Growing up in bluegrass, Fred Bartenstein had the privilege of knowing and working with virtually all of the music’s first generation. The editor of Muleskinner News from 1969-1974, he has also been a musician, festival MC and talent director, composer, record producer, compiler of the first bluegrass market research, founder of a regional association, and a lifelong fan. He has hosted bluegrass programs on seven stations between 1966 and the present: WREL (Lexington, VA), WBAI (New York, NY), WDHA (Dover, NJ), WHRB (Cambridge, MA), WONE (Dayton, OH), WYSO (Yellow Springs, OH) and WBZI (Xenia, OH).

In his professional life, Fred has been a manager and CEO for nonprofits, government and business. He currently manages an organizational development consulting practice from Yellow Springs, Ohio, helping groups (including the International Bluegrass Music Association and International Bluegrass Music Museum) shape and adapt to change.

In 2002, Fred Bartenstein originated “Banks of the Ohio: Music From the Homeplace of Bluegrass” for BluegrassCountry.org on behalf of the International Bluegrass Music Museum.  It has since been added to the roster of Worldspace Satellite Radio and select terrestrial radio stations.

In 2006, Fred Bartenstein received a Distinguished Service Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association.