Garry and Annette Sharon are The Rusty Pickup Band. We had our first official gig singing at Garry's aunt Margaret's funeral in 2000 in Ludlow, Vermont. Everyone commented on how good we sounded, and as a result, the Rusty Pickup Band was born.

The concept was: we'd invite other musicians to play along with us (thus the "pickup" part) and if we all didn't know the same version of the songs, that would be the "rusty" part. We started playing bluegrass gospel at area churches, expanded our repertoire to include old-time country and folk music and played a bunch of family reunions (not just our own), picnics and even did a few stage gigs.

That same fall we hosted a series of "pickup" jam sessions at the Hapgood Store in Peru, Vermont (pop. 362). Over the autumnal and early winter months of hosting the jam session, dozens of musicians, singers and music enthusiasts came to enjoy the wood stove, the camaraderie, the witty repartee and the wood-oven baked pizza.

Fast forward to 2003: We've won a couple talent competitions, from a second-place finish at the First Annual Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival in Weston, Vermont in 2001 to, most recently, the First Place in the 2003 Grange New England Regional Talent competition in Dudley, Mass.

Our appearances have ranged from the Vermont History Expo in Tunbridge, Vermont, to a champagne and chocolate reception fundraiser for Make-a-Wish Foundation featuring Maria Muldauer, and events at the Hildene Farm and Folk Art Fair, the West River Farmer's Market, the Manchester Historical Society, the Weston Community Capers, the Killington Mission Church, the Manchester Town Green and countless private parties, wedding receptions and civic events.

Public pressure has been mounting, and The Rusty Pickup Band is due to go into the studio to record a CD this fall.