News..
I am fortunate to work with some wonderful musicians and some amazing people! That is, my fellow band members: Darren Ronan, Walter Mingledorff, Joey Kerr (also my duo partner) and Ernie Ealum. All of these guys are enormously interesting and talented. They each have their own music projects and gigs, interests and stories. Stay in touch with this page for all the latest news about what we’re up to!
Darren Ronan
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Darren Ronan is a very busy guy! Darren is the owner of Ronan School of Music in the Riverside-Avondale neighborhood. There, he teaches drums, guitar, ukulele and piano. The school offers lessons in piano, violin, voice, drums, bass, guitar, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, visual art classes and some very popular music camps during the summer. Ronan School of Music has become a part of the personality of the neighborhood. Darren also teaches elementary and middle school music at Grace Episcopal Day School in Orange Park.
In his spare time, Darren Ronan is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter playing drums, percussion, guitar, bass and ukulele. With the Gatherers, he rocks the rhythm section on drums and, from time to time, contributes some nice harmony vocals. Darren can often be seen at venues from Sea Island, GA to Palm Coast, FL performing well-known favorites mixed with his own songs, accompanied by many of Jacksonville’s best players. He performs regularly at local spots like Lillian's, Iguana on Park, and Red's Wine Bar. Please check out Darren’s music and upcoming performances at Darren's website, Darren Ronan Music. Here are a couple of links to Darren’s performances. Here It Feels the Same Here It Feels the Same (Tiny Desk Submission) Free Fallin' |
Walter Mingledorff
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Walter began playing classical piano at age 8. By high school and college, he expanded his interest to the music genres of bluegrass, rhythm and blues and jazz. Walter now plays all things keyboard and accordion, too. Add to that, he’s a powerful singer and a very fine songwriter.
Locally, Walter is known as a member of the "Backliners", a rhythm section similar to the Muscle Shoals rhythm section, that has recorded with several local artists. Whether playing with The Gatherers or with another band, Walter and Joey Kerr are a force, weaving guitar and keyboard parts, playing off of each other, complimenting each other without even trying! After so many years of playing together, it’s just like breathing to them. In his other life, Walter is a retired history teacher, enjoying being able to sleep in and play as much music as he wants. Walter has several singles out through CD Baby...and can be heard on YouTube, Spotify and all the other music apps out there. Just search for Walter Mingledorff Music. Here are a couple of links to Walter’s recordings. Hip Tang Boogie Barbara Days Go By |
Joey Kerr
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Joey Kerr is an award winning songwriter and an excellent guitar player, playing both electric and acoustic with a little mandolin thrown in. He is the quiet, understated strength in The Gatherers, always just the right note at the right time. Together, Joey and Walter Mingledorff create a melodic and harmonic tapestry. Having played together for so long, they know what the other is going to do before they do it!
Joey has a fascinating resume that connects him to American music in a pretty special way. Joey is a fourth generation, Florida-born, train engineer. It’s not surprising that it has a big impact on the music that he creates. Who can resist a train song! Not long ago, Florida Times-Union feature writer, Matt Soergel, wrote a wonderfully detailed article on Joey, his dad and their family. Here’s the link to the article. Working on the Railroad. If we can find a link without a paywall, you’ll see it here. Music is a family thing, too. Joey’s twins are showing signs of being promising musicians. Son, Ethan, is learning to play drums and daughter, Evelyn is learning the bass. She is an excellent singer, too. Here comes a family band! Joey is finishing a new CD recording of his original songs. As soon as they are available to listen, we’ll give you some links. Here are a couple of links to songs from Joeys last CD and a live performance. Backroads Midnight Ghost Play On |
Ernie Ealum
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Ernie Ealum is probably even busier than Darren! Ernie and his wife, Pegge, own a music coordinating business called Music by Pegge. Since around 2005 they have provided music for weddings and events all over the southeast. You can learn more about what they do at Musicbypegge.com..
The Ealums are quite a musical family. Pegge plays flute. Their son, Nathan, plays cello and is currently working on his music performance degree at the University of North Florida, and daughter, Natalie, teaches piano and voice at Ronan School of Music and runs a musical theatre camp at the school. She is in her third year at Jacksonville University studying music therapy Ernie is one of the most in-demand bass players in NE Florida. He is also a talented singer, composer and arranger. He has an exceptional musical sense, playing just about any style. We are so fortunate he’s able to be a part of The Gatherers. Ernie and Darren keep us all together, and sometimes that’s not easy! Here are a few links to videos that demonstrate the amazing variety in styles of music that Ernie plays! BERT Quartet The Weight Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay |
Lee Hunter
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Our latest review! From Americana UK Magazine. I love the last two sentences! A "minor masterstroke"!
