About MHBS

Ray Bubick - Banjo & Accordion

A semi-retired Electrical Engineer & retired military combat flyer, Ray organized and is the founder of the MHBS, and devotes his time between directing activities for the band and teaching in Colorado at Denver University.

Ray started accordion lessons at age six, but developed his love of the banjo in graduate school and has played it ever since. Ray plays both the banjo and accordion as well as doing vocals for the band and occasionally chimes in with some musical spoons!

John Mumford - Plectrum & Five-String Banjo

Like most banjo enthusiasts, it was the sound of the instrument that led John to take up the banjo. In the 60's John purchased an open-back banjo and Pete Seeger’s instruction book "How to Play the Five-String Banjo". Later John moved to Colorado to attend college and decided to resume playing the five-string banjo. He ended up at the former "Your Father's Mustache" bar playing with the now defunct"' Mustache" banjo band. Subsequently, John performed at various pizza parlors, restaurants, ski resorts and other establishments around town as a soloist and a member of "The Mustache Band." In 1997 John decided to further his musical knowledge by attending the University of Colorado - Denver. In 2002 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music with an emphasis in music performance using the plectrum banjo. His playing has taken him to jazz festivals and performances in several stage productions including the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.

Molly Kaufman - Piano/Keyboard

For over 30 years Molly Kaufmann has been playing ragtime and barrel-house piano as well as singing ragtime, comedy, and blues songs. She has appeared at many ragtime festivals across the nation, including most of the Central City, Colorado jazz festivals. She has entertained ‘steamboaters’ on the famous river boats, Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen. Molly has performed throughout the country from mountain resorts to Broadway where she played for Eubie Blake's 100th birthday party. She even brought ragtime to the Gold Coast of Australia as a star of the American Ragtime Party. In the last seven years she has been pianist and premiere vocalist for the Denver Nighthawks Traditional Jazz Band. In her 'spare' time she composes comedy songs, and plays tennis. www.mollykaufmann.com

Jim Calm - Tuba & Keyboard

Jim has a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Colorado and a Master of Education degree from Lesley College. Jim enjoys playing tuba with Denver, CO area Dixieland bands, and is an elementary music teacher in his spare time. Jim also plays Ragtime piano, theatre organ, and church organ, and directs a church choir and barbershop men's chorus.

Donna Smith - Banjo & Vocalist

Donna is a retired teacher from Littleton, CO and loves to entertain. She has years of experience on stage in plays and musicals, appearing in many theatrical productions in the Littleton area. She learned to play the banjo from her father, and her distinctive vocals always bring the crowd to their feet! Donna is the featured female vocalist for the Mile High Banjo Society, and always delights the audience with her enthusiast singing!

Ron (Snake) Moermond - Plectrum Banjo/Vocalist

"Snake" as he is affectionately called by his friends, is a retired Data Processing Manager for Gates Rubber Company. "Snake" started playing the banjo in college in the '50s, and has played in Dixieland bands in Iowa, and Denver, Colorado and later with "Your Father's Mustache Band" in both Denver & Brussels. He also has sat-in with many Shakey Pizza Parlor bands. Ron is also a collector of fine classic banjos, and chimes in from time to time with many vocals.

Decker Westerberg - Guitar/Banjo & Washboard

Decker is a retired aerospace engineer who started playing banjo in the late '60s with several small groups and theatrical productions. He has played with several Dixieland bands in the '80s and '90s and now concentrates his talents with the MHBS playing plectrum banjo, the guitar and delights the audiences with his whimsical washboard and all its attachments.