Bluegrass music is alive and well in the heart of … East Brunswick? That’s thanks in part to Mark Miklos, a township resident who just released his first full-length CD. The album, “Pocono Joe,” is an all-bluegrass record that includes some classics along with Miklos’ own “traditional” songs.
East Brunswick resident Mark Miklos, who grew up in Edison, plays the type of bluegrass and honky-tonk music that inspired him as a youngster. The CD is out on Ampersand Records, a small independent label run by Bob Harris, who also played guitar on the CD. Harris recently mixed and mastered a collection of “lost” Johnny Cash songs for release.
Miklos, a native of Edison, has lived in East Brunswick for 10 years. He has a wife, Gail, and two daughters. Gail also doubles as his manager.
Miklos has been busy playing gigs around central New Jersey, as well as at bluegrass festivals in other states. He has also performed some live radio shows, and his music is occasionally featured on local college radio stations.
Although he grew up in Middlesex County, Miklos said the appeal of raw bluegrass struck him early on.
“The first time I heard Hank Williams Sr. on the radio, I was hooked,” he said.
Miklos began writing songs that wound up on the CD a few years back, at one time playing with a band named the Raritan Valley Ramblers. Even though he still plays out with a different band, he said the album is really a solo effort.
“The CD is a project by me rather than a band effort,” he said. “I work as a solo artist but do shows with a band.”
His band’s current membership includes Harris, Arthur Goldstein, Tommy Stevenson and Jim Thompson. There are some different musicians performing on the album, including Randy Bailey on bass, Ron Hall on mandolin, Travis Wetzel on fiddle, Rich Gulya on banjo, and Gary Oleyar also on fiddle.
Miklos, who wrote six of the 10 songs on the CD, feels it is important that his music retains an old-time bluegrass style, as opposed to the more polished sounds of modern bluegrass.
“My music wasn’t synthesized or changed in any way,” he said.
The recording process, he added, was no easy task.
“You’re under a microscope in the studio,” he said. “I also learned about the time involved per song to make sure everything is right.”
His band plays everything live, so the only overdubs were for vocals.
“Bluegrass is still raw music,” he said. “We did almost everything live except the vocals.”
Overdubbing the vocals actually made recording them easier, Miklos said, because he was able to listen to the tracks a few times before having to sing.
Miklos said he gets his songwriting inspiration from a number of places, including stories he hears. “I Saw You From Heaven” was inspired by the death of Loretta Lynn’s husband.
He said he realized that Nashville wasn’t really interested in old-time bluegrass, but he is happy playing the style he cherishes.
“I was told Nashville is looking for more pop-style stuff,” he said.
His Web site is www.markmiklos.com, and the CD is available on cdbaby.com.

