The Official Version: Brenda Hunter was born in Whittier, California, and grew up singing four-part harmonies with her family. She studied several instruments and voice, graduating with honors in music education. Brenda is a veteran of numerous ensembles, from Rennaissance to rock, and legend has it she once wore a tiger-striped dress while playing 'Tequila' on her saxophone at a gig. She discovered the hammered dulcimer in 1993, while living in Indonesia with her husband and children, and three years later won the National Championship on that instrument. Equally accomplished as a fiddler and composer, at this writing Brenda has submitted a book of arrangements of Irish tunes for hammered dulcimer for Mel Bay Publications.
Sittin' in: At right, with guitarist William Coulter and mountain dulcimist Neal Hellman,one very fun evening at Don Quixote's in Felton, California. And below that, with the inimitable fiddler Randal Bays and Roger Landes, on bouzouki.
Kari Hunter, Brenda's daughter, hangs out with her Mom's band now n then, pitching in with CD sales and generally being wonderful and kind. We so appreciate her. Like, totally. And Mom's happy.
Napkin sketch by gita Lloyd.