Mark Olson was born and raised in Minnesota by a family of mostly farmers and schoolteachers. Predominately a self-taught musician, Olson is well known for his use of alternate tunings and two-part unison singing that then breaks into harmony. He founded the Jayhawks in 1985 in Minneapolis. Olson was a principal songwriter, singer and guitarist for the band’s self-titled debut album, as well as later releases Blue Earth, Hollywood Town Hall, Tomorrow the Green Grass, and Mockingbird Time. Upon leaving the Jayhawks, he formed the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers in 1997. That band, later called the Creekdippers, made seven albums.
Ingunn Ringvold comes from Larvik, Norway. Blessed with a naturally beautiful voice, she began singing in public at a very young age. Ringvold hears music in her heart and writes emotionally moving string arrangements. She has released four solo albums in addition to her collaborations with Olson.
Mark and Ingunn live in the Surprise Valley, CA. They record and work from home in the company of two Great Pyrenees Mountain dogs they bought from nuns in Tehachapi, CA.