John Cogdill: Plumbing contractor by day, multi-instrumentalist by night on mandolin, guitar, and bass. A one-man band: Mandolin & Vocals
Tom Naiman: Semi-retired psychologist currently studying the effects of banjo jokes on the psyche: Banjo & Vocals
Yoseff Tucker: Computer systems manager. Flat picker who defies all speed laws. Former rock and roll star answering a higher calling: Lead Guitar & Lead Vocals
Ella Naiman: College student when the music dies down. Trained as a classical violinist and now ready to play the real stuff. her father's daughter: Fiddle, Frailing Banjo, Vocals, and Jokes.
Paul Chesterton: Electrical Engineer with a history of broad musical interests and high-voltage accomplishments. Paul has toured with several different bands playing guitar, banjo, and bass: Acoustic Bass and Vocals
Influences
Jimmy Martin.
Stanley Brothers.
Flatt & Scruggs.
Bill Monroe.
Vern Williams.
And of course, all of the parking lot pickers and festival jammers throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada.
Grat Dalton, infamous train and bank robber of the 1890's, hid out from authorities on what is now called Dalton Mountain in the Sierra Foothills east of Fresno, California. Most of the Dalton Gang was later killed in a shootout in Coffeyville, Kansas in 1892. Over 100 years later, living at the foot of Dalton Mountain, a mandolin picker named John Cogdill teamed up with four other bluegrass musicians from the area to form the Dalton Mountain Gang. The Gang features a notorious guitar picker and vocalist from Caruthers named Yoseff Tucker and a driving banjo picker from Fresno named Tom Naimain. It also features fiddler Ella Naiman and bass player, Paul Chesterton.
The Dalton Mountain Gang plays their own brand of bluegrass infused with a touch of old-time music that is inspired, not only by the founding fathers, but by some of the best modern performers and local musicians, as well. The goal of the group is to move the audience with the driving rhythms, powerful vocals, and to have a good time doing it! Standards are layered with new original songs that retain the authentic feel of today's bluegrass. One of the group's trademarks is the powerful vocal sounds of lead singer, Yoseff Tucker with tight harmonies in all the right places. Instrumental prowess is woven carefully with the vocals so that the energy never stops!
This past year the Dalton Mountain Gang has been featured at:
* the Father's Day Festival in Grass Valley
* the San Francisco Bluegrass and Old Time Festival
* Bluegrass on the Comstock in Virginia City
* the Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival near Hollister, CA
* the Brown Barn Bluegrass Festival near Gilroy, CA
* the Kings River Bluegrass Festival at Hobbs Grove
* the Big Sur Bluegrass Festival
They were selected as a finalist for the 2009 NCBS (Northern California Bluegrass Society) Band of the Year. Also, Yoseff took home the prize for the 2009 NCBS Guitar Player of the Year. The Gang continues to be addicted to bluegrass festivals and has attended most Northern California events and their 24 hour per day offerings. They are driven by their love for this special kind of music and the very special people that are similarly afflicted.
Thanks for the add! Great bluegrass music coming for the Dalton Mountain Gang. Hope all your friends will listen in to our music, consider adding us as friends, and check our our CD on Digstation.
No I didn't cut my hair. It's an old picture. I don't have many of me. I guess I need to take more!!!! Ya, 19, HA!!!! Do You have your room reservation yet>? I Do!!!! And yesterday I bought an electric skillet thing so I can make dogs and grilled cheese in the room!!!!!! I love your cover shots. Very Cool! Have a Great Day!
Hi johnny, thanks for adding me. If you go onto my pictures in my album blast from the past there is a picture of you when you were a baby sitting in between me and your sister kat. It is really cute.
Epic Jamming you guys! Nice to see you last night in Parkfield, John and Paul----YOU RULE! Ella-great meeting you~ and Tom~~let's jam at Strawberry...and wassssup with those tickets? Let me know~~Meghan
yeah,that was awesome listening to you all mix it up. see ya at grass valley or sooner!! let's do a show together sometime or come sit in with us! usually it is just me, meg and johnny. - matt
