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Gene Audi - Guitar, Vocals It really began in the Adirondack Mountains a few years back when Bill and Gene hammered out Foggy Mountain Breakdown for the first time around a raucous campfire. There's nothing quite like the sound of acoustic guitar and banjo under a clear night sky amid the pines and hardwoods surrounding Lake George. Gene plays guitar and some mandolin and when Dale and Mindy need an occasional rest, he sings a few of his favorites. For Gene, Riverview Ramblers has rekindled a love for bluegrass music dating back to his college years when he was first introduced to the music of bluegrass greats like Flatt and Scruggs, Peter Rowan and Tony Rice. A little known fact... the Ramblers also represent a reunion of sorts for two of its members. Dale and Gene played high school baseball together. Dale hurled 'em from that red dirt mound along Forest Road, and Gene played shortstop... shouting, "He's no batter, he's no batter,"... which no doubt inspired Dale on to several wins! |
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Bill Flanagan -
Banjo Bill plays banjo and Dobro, and also performs solo hammered dulcimer. He previously played in the bluegrass bands "Acoustic Effect" and "Heartwood." Bill's unique banjo style stems from many abstract influences including Country Cooking, Seldom Scene's Ben Eldridge, Steve Martin, and U2's The Edge. His Dobro influences include Red Molly's Abbie Gardner and session legend Jim Henry. Bill's favorite Ramblers tune is the bluegrass version of Carolina in the Pines, which reminds him of a special place and time from long, long ago... |
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Pete
Gernert-Dott - Bass, Vocals This is Pete’s first foray into bluegrass. Mindy introduced him to this strange new world in 2005 by playing the First Harvest demo at a cookout. Coming to the Ramblers from a decidedly more noisy background in the rock world, Pete was impressed by the technical skill and energy of the band. He auditioned (leaving his beloved Motorhead t-shirt at home) and the rest is history. Pete’s been playing electric bass since he was 14 but he finally had the perfect excuse to buy an upright. Music has always been an essential part of life over the years…learning how to play bluegrass on a big old slab of wood and getting to hang out with 5 great people has been an incredible experience…and a whole lot of fun. |
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Mike
Mariotti - Mandolin, Vocals Mike is fondly known amongst the Ramblers as “The Godfather” of the mandolin. Heavily influenced by bluegrass greats such as Bill Monroe and Lou Martin, Mike has a strong rhythmic drive that energizes and propels the Ramblers’ sound on material ranging from rip-snortin’ bluegrass breakdowns to crossover gems. His tasty fills and artfully crafted instrumental solos round out the full range of Ramblers’ repertoire. Mike is also gifted with a quintessential voice and talent for bluegrass-influenced harmony vocals. |
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Dale
Wade-Keszey - Vocals, Harmonica Dale is a historian and educator... an expert on the history of the Mohawk Valley and a member of the board of directors of the Mabee Farm historical property in Rotterdam Junction, New York. He is currently a 7th-8th grade Social Studies teacher, and was previously a self-employed landscape designer and contractor. Dale is a prolific songwriter... his song "Dirt on My Skirts" was featured on the baseball compilation CD "Diamond Cuts: Top of the Sixth" and on the EFT documentary "Dirt on Their Skirts: 150 Years of Pioneers in Womens Baseball." Dale has been singing and playing harmonica and guitar for many years. |
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Mindy
Whisenhunt - Vocals, Fiddle Mindy originally hails from Nebraska, where she cut her musical teeth on bluegrass, as much as she tries to deny it. She grew up singing and performing in her small town (and we DO mean small), which afforded her the opportunity to try her hand at many different instruments (including trombone, tuba, and piano). Her main focus, however, was on her voice. She began singing in school performances and community plays at the age of seven. Her various college and community productions include: “Daisy Mae” in “Li’l Abner,” and “Lucy” in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” “Damn Yankees,” and “Wizard of Oz.” During a college year in Mexico, Mindy was the first non-Latina to be selected for “Ensamble,” a University singing troupe of El Instituto Técnologica y de Estudios Superiores that tours the country. Mindy returned to the United States to pursue her graduate degree in California where she sang in community plays and choirs. When her family moved to Upstate New York, Mindy was thrilled to be discovered by the Ramblers. She says, “Singing with these boys is more fun than a shotgun and matches.” In her spare time, she is an educator and storyteller, enjoys hiking in the Adirondacks and is a marathoner and triathlete as well. |
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