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. Grat had escaped from the Visalia jail. The entire Dalton Gang (except Emmett) was later killed in a shootout in Coffeyville, Kansas in 1892. Emmett recovered from 20 gunshot wounds, served 15 years in prison, and returned to California to become a real estate mogul.
Over 100 years later, in 2005, either by fate or destiny, John Cogdill and John Schaffer both resided at the foot of Dalton Mountain in the foothill community of Squaw Valley. At that time, armed respectively with mandolin and guitar, the Johns teamed up with a banjo picker in Fresno named Tom Naiman and the Dalton Mountain Gang was formed the following year. The gang of three encountered a notorious guitar picker and vocalist in Caruthers named Yoseff Tucker. Several months later, the fifth desperado, fiddler Ella Naiman joined the gang. This group was wanted by bluegrass authorities throughout Central California. They were sighted at local clubs and festivals. In the fall of 2007, John Schaffer, who was playing bass, escaped to Sacramento and was replaced by Paul Chesterton from Fresno.
The Dalton Mountain Gang plays genuine bluegrass as it was performed by the founding fathers. Special consideration is given to recreate the excitement and drive of early musicians. The goal of the group is to move the audience with the driving rhythms and powerful vocals of pioneers such as Jimmy Martin and the Stanley Brothers. Standards are layered with original new 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 everything fits and nothing is lacking.
This past year the Dalton Mountain Gang has played:
* the Father's Day Festival in Grass Valley
* 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 Porterville Buzzard Fest
* the Jesse Murrow Mountain Benefit
* the Fresno County Fair
* Roosevelt School for the Performing Arts
We have also performed at local Fresno restaurants, including Joe's Steak House and the Java Wava Coffee House as well as the Sierra Inn in Dunlap, CA as well. In addition, we have played at numarious craft fairs, parties, and celebrations. We are all addicted to Bluegrass Festivals and have attended most Northern California events and their 24 hour per day offerings. We are driven by our love for this special kind of music and the very special people that are similarly afflicted.
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
