Burns, bluegrass highlight Ellen Chapel concert
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LEWISTOWN -- Legendary musician James Taylor rose to fame in the 1970s, the same time frame when Rich Burns opened his optometry practice in Lewistown.
Over the course of a long-running career, Taylor has won five Grammy Awards and seen many of his albums go platinum. Born and raised in Lewistown, Burns had patients that spanned generations of families during his 40 years in business.
The 69-year-old Burns retired in 2019 and has since become a solo artist, covering songs by household names like Taylor and Cat Stevens.
"I enjoy music, I enjoy people and I enjoy getting out and giving people some leisurely background music," Burns said. "I perform at different places like churches and coffeehouses."
Certainly, don't expect him to launch a national tour anytime soon, but he does enjoy performing about twice a month.
Burns and Bluegrass band Nittany Valley Wranglers highlight the Ellen Chapel Church Concert Series at the church fellowship hall, located at 11764 Ferguson Valley Road, Lewistown. The two are slated to perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, with the Wranglers performing first and Burns following at 8:15 p.m.
Although Burns has written two original songs, which he performs from time to time, he mostly performs covers. He has performed a couple of times at Ellen Chapel Church
previously.
Burns also has performed and hosted open mike night at the Stonefly Café in Reedsville.
"People connect well with good music," Burns said of how he chooses his cover songs. "They express their ideas in the music that they're doing. They're singing about things that most people can relate to."
As far as Burns' music is concerned, he first picked up a guitar in high school. Never taking lessons, he admits he's "played by ear" on stage and "fell in love with the timeless tunes of the '70s."
Audiences like what they hear from "Bernie Rich," the musical stage name he uses. Burns prefers to keep his optometrist profession in the past. "I'd rather not go by the name, 'Rich Burns, that eye doctor guy,'" he joked.
Nittany Valley Wranglers
Based in State College, the five-member Nittany Valley Wranglers perform their bluegrass music at venues across central Pennsylvania.
Nittany Valley Wranglers are known for their traditional bluegrass music as well as some contemporary and gospel bluegrass. They also like to throw in a classic rock song or two every now and then.
"We've been playing in the State College area for about 20 years -- or longer," said Keith Miska, who plays five-string banjo and bass vocals with the group. "I've been in various bands over the years."
Besides their stage performances, Nittany Valley Wranglers book events like weddings, parties, festivals, restaurants, bars, and churches.
The band has undergone some dramatic changes over the past year, adding Richard Auhl as its new lead singer and rhythm guitarist. Auhl is joined by Miska; Charlie Rury, fiddle; Christine Schafer, vocals; and Mike Bratton, doghouse bass.
"We were on sort of a sabbatical the last couple of years because of COVID," Miska explained. "I kind of reconstructed things last year. We're back now and getting shows lined up."
Miska and Bratton have been in three of those bands together, including the Allegheny Ridgerunners which have a CD available of mostly original songs.
"I started all of the bands myself," said Miska, who also retired from the working world recently. "I rounded everybody up. It's a challenge to get everybody together for a show or get to practice, but we have seasoned musicians."
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