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We dedicate this page to Bill Bowes, our Bassman
February 29, 1948 To May 15, 2007 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The Greystone Ramblers were formed at the Greystone Manor home of master harmonica player Albert Hoopes in the Winter of 1985. The goal was to play for the Old Fiddlers Picnic in Hibernia Park, northwest of Philadelphia. Over the years, a variety of talented multi-instrumentalists (and instruments) have participated in the Ramblers' energetic rendering of American and Celtic folk music. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The Ramblers have played at events in the Philadelphia and West Chester, Pennsylvania, area such as the Old Fiddlers' Picnic, Turks Head Music Festival, Spring Gulch Folk Festival, Tall Cedars, The Carriage Event of Goshen, Delaware Friends of Folk, The Marple Newtown 4th of July Parade, St. Mary's Parish Hall Square Dances, Old Fashioned Christmas in West Chester, West Chester Rotary's Chili Cookoff, the Toys for Tots Campaignat Finnegans Wake, The Philadelphia Folksong Society meetings and Square Dance, and a host of other community concerts, parades, and festivals. The band lost its founder on Saint Patrick's Day, 1994, when Al Hoopes passed away. However, his band mates honor his spirit and celebrate his joy in all types of folk music by continuing to perform an array of styles on a wide range of instruments. Our fellow Rambler Bill Bowes , another longtime PFF Volunteer with Security Central, was our bassman and autoharp player as well as providing fine vocals for us until his untimely passing on May 15th of 2007. Bill's wife Cathy Bowes manages the Ramblers; keeping the Greystone Ramblers organised is like trying to control the Marx Brothers...
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Jon Davis, a computer systems specialist, joined the group in 1986. Born and raised in Outer Mongolia, Jon learned his love of turning every tune into a minor Key from Vlad the Impaler, a well loved Mandolin player and and the Scourge of mid west Michigan. Marguerite is his first love followed closely by mandolin, fiddle, ocarina, tinwhistle, guitar, zzzzzz.... His favorite tune ( yet to be written ) is that famous piece in the people's key: Fiddle-D-D. Fred Frayer, a computer programmer, has played banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar with the Ramblers since 1987. Fred encourages folks to step back when his banjo Stella makes her appearance as it has been known to adversely affect the proper functioning of both cell phones and pacemakers. Fred is learning concertina, much to the dismay of his family, in hopes to add this instrument to the ever-growing Rambler repertoire. Marguerite Davis also took up with the band in 1986. Formerly known as the " Irish Ellie Mae", she lives in the woods with a menagerie of critters and growing things and likes it that way! Usually found overcome with craftmania up to her neck in fibers and beads, she also does freelance illustration and murals, teaches kids art workshops, and tries to both paint and save the landscape whenever possible. Consequently her contribution to the band's first album involved the artistic aspects of the cover art and photo collage, and by-the-by she also played harp, bodhran, and bones on a several cuts, and chimed in on a chorus as well.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Former members of the Greystone Ramblers occaisionally join in the fun:
An original member and Chester County veterinarian, Terry McGrath plays hammered dulcimer, jaws harp, harmonicas, ocarina, clarinet, button accordion, tinwhistles, bowed psaltry, the HANG and The Jug. DocTerry has been a PFF volunteer and performer for over 25 years, presently at the Society Sales Booth , and every night at fest alternating between Philadelphia Jug Band and AZZOLES campsites, and annually at the Spring Gulch FolkFest where he works the campfire with John Fuhr.
David Turanski, an information technician, ,joined us in 2004. David started playing guitar at age 8 and as an adult learned upright bass and bass guitar. David is a chameleon, able to quickly blend into any musical environment. He has performed with many bands covering all musical styles including traditional, bluegrass, folk, country, rock, blues, jazz, and swing.
Richard Gordon, our former guitarist and bassist, has returned to us after Bill Bowes passing. In addition to his day job in the University of Delaware's computer center, Richard is also the bassist with Tater Patch, an old-time band based in Wilmington, DE.
Andy Andrews, of the Plywood Cattle Company and the Bala Hounds, joined us in 2001 with his frailing style banjo and vocals. Andy was born and raised and lives in suburban Philadelphia, but has also lived in Pitkin County, Colorado, Trinidad, California and Tudela, Poro, Cebu, Philippines. His favorite classic cartoon is Betty Boop. A talented composer and author, he is oddly fond of words ending in -ib, and thinks the world would be a better place if more people read more of American humorist H. Allen Smith.
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What sets The Greystone Ramblers apart from all the other folk / celtic / contra dance / old-time / bluegrass / jug bands you may have heard? The Ramblers are an extended musical family, bringing together the variety of the members' backgrounds and musical accomplishments into each piece they play or sing. Indeed, no song is too outlandish to try, no tune is too traditional to play, and no instrument is too unusual to include!
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The Greystone Ramblers can be contacted on their Website www.greystoneramblers.com
"The Greystone Ramblers are a Chester County based septet who play about as good an Old Timey set as you are likely to hear.... with occasional forays into traditional balladry and even New Orleans Jazz" ..Mike Miller, Review of the CD The Greystone Ramblers Tune Up 10/04
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