Not Easily Broken Band Bio
Not Easily Broken is a family bluegrass band
from the Hess family. The family lives in Woodinville, WA, a suburb of
Seattle. They are beginning their third year of performing music
together. The band enjoys playing traditional bluegrass, gospel
bluegrass and newgrass music with some folk, country, and Johnny Cash
mixed in. Band members are parents, Ben and Sally, and children,
Clayton (16 years), Clark (15 years), Camden (13 years), Caleb (11
years), Kelli (8 years), and Katie (3 years). Their enjoyment of each
other and music is evident in each song they play together.
Early in her children’s lives, Sally began making music an important part of their education. The three oldest boys began with piano lessons. During piano lessons, it became clear that Clark had a gift for playing by ear. Around that time, the boys became interested in Riders in the Sky, and Clark expressed interest in learning how to fiddle. As their interest in western and oldtime fiddle music grew, their grandma sent them a banjo and mandolin. Clayton left piano and started on banjo. Then the boys discovered bluegrass music.
Not long after that, Camden joined in with a guitar and Caleb began playing the Dobro. The boys excelled at instrumental bluegrass tunes, but then they realized that the group needed some vocals and backup. Their dad, Ben, joined with his guitar and some lead vocals and their mom, Sally, took up playing bass for them. The family is now helping little sisters, Kelli and Katie, learn mandolin and fiddle so that the whole family can enjoy playing and performing music together.
The band has already enjoyed many opportunities to perform for all sorts of different venues, such as nursing homes, prisons, churches, city parks, indoor waterparks, bluegrass festivals and farmers’ markets. The band is adaptable to many different venues and enjoys traveling to new places to share their music. They love meeting people, making them laugh and inspiring their audiences to invest in their own families.
The Members
Clayton
Clayton is 16 years old and has been playing banjo for about 5 years. His picking is fabulous! He practices a lot and I am always glad when he finishes because then he plays with me! He never teases me and is always kind.
Clayton wants to be a lawyer when he grows up. I hope that he goes to college nearby. He is always hungry and I like to make him cakes. I love my big brother! --by Kelli
Clark
Clark is 15 years old and plays fiddle and mandolin for our band. But, really, any instrument he picks up, he can play. He has an incredible ear for music. Clark also enjoys singing and picks up harmonies with ease.Clark has lots of energy and charisma. He has a hilarious sense of humor and is always up to something. When he grows up, he wants to be a Navy Seal. Clark is tough as nails, but has a heart full of loyalty, kindness, and laughter. We recently inherited a deep fat fryer and Clark is becoming the deep fat fry king with it. --by Sally
Camden
Camden is 13 years old and has been playing guitar for three years. While he is normally shy and reserved, when you put a guitar in his hands he comes alive. His steady rhythm and insightful backup routines bring depth and color to our music. When he reluctantly takes center stage, you’ll experience a flat-picking treat you’ll not soon forget. When he’s not playing guitar, he enjoys fishing, working out, and keeping an eye out for expensive cars.Camden started life resembling the Baby Jesus—he was a near perfect baby and a delightful toddler. But somewhere along the line, his brothers corrupted him and he now holds the title of ”chief tormentor” in our family. While all his gestures are made with a playful and affectionate spirit, he never wastes an opportunity to evoke a reaction from an unsuspecting family member. --by Ben
Caleb
Caleb is 11 years old and has been playing Dobro for 3 years. His slides and dynamic breaks give the band an intense sound. He is a developing vocalist whose “Corn Dog Song” is always a big hit with our younger audience.When Caleb grows up, he wants to be a dad and an entomologist (someone who studies bugs). He likes nice cars and football. His favorite food is whatever he is hungry for at the time. -–by Clark
Kelli
Kelli is 8 years old. She has been playing mandolin for about 3 months now. She is a promising member of our band. She is also learning to sing.
When Kelli grows up, she wants to be a mom. She enjoys Star Wars, pretending, and cooking. She is the "Cake Master!" Her favorite food is chicken fajitas. And sugar. I love Kelli’s energetic spirit. --by Caleb
Katie
Katie is the youngest member of the band. She is 3 ½ years old. She is just starting fiddle. She also loves to sing. She makes up all kinds of songs and them sings them as she goes about her day.
Katie wants to be a mommy when she grows up. She is already practicing with her dolls. She spends her days running, playing, and dressing up as a princess. Her favorite food is Mickey Mouse Chicken Nuggets that she sampled at Costco today. -–by Camden
Sally
You could say my mom is our band’s “producer”. She is the proud mother of six kids, and she does a great job raising them. She holds down the bass job in the band, and has been playing for the last two years. She has a soft and gentle singing voice that is very beautiful, and quite literally used to sing me to sleep. Her personality is very enjoyable, and she is always having fun.
Random But Important Fact: She is one of the best cooks ever. Her homemade pizza earns rave reviews every time it is served. --by Clayton
Ben
Daddy plays guitar and sings. And he puts me to bed and helps me when I am afraid. I help him with his work and he helps me. I love my Daddy because he reads me stories.Ben has been playing guitar since he was in college. He has always enjoyed music and used a song to ask me to marry him many years ago. Also, he is the one who keeps us all in line and on task during practices.
Ben is the managing director of a company he helped begin called Tidemark. He enjoys fishing and hiking with our kids. I love being married to him. -–by Katie and Sally
