About the Mamas

KRISTEN MEIERER plays acoustic bass and provides lead vocals. Kristen was born and raised in Eustis, Florida. Kristen’s Uncle John played guitar and sang in various bands. Because of his influence, Kristen picked up the guitar at a young age. After marrying her husband Jeff, they decided to use their wedding money to buy an upright bass and they formed a band called YeeHaw Junction. Kristen has performed bluegrass music throughout the South and as far away as Great Britain. Kristen resides on Johns Island, SC and is self-employed as a CPA.

CARY ANN HEARST was born in Mississippi and raised in Nashville until she attended the College of Charleston in 1997. Hearst is married to Michael Trent and together they tour as Shovels & Rope. Hearst's influences are rooted in the soulful, gritty sounds of Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, and Loretta Lynn, among others. They have played big stages from the David Letterman Show to the Grand Old Opry and all points in between and have toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe. They record and reside on Johns Island, SC. 

DOLORES PAYNE plays the five-string banjo for the Mamas. She was born and raised on Johns Island, where she lives with her husband, Gary. Her love of music and dance began at home and stemmed from her Dad’s Czech heritage and her Mom’s love of music. She learned organ and guitar, which later sparked an interest in bluegrass. Dolores learned a unique style of banjo from friends with an interest in folk and bluegrass. She also learned the Appalachian clogging dances. Dolores is a lover of plants, animals and all thing Johns Island.

CHANDLER MARBURG plays guitar and fiddle, and also provides lead and harmony vocals. Chandler is the daughter of folk/bluegrass musician Bill Clifton and was born in Charlottesville, VA. She grew up in England where she attended school until the age of sixteen and then returned to the US finishing school in New Hampshire. Her enthusiasm for traditional folk and bluegrass music grew from listening to her father and traveling to various music festivals and concerts around Europe and in the United States. She has been a Montessori educator for over 30 years and lives on Wadmalaw Island, SC.

GINA PEREZ was born and raised in South Carolina. Her love of the fiddle began in her twenties when she began learning Appalachian Old-Time Fiddle tunes. Her joy of playing fiddle tunes led her to eventually play in bands like The Butterbeans, The Brillers, and Cane Creek String Band. During those years Gina also began playing upright bass and currently performs with local group The Yum Yum Boys Old Time Jazz Band.. She has learned to read bass cleft and play with her daughter in the Lowcountry American String Orchestra (LASO) and local bluegrass bands. 
Gina enjoys playing music with her daughter Rayna who is becoming an accomplished fiddler. When not playing music they grow indigo, vegetables and cruise the Lowcountry waterways.

CAITLIN CAHILL PAPE plays the banjolele and adds harmony vocals to the Mamas. Growing up in Nashville, TN, she went to art school in Chicago for photography and web design. She ended up in Charleston after visiting family there her whole life. Once there she started singing professionally with cover and wedding bands, and then took a 3 year trip to NYC. Finally returning to the south, she was introduced to the Mamas by her sister-in-law, Lauren Bevins, who was their mandolinist at the time. She currently spends time as a quilter and textile artist, the Mamas’ web/social media gal, and lives on Johns Island with her son.

BECCA SMITH is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. She grew up in a musical home and, as legend has it, she sang in the crib as a baby. Becca began playing guitar by the time she was 10, and shortly afterwards began her journey as a songwriter. She also attended College of Charleston, where she double-majored in German and Arts Management. After college, Becca released her self-produced debut album, entitled I-26, in July of 2018. She was also awarded Charleston City Paper's "Best Singer-Songwriter" of '18. She currently plays with her husband Coty Hoover as Admiral Radio.

JENNI LYN GARDNER Growing up in Conway in a multi-talented musical family was the foundation for Gardner’s career. “I cannot remember a time when I did not play music,” she said. From its beginnings in local bluegrass concerts, Gardner’s career expanded to include performances at the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville; touring with the 2007 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Male Vocalist of the Year, Bradley Walker; and participation in the 2009 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year, to being a member of Grammy-nominated bluegrass group Della Mae.