Walnut River String Band

The Walnut River String Band was formed in 1995 when friends gathered for a Winfield talent showcase. The original band members included Gaye and Dennis Young, Ned Graham, Karen Deal, Karen Nichols, Sara Emrick, and Jerry O’Neil. In 1998 Jerry Norton and Rex Flottman were added to form the second version of the Walnut River String Band that consisted of Dennis and Gaye Young, Ned Graham, Karen Nichols, Jerry O’Neil, Jerry Norton and Rex Flottman.

Cindy Venn joined Ned Graham, Jerry O’Neil, Jerry Norton, Rex Flottman, Dennis and Gaye Young in 1999. This configuration of the Walnut River String Band was responsible for taking the band to a higher level, performing at larger venues through out the Midwest such as the Walnut Valley Festival and Silver Dollar City. This group of folks are the voices and musicians that recorded the Walnut River String Band’s first three Cd’s.

After nearly seven years, Jerry Norton left the String band in late May of 2005. About a month later Brock Benjamin joined Ned Graham, Jerry O’Neil, Cindy Venn, Rex Flottman, Dennis and Gaye Young to become the newest member of the Walnut River String Band. As the 2002 Kansas State Banjo Champion, and the 2003 Kansas State Mandolin Champion, Brock not only plays the mandolin, but has added the banjo and fiddle to the list of instruments making up the Walnut River String Band.

In the 2005 Cindy Venn relocated to the St. Louis, Missouri area. In January of 2006 Andrea McNown joined the band as a vocalist and percussionist. Andrea has a gospel music background and has been active in arranging the band’s vocal harmonies. Andrea is also a talented keyboard artist, though the keyboard is not a part of the WRSB’s instrumentation. Fans of Cindy can take heart; she still joins in with the band when her schedule works out with the band.

With a history that has now started a second decade; the future continues to look exciting for the Walnut River String Band. The music has evolved as the years have passed. The current band members, Ned Graham, Gaye and Dennis Young, Jerry O’Neil, Brock Benjamin, Andrea McNown and Rex Flottman are excited about the future of the band. They’re looking forward to entertaining music fans throughout the Midwest for many years to come!