Kutztown Folk Music Society

Russ Rentler

Russ is one musician whose gone from one extreme to the other, both in music, and in life. After playing in heavy metal bands in high school, he discovered bluegrass. Later in college he teamed up with a few other unknowns, John Gorka and Rich Shindell, plus Doug Anderson, to play around the Lehigh Valley.

Although his first love was music, he needed to work, so he went to medical school and became a doctor. During this time he continued to pick up new instruments, including hammered and mountain dulcimers, autoharp, dobro, and bouzouki. Finally, this year, he made the big step: Dr. Rentler closed his medical practice to pursue his goal of being a performing musician.

Russ plays folk, Celtic, and blues...especially on hammered dulcimers that he builds himself. Besides a wry sense of humor, free medical advice, and a wonderful role model (my old friend, Walt Michaels) .

e-mail: info@kfms.org

phone: 610-683-8720