High Country

HIGH COUNTRY

  • From the San Francisco Bay area.
  • Formed in 1968.
  • Only remaining original member: mandolinist Butch Waller, who founded the group.
  • 1971, they were the first west coast band to be invited to Bill Monroe’s Bean Blossom festival.
  • Butch Waller and the late Charlie Waller (of the Country Gentlemen) are not related but they share the same birthdate: January 19.
  • 1982, Waller married Kathy Kallick (then of the Good Ole Persons).
  • Waller first band was a group that included Herb Pederson, who at the time was a classmate of Waller’s at St. Augustine’s grammer school in Berkeley, California.
  • 1999, Waller released a solo album of mandolin instrumentals called “Golden Gate Promenade.”
  • Butch Waller also has performed and recorded with his brother Bob as “The Waller Brothers” (classic country duets).
  • 2009, released “Perfect Companions” album.
  • 2018, celebrated their 50th anniversary as a band with a concert in Berkeley.