Les Ross, Sr. Passes Away

An Upper Peninsula music legend has died. Les Ross, Senior, learned to play “Lumberjack-style” harmonica while growing up in a farm in Eben Junction. After decades of performing in the U.P., Ross achieved national stardom in 1998 when he released an album of traditional Finnish-American music. That led to television, radio and music festival appearances. He was the only Finnish-American traditional musician from the Northern Great Lakes area ever invited to participate in the National Folk Festival. Ross received the prestigious Michigan Heritage Award in 2009… was a frequent performer in the Copper Country… and was inducted into the Aura Jamboree Wall of Fame. Ross died Thursday at his daughter’s home. He was 90.