Lee Hunter & The Gatherers roam the hinterlands of American folk music, and they do so in a calm and reverential manner. They’re a five-piece band helmed by Lee Hunter, who has championed this music since she got started as a member of Tammerlin in the 1990s and “The Ground Beneath My Feet” is her ninth release. They set their stall out immediately with their delivery of the traditional song ‘The Water Is Wide’, taken at a stately pace, and much of the album follows that same path, a solid piano-led base with tremulous fiddle and short acoustic guitar flourishes. The songs are a mixture of originals, contemporary covers and traditional songs. Of the latter, ‘Lover’s Ghost’ is given a fine “spooky” delivery and ‘Blind Beggar Of Bethnal Green’ is in the grand tradition of a folk tale with a moral, but their version of ‘Shenandoah’(with Jim Lauderdale sharing vocals) doesn’t really work for this listener. Away from tradition Hunter is no mean writer with ‘The Wind Knows The Secrets’ and ‘No One Knows’ well versed, ‘The Light’ is an insightful peek into the darkness of depression while a co-write with Peter Rowan (who appears on the song) on ‘Charleston 1862‘, a civil war tale, is given a powerful performance. In a minor masterstroke, Hunter closes the album with her excellent performance of Richard Thompson’s ‘Farewell, Farewell’. An album to seek out. |
BirdsTale Artists provides representation for musician, Joe Craven and variety comedian, Jeff Bradley.
For bookings contact: Lee Hunter: leehunter@me.com
For bookings contact: Lee Hunter: leehunter@me.com
Joe Craven JoeCraven.com
Joe Craven is not just an entertaining musician with a penchant for the mischievous, he is a teacher and student all at once and he will draw you into his performance by including you as though you’re part of the show itself. His gift of gab is unprecedented and his musical knowledge impressive. Joe’s openness and expression of gratitude for the gifts he’s acquired make it all the more fun for him to share them with his audience.
Creativity educator, former museum curator, visual artist, actor/storyteller, event emcee and recipient of the 2009 Folk Alliance Far-West Performer of the Year, Joe has made music with many folks – notably violinist Stephane Grappelli and Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia – to multi-whirled string guy David Lindley, harmonica wizard Howard Levy and seven years recording and touring with banjo fusionist Alison Brown.
‘Everything Joe touches turns to music,’ says mandolinist David Grisman, with whom Joe played for almost 17 years. No one who saw Joe wring a percussion concerto from his garbage-bag raincoat during a downpour at the Strawberry Music Festival could disagree.
Creativity educator, former museum curator, visual artist, actor/storyteller, event emcee and recipient of the 2009 Folk Alliance Far-West Performer of the Year, Joe has made music with many folks – notably violinist Stephane Grappelli and Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia – to multi-whirled string guy David Lindley, harmonica wizard Howard Levy and seven years recording and touring with banjo fusionist Alison Brown.
‘Everything Joe touches turns to music,’ says mandolinist David Grisman, with whom Joe played for almost 17 years. No one who saw Joe wring a percussion concerto from his garbage-bag raincoat during a downpour at the Strawberry Music Festival could disagree.
Jeff Bradley-Comedy Plus Cool Stuff
Jeff Bradley is an internationally acclaimed variety comedian. Jeff has performed on all seven continents (yes, that includes Antarctica!) and has won awards for his show in Australia, Holland and Canada. From the casinos of Monte Carlo to luxury cruise ships, comedy clubs to major festivals, Jeff has garnered rave reviews and an international reputation.
Comedy Plus Cool Stuff is standup, stunts and illusion. While the Comedy part is obvious, it is the Plus that really makes the show stand out. Comedy Plus Cool Stuff is more than just a comedy show, it's more than illusion, it's not just stunts.
Tough to pin down, Jeff Bradley is part magician, part circus performer and all comedian. And while the show may be difficult to describe, by defying labels, Jeff creates a performance that is hilarious and thoughtful, stunning and poetic and enormously entertaining. He brings to the stage a grace, an elegance and class unlike any other performer in the field.
Click Here for link to videos
Comedy Plus Cool Stuff is standup, stunts and illusion. While the Comedy part is obvious, it is the Plus that really makes the show stand out. Comedy Plus Cool Stuff is more than just a comedy show, it's more than illusion, it's not just stunts.
Tough to pin down, Jeff Bradley is part magician, part circus performer and all comedian. And while the show may be difficult to describe, by defying labels, Jeff creates a performance that is hilarious and thoughtful, stunning and poetic and enormously entertaining. He brings to the stage a grace, an elegance and class unlike any other performer in the field.
Click Here for link to videos