Kerry Christensen, one of the world's best Alpine yodelers, was raised on a potato farm in Grace, Idaho and had to wander quite a distance to discover his passion - yodeling! A performer from the tender age of three, he has sung everything from western ballads to barbershop music. It was during his travels to Austria in 1976 however, that he discovered the folk music that would be his life. Armed with recordings of the great yodelers, Kerry returned from Europe, determined to master this ancient art--and he did. While driving the family tractor around and around the potato fields, he practiced 14-15 hours a day. He drove his father crazy and was banished to practicing in the garage--to no avail, as yodeling carries very well. (Remember, it was used to communicate between hillside farms.)

Kerry's first yodeling performance was in 1977, at a Brigham Young University orientation assembly. His yodeling brought 15,000 or so students to their feet for a standing ovation. Then his career really soared when Disney World in Orlando, Florida hired him to work at the German Pavilion of the Epcot Center in 1984. He was the Disney World Yodeler from 1984 to 1990 and the leader of the night band for the last four of those years.

After his experience at Disney, Kerry headed out on his own and has had great success as one of only two or three professional, full-time yodelers in the United States. You will find him now at various German festivals around the U.S. and Canada during the summer and at his dinner theatre in Mesa, Arizona, in the winter. Kerry is coming to Green County from performing at Silver Dollar City's World Fest in Branson, Missouri.

Kerry has made numerous recordings, including not only yodeling, but also zither playing. Following his one-hour performance at Turner Hall of Monroe, several of his cds will be for sale. Kerry also has a website at www.MasterYodeler.com.

Kerry's performance at Turner Hall is possible through the cooperation of Hans Lenzlinger of the New Glarus Hotel Restaurant and Chalet Landhaus Inn, where Kerry will also be performing periodically while in Green County.

More information on Turner Hall's Swiss Heritage Series is available here.