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MP3 The Grateful Hooligans - Turn Back Time
Album Containing Original Bluegrass tunes and Self written music by a San Diego Band that have partial origins in Switzerland. Although they always tend to return to the same eclectic instruments, their music proves to be versatile.
15 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Bluegrass, COUNTRY: Country Folk
Our Band is composed of five individuals in a wide age group and with completely different backgrounds. The common thread is that we all enjoy the same types of music, which are not limited to any particular category. We are an eclectic string band with bluegrass, old time, and mountain music leanings as well as original creations and joint band productions. Our musical directions often seem unlimited as we also enjoy ethnic English, Irish, and Swiss folk songs as well as some Blues, Jazz, and Country renderings.
Origins of The Band
The Grateful Hooligans were formed by combining two bands which were looking for new members. The San Diego bluegrass band Spur of the Moment was composed of a group of friends meeting weekly to play bluegrass and mountain music. Hank Hiskes was an original "plank owner" along with Kip Cole, Charles Farner, Richard Danford, and Kater Bernius. Ken and Regina Bagley were recruited by the band when Charles announced his plans to move to Idaho. Richard and Kater went to visit Charles and his family and ultimately purchased a home and obtained new jobs in Idaho the same day. Kip Cole stayed with the band for another year but eventually moved to Northern California.
Marianne Vogel, an accomplished professional musician, and her teenage son, Jens Stalder, a very gifted musician, who formed the heart of the Euro-American band, The Getaway Family, had taken up residence in San Diego. When they began appearing at local bluegrass club events and jams, Ken, Regina, Kip and Hank took note. One night Ken and Regina were out for dinner and were discussing the merits of inviting Marianne and Jens to join the band. Marianne and Jens walked into the restaurant at that very moment and were invited to the next practice. The chemistry was good and they became permanent members of the new hybrid band which initially took the name Diamonds of Dust before settling on the current name.
The band features Regina on vocals, autoharp, guitar, and fiddle; Marianne on vocals, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin; Ken on vocals, mandolin, guitar, and resonator guitar; Jens on vocals, banjo, harmonica, and piano; Hank on vocals, bass, and guitar. Clifton Russell, the third residing member of The Get Away Family (and Marianne’s husband), still practices with the band and serves as a backup bass player and is probably more appropriately known as the Band Mascot.
Marianne Vogel
In 1978, Marianne completed studies at the Music Academy of Luzern, Switzerland. She majored there in the recorder-flute and also received classical voice training. To date she is still a registered song-writer in Switzerland. Marianne is a professional musician who led a bluegrass band based in Zurich named Kinnerth from through 1997. Marianne has written dozens of songs and the group made several CD’s including one produced by the world renowned Swiss banjo player, Jens Kruger.
Marianne’s songs have much to do with her sometimes very difficult life experiences and her faith. She led a children’s choir in Switzerland for several years as part of the "Power Kids" and was responsible for raising enough money for mission trips to Zambia, Africa, Rumania, and Eastern Europe and organized nine bluegrass festivals in Swizerland.
Marianne moved to San Diego with Clifton and Jens in 2001 and took up permanent residence. She has since made several prolonged trips back to Europe and still performs as "The Get Away Family," playing at restaurants and festivals. Her travels have taken her through many countries. Although quiet and unassuming by nature, Marianne is the unproclaimed leader of the Hooligans and has a stated goal of traveling through Europe with the whole band.
Jens Stalder
Jens’ musical training started long before he was old enough to remember. His father was a professional banjo teacher and Jens was brought up listening to scales and banjo tunes day and night. In his own words, “I was tortured by the constant reminiscing tones of my father’s banjo.” Jens began performing on stage in Switzerland at age two, singing B I N G O with his two older sisters and brother. When he turned eight, his mother, Marianne, inquired what instrument he would like to learn to play. By that time, Jens said, “it has to be the banjo.” A few years later Jens began playing with the family in many European bars and restaurants. Jens’ first banjo was an open back model which he felt contributed greatly to his musical development. Jens said that this was because he could feel the vibration of the notes as he played them. Jens’ musical training was guided by his godfather, Jens Kruger, who also gave him a Deering Tenbrook Legacy mahogany banjo which he now uses to record and perform with.
Hank Hiskes
Hank paid eight dollars for an arch top guitar with a big crack in the top when he was in eighth or ninth grade. He learned to play his first tunes from a record album entitled "Play Guitar with the Ventures" and hasn''t stopped playing since. His primary musical influences were The Kingston Trio and The Four Seasons. He says, at the time I started listening and playing music in the early sixties, there was a war going on between folk music and rock and roll. I''ve always been torn. Hank is the senior citizen of the group and in addition to the guitar, learned to play the bass fiddle, banjo, and cello, over the years. Hank says his true love is "Do Wop" and hopes to eventually convince the group to add a few "Do Wop" songs to the repertoire.
Gina LeMay
Gina LeMay started singing as a child about the age of three. She sang whenever she found herself washing dishes or wandering in a store. She later sang in a Junior High School choir. At the age of nineteen she began traveling through different states with musicians whom sang and played gospel music. In the early 90''s she recorded in on a compilation album called "The Voice of the Homeless." It was recorded at Studio West in San Diego for Mag Records. The record was circulated worldwide. During this time she became pregnant with her son Jazz. He was born in 1993. For the next several years, she was away from music while raising Jazz. She took on a job as a dental assistant after she decided that her career as a singer was over. She felt that she was too old to sing in public. Encouraged by her husband Kenny, she re-discovered the joy of making music again through the San Diego Bluegrass community. She and Ken began singing as a duo, joined the San Diego Bluegrass Society, and performed publicly at their events. Later, she and Ken found a home in a bluegrass band, which eventually evolved into The Grateful Hooligans. Gina plays a number of instruments including the autoharp, dulcimer, penny-whistle, and guitar. Her voice as a soloist, and her beautiful harmonies with Marianne have become the trademark of the group.
Kenny James
Kenny James began playing guitar at the age of eleven. At the age of thirteen he was performing publicly as the lead guitarist in a local country band called "The Memphis Six." At the age of seventeen, Ken left the band and began playing gospel music. He met Gina while leading a church music service with his guitar. He began performing bluegrass music with Gina and took up the mandolin in 2004. The mandolin was a present for his fiftieth birthday. Ken had always wanted to play the mandolin but had never bought one. Ken and Gina both joined the band Spur of the Moment with Kip and Hank in 2006. Ken also plays resonator guitar.
Clifton Russel
Cliff started to play the guitar when he was 21 years old. In a few years he began to play for "Christian Inspiration." In the spring of 1975, He started singing in terraces, restaurants and bars in Paris, France. He also played in trains, busses, beauty saloons, movie lines, and boat fares. Sometimes he joined with other traveling musicians and played in pubs, pizzerias and tea rooms in Switzerland. Later he traveled thru spain, Portugal, Spanish Morroco, Italy, then up to Germany, Denmark, Holland, Belgian, and England. Cliff also plays with "The Get Away family" and occasionally plays backup bass with the Grateful Hooligans. He feels he certainly fits in with the Hooligan theme.
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