Higher Ground History

Higher Ground was founded by Duke Weddington and Jeff Forbes in January of 1998. Original members included Duke, Jeff, Doug
Porter on Guitar, Mark Smith on Bass, and Ron Lujan on Mandolin. From the onset, their style spanned original, traditional and
progressive forms of Bluegrass. Doug's strong lead vocal and Ron's natural tenor delivered a smooth vocal blend during
performances. Strong individual instrumental skills set a tone and pace that was truly unique. The band placed first in the Band
Competition at the Sante Fe Bluegrass festival in 1998. The band performed in and around NM and CO, playing the Durango Meltdow
in April of '99. In the fall of 1999, the sudden passing of Ron Lujan turned the band in a new direction, and was the inspiration for
the song "Higher Ground" written by Duke. Soon after, Doug moved back East to attend school, which closed the first chapter on
Higher Ground. The parting conversation between Doug and Duke led to the writing of the song "A Place in My Heart" on the band's
2nd album.

Duke, Jeff and Mark reformed Higher Ground during the winter of 1999. Dave Devlin on Mandolin &
Dobro, Diane Lujan on vocals, and Fred Bolton on Guitar and vocals joined to start the second chapter of
the band. The vocal blend of Diane, Fred and Duke became the highlight and noticeable aspect of the
newly formed group. Strong individual instrumental skills remained a cornerstone of the band as well. In
the winter of 2000, the band felt they were tight as a group and HG went into the studio to begin
recording their first album. The focus of this first effort was original material. Six months and sixteen
(fourteen originals) songs later, "Black and White, Faded and Torn", was released in April 2001. Chapter 2
of Higher Ground promoted their new CD by playing in the NM and CO areas, performing several times at
the Durango Meltdown, Bluegreass on the River festival in Pueblo, CO, and in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
In the winter of 2002, HG went back into the studio to record their second album. Six months and thirteen
songs (all originals) later, "People, Places, Memories" was released in April 2003. In 2003, the band was
introduced to Mike Flynn, host of the syndicated radio show "The Folk Sampler", who has graciously given
air time to both HG albums. HG took another turn shortly after the release, when Jeff left the group to
pursue a new career opportunity in the Northwest, closing the second chapter Higher Ground.

Higher Ground, Chapter 3, remained a quintet after Jeff's departure in
2003. The band continued to perform in the NM and CO areas,
promoting their style of Bluegrass. In the winter of 2005, HG began
recording their third album. The focus of the third album was again on
original material. Three and half years and thirteen songs later, and
much anticipated by HG fans, "Miles and Miles", was released in early
summer 2008. With ten years, three albums and thousands of miles
behind them, a new journey began...