Marley's Ghost is an eclectic unit steeped in everything from gospel to bluegrass to old-time to Celtic to country -- even reggae. The group originally came together in 1986 when Danny Wheetman was invited by his friend Ed Littlefield Jr. to work on a solo effort in Littlefield's studio in Arlington, WA. Jon Wilcox and Mike Phelan came up from California to help out. (The three had been playing together since St. Patrick's Day of that year.) While working on the solo effort, the three began recording the tracks for what would become the Marley's Ghost debut album Haunting Melodies. Littlefield offered to play steel guitar and the group was born. Vocalist Wheetman plays bass, rhythm guitar, fiddle, harmonica, banjo, Dobro, and lap steel. Wilcox, who holds a law degree from Stanford, sings and plays mandolin and rhythm guitar. Columbus, OH, native Phelan sings and plays lead guitar, fiddle, Dobro, bass, and lap steel. Littlefield sings and plays pedal steel, Highland bagpipes, mandolin, Dobro, and lead guitar. The group released Live at the Freight, a collection commemorating their 15 years together, in January 2001 on Sage Arts Records. ~ Erik Hage, All Music Guide