[1] Sam Rizzetta (born May 23, 1942 died October 26, 2021[2]) was a hammered dulcimer player, builder, and designer originally from Chicago, had lived in Inwood, West Virginia.
Rizzetta discovered the hammered dulcimer while working in the repair of guitars and illustrated books in the 1960s to put himself through graduate school.
The group's trademark was hammered dulcimer quartets, which included soprano and bass models designed by Rizzetta.
Rizzetta performed with the group until 1978, when he decided to pursue solo playing, and concentrate more on building and composing.
He was active in teaching the dulcimer at the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis and Elkins College for many years starting in 1981.