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Band Biography

The Red Mountain Boys has “officially” been in business for about six years. Do not let that fool you - these “boys” are old-hand musicians that have played together for about 20 years or so utilizing lots of different musical styles.

In 2005, Lauren joined “the boys,” bringing along some “Newgrass” sounds, as well as her love for the classic country songs of Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash, to name a few.

The Red Mountain Boys utilize modern bluegrass instrumentation and traditional vocal harmony in a repertoire spanning the 1950’s to the Newgrass sound and contemporary favorites. Their repertoire includes songs by The Byrds, New Grass Revival, The Seldom Scene, Old and In the Way, and traditional sources such as Flatt & Scruggs.

The rich musical heritage appears in various forms -- ballads, instrumentals, gospels, satires, odd-tunes and the ridiculous. The band’s musical genre fundamentally classifies them as an audience-listening band, though a wide range of audience behavior has been observed during their performances.

Their music is the result of cooperation, dedication, and the consummate group effort.

In 2007, The Red Mountain Boys released their self-titled album, followed by the release of “Second Helping” in 2008. Both albums contain an assortment of their most requested songs, as well as some band favorites.

The albums can be purchased at all Red Mountain Boys’ performances. The Red Mountain Boys can also be found online at www.redmountainboys.com and at www.myspace.com/theredmountainboys.

Each page offers sound samples, pictures, and a calendar of upcoming events.

Bernie Bonnie hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has been playing music since the mid 1960’s. He learned bluegrass music and played guitar with the Ross Bothers Band while living in Virginia from 1976 to 1979. After relocating to the New Wilmington, Pa. area, he played electric bass and sang with the Rainbow Mountain Boys from 1979 to 1981. He has played with the Binary Bluegrass band since 1986. He is a guest artist with many local bands in the Western Pennsylvania area. Bernie is proficient playing acoustic and electric bass, guitar, acoustic and electric mandolin, and bouzouki.

Nelson Boosel is from Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. He played and sang gospel and country music with the New Jerusalem band from 1973 to 1987. Nelson primarily plays the banjo, but is proficient on dobra, guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, and, of course, vocals. He has made numerous radio and television appearances and is a recording artist. He is a guest artist with many local bands in the Western Pennsylvania area.

Lauren Gerber is from New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Her musical talents emerged when she received a guitar as a gift from her parents on her 12th birthday. Her singing career began with the Bootleg Band in 2002, and she went on to appear as a guest vocalist with the Blarney Tones and The Red Mountain Boys in 2004.

David Gessler is from Greenville, Pennsylvania. Dave had a five-year playing experience with the country band Midnight Rodeo. He has supplied his fiddle proficiency with the Red Mountain Boys since 1995. David is also a skillful mandolin player and his complimentary style is evident on ballads. He is the serious member of the band. He has played the fiddle for twenty-plus years. He is a fiery player and prides himself on excellent tone and breakneck playing speed.

Mike Leslie is a New Castle, Pennsylvania native. He is a classically trained guitarist and has over thirty years of performing experience, including seven years with the Silver Creek Band. He currently spends several weekends each year playing a variety of stringed instruments in the orchestras for local high school musicals.

Steve Thompson, a multi instrumentalist, spends his time with the band standing behind the upright bass. Steve started his musical career, like many others, playing the piano and cello in the local school orchestra. Once into junior high school , the stand up bass attracted his attention, and that is where it has been ever since. After playing with several area orchestras, Steve moved to country music playing the guitar and banjo. While playing country music, the acoustic sound of bluegrass became his next interest. Steve has been playing bluegrass with several area bands for more than 20 years. Although Steve was born and raised in Greenville, PA, he now resides in Hermitage, Pennsylvania with his wife Susan and two daughters Katie and Alie.

High energy and engaging performers.

That's what the Red Mountain Boys are all about. Yes, they can play traditional bluegrass music on their traditional bluegrass instruments. But you have to take a look "under the hood" at the eclectic motor that powers the band's psyche. For example, a bouzouki and djembe are standard instruments included in their shows. They possess great audience rapport and have a long-standing group of loyal fans and friends.

The Red Mountain Boys are a quintessential "cover" band. So much great material is out there, they'd rather pick from this recognizable cupboard of tunes instead of writing their own material. You'll hear songs ranging from Bluegrass, Country, Scottish and Irish, Appalachian fiddle tunes, Parisian Swing, comical, through rock & pop songs.

Five of the six members are vocalists too. Each sings in their own style - with lots of good harmonies.

RMB will get you stomping your feet and let that good-time feeling roll!

The band performs forty-or-so shows a year. Typical performance venues are breweries, country clubs, private parties, community events, festivals, Irish pubs and special events of all types. Each band member is involved in many other musical endeavors from recording, production, musicals, teaching and vintage instrument consultants. The core members of the band have been playing together in one group or another for more than twenty years. The band plays predominately in the western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio areas.