The band was born on a cold snowy night in the fall of 2002 under the original name of Mac Claflin & Lake Effect Bluegrass.  Original members were Mac Claflin, Chub Shortslef, Lois Shortslef, Neil Shortslef and Gary Shortslef. In the spring of 2003 Steve Millett and Paul Grondin joined the band.

They started playing mainly in local churches and area nursing homes. When Mac moved to North Carolina in 2004 the band was renamed Lake Effect Bluegrass. In 2005 Chub and Lois left the band then Gary left the band in 2008. Karen Campolieto joined the group in 2008 playing bass and the addition of Dave Willson in 2009 gave the group a fiddle player. "Uncle Neil" Shortlef retired from the band in the spring of 2012. It took 2 people to replace him. Sharing mandolin duties in the band are Gordon Lyons and Lee Millett. 2013 has brought more changes to the band. Paul Grondin left the band and taking over on the banjo is Gordon Lyons. Lee Millett is now the full time mandolin player.

Over the years the band hosted a Bluegrass/Gospel show at a small country church, played for several Central New York Bluegrass Association functions and most recently played at local bluegrass festivals. In 2010 Central New York Bluegrass Association festival in Sandy Creek and in 2011 they played the 1000 Island and Brantling-Sodus Bluegrass Festivals.

The band was honored by being invited to play at the Bill Knowlton 37^th and 38^th Anniversary of the Bluegrass Ramble Radio Barn Dance and the Bluegrass Ramble Picnic in 2009, 2010 and 2011 which was aired on WCNY 91.3 FM.