Moonshine Country Band
Classic Country/Grand Ol’ Opry
Date Aired: December 12, 2020
Gary Hansen founded Moonshine Band in 1965. He won the talent contest at the Palomino, one of the biggest country clubs in the Los Angeles area. Gary moved to Washington, where he and Carlos wrote Bigfoot Yodel, for the state of Washington, in 1968. He went to Bakersfield, CA and met Merle Haggard and family and was friends with Merle until his death. Gary plays rhythm guitar, banjo and vocals.
Carlos Stanfield, an original member of the Moonshine Band, played Portland and Vancouver. He went to Nashville, played at The Rhinestone Cowboy, Tootsies Orchid Lounge and many other places and backed many of the well-known big country stars. He plays lead guitar, banjo, harmonica and vocals.
Gloria Goss joined the Moonshine Band in 1992. She was on the Columbia Theatre stage with the Moonshine Band as the opening act for Merle Haggard and sang backup vocals for the Lee Birchfield, Elvis Tribute. In addition to playing classic country music, she enjoys playing blues and rock. She plays bass and vocals.
John Henry, on keyboard and vocals, a resident of Longview, Washington, is originally from Hampton, Virginia. John is a versatile, self-taught musician. Over the past twenty five years he has been called upon to play the drums, bass, guitar and keyboards in several local bands. Plus, he did a stint as a solo artist. John has many musical influences, the greatest being The Beatles. John is also an accomplished songwriter, a prize winning poet, an award winning artist and a playwright.
Billy Traub, on drums, was born February 11, 1955 in Longview, Washington. He learned to love music at an early age, started drums and guitar at around 14. Played in bands and church for many years and has been jamming ever since. He still loves playing, singing and writing songs (that’s the hard part). He has been married for 43+ years and very happy.
Janet Clark, on fiddle, is a self-taught musician who plays mandolin, fiddle, guitar and Irish Drum (bodhran). She has played seriously for about 15 years as a member of Double J and the Boys, Sea Strings (with hubby), Dos Gringas, and The Sassie Lassies. She likes all kinds of musicans long as the song has good harmony and great rhythm. She says that playing a song that starts feet tapping or people dancing is the ultimate high!
Janet helped start “Kitchen Music”, an open jam at the Long Beach Grange, and she hosted “Beach Grass Slow Jam”, a “play-by-ear” class sponsored by Peninsula Arts Center in Long Beach. Janet says it is an honor to play with the Moonshine Country Band and participate in this Columbia Theatre music project.
Tim Dawdy Bio 2020
Tim Dawdy is a Northwest Dobro favorite. You will find him playing Western Swing on Friday night and Bluegrass on Saturday Afternoons.
Tim has formally studied Dobro with Michele Witcher, Greg Booth, Sally Van Meter, Phil Leadbetter, Orville Johnson and the late Maestro Stacy Phillips.
Through the kindness of the Marshal family and Paul Beard Guitars he was able to take custody of Maestro Stacy Phillips Custom Beard MA-6 guitar.
Tim has trained in steel guitar with Bobby Black, Joe Wright and Larry Behm.
He teaches basic and intermediate Dobro at Artichoke Music in Portland and from his modern music studio in Ridgefield Washington. Most styles of music are taught, including Western Swing, Bluegrass and Jazz Standards. Private and group lessons are available.