Cliff Landis grew up in rural Ohio and from an early age began singing four part a capella gospel songs in the church, and at home, in a family that loved music. He began playing guitar in high school, and first engaged a lifelong passion for bluegrass and old time American music while in college, attending many of the great festivals of this music in the southeastern U.S., meeting and learning from many great players.

A lover of traditional instrumental music, he also plays fiddle and old time banjo and has played dances in Ohio, Chicago, California and Southeastern Alaska for decades. Cliff maintains a keen interest in all kinds of early country music as well as swing and blues, and has performed with various traditional artists throughout the US. Cliff and Julia formed a musical team based on a mutual love of the harmony singing of early county bands such as the Carter Family, the Louvin Brothers, and Bill Monroe, among many others.


Julia Landis began playing music still in high school. She got her