Country Gold
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 3:07 PM CDT
The Country Gold band plays music from back in the day when country music was country.
The local band plays the music of Mel Tillis, Ray Price, Gene Watson, Kentucky Headhunters. And they throw in some Chuck Berry and Marty Robbins.
Joe Mondello, the band’s drummer, said he might be prejudiced but he believes they are one of the best bands in the area. Joe has worked with Chuck Berry, and Jimmy Payne.
Pat Heller plays steel guitar. He has worked with Barbara Fairchild, Darrell McCall, and Stan Hitchcock. Joe said Pat is one of the finest steel guitar players.
Gene DeClue plays bass. He has worked with Faron Young, and Moe Bandy. Chuck Trollinger is lead guitar, also one of the finest guitar players Joe has heard.
Occasionally, Mark Vaccaro joins the band, playing the fiddle whenever he isn’t playing bluegrass music. Mark has worked with the Plummer Family and Ray Price.
They play all over the area. They play once or twice a month at the Farmington AmVets and the American Legion in Festus. They also play at the Mississippi Eagles and the Elks Lodge in Festus. They’ve played at the Arcadia Valley Jamboree, the Bearcat Lodge and Whippoorwill Lake Campground.
Whenever recording artist, Norville Dollar, plays in Missouri, Country Gold is his show band.
Joe said he would stack up his band’s musicians against anyone. “Especially with Pat Heller,” he said. “I’m 63 and I have been playing since I was 14 ... (We) have close to 100 years of experience (playing music).”
The band formed four years ago with Joe and Gene. The other originals retired and they listened around until they found Pat and Chuck.
He said when you hear them, it sounds like they have been playing forever. They can read each other’s minds and “things just click.”
The local band plays the music of Mel Tillis, Ray Price, Gene Watson, Kentucky Headhunters. And they throw in some Chuck Berry and Marty Robbins.
Joe Mondello, the band’s drummer, said he might be prejudiced but he believes they are one of the best bands in the area. Joe has worked with Chuck Berry, and Jimmy Payne.
Pat Heller plays steel guitar. He has worked with Barbara Fairchild, Darrell McCall, and Stan Hitchcock. Joe said Pat is one of the finest steel guitar players.
Gene DeClue plays bass. He has worked with Faron Young, and Moe Bandy. Chuck Trollinger is lead guitar, also one of the finest guitar players Joe has heard.
Occasionally, Mark Vaccaro joins the band, playing the fiddle whenever he isn’t playing bluegrass music. Mark has worked with the Plummer Family and Ray Price.
They play all over the area. They play once or twice a month at the Farmington AmVets and the American Legion in Festus. They also play at the Mississippi Eagles and the Elks Lodge in Festus. They’ve played at the Arcadia Valley Jamboree, the Bearcat Lodge and Whippoorwill Lake Campground.
Whenever recording artist, Norville Dollar, plays in Missouri, Country Gold is his show band.
Joe said he would stack up his band’s musicians against anyone. “Especially with Pat Heller,” he said. “I’m 63 and I have been playing since I was 14 ... (We) have close to 100 years of experience (playing music).”
The band formed four years ago with Joe and Gene. The other originals retired and they listened around until they found Pat and Chuck.
He said when you hear them, it sounds like they have been playing forever. They can read each other’s minds and “things just click.”
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