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease in 2002 and undergoing subsequent chemotherapy and radiation. Part of the reason for going ahead with this album was as a result of her illness and the absolute realization of how precious and short our lives really are...that you need to go after your dreams and make them come true.
Besides her music, Heather keeps busy with her family which includes Bob, Dylan and Lindsay as well as two cats, Izzy and Holly. She works as a Home Care Nurse with the Northern Health region and recently graduated with her Bachelor of Nursing Degree from Athabasca University. She also enjoys quilting, gardening, scrapbooking and just about anything else you throw in her direction.
Photo: Clarke Action Photography 2006