Meet The Band
Gus Garelick
(violino e mandolino)
Gus has been playing violin since he was a child, in Detroit, but discovered the mandolin after hearing some of his relatives from Eastern Europe, and visiting Italian and Greek cafes in Detroit, New York, and finally San Francisco. Since the early 70s, he has played Bluegrass, Country, Cajun, and jazz violin with many groups, including the late Jim Boggio and The Sonoma Swamp Dogs, Queen Ida, Al Rapone, and more. He was a member of the Berkeley Mandolin Ensemble in the early 80s, and now leads The Gravenstein Mandolin Ensemble, in Sebastopol. Gus works at KRCB Radio in Santa Rosa, where he produces programs about traditional fiddling, mandolins, accordions, and world music.
Dennis Hadley
(fisarmonica)
Dennis’s two musical mentors were Frankie Yankovic and Hank Williams. Growing up in the East Bay in the 1950s, playing accordion didn’t make him the most popular kid on the block. But when Zydeco and Cajun music came on the scene, he was more than ready to jump in. Meanwhile, he was exploring other styles of accordion, as well, including Italian and Gypsy and French Musette. He now lives in Ukiah, California, where he plays on one of his five accordions and still likes Frankie Yankovic, this time with a little more Italian and Cajun flavors. Dennis also plays in The Wild Catahoulas Zydeco Band.
Don Coffin
(chittara e mandolino)
Don was raised in an Italian/Irish household in Petaluma, California. He has been performing music for international audiences since the late 60s. From 1971 to 1978, he recorded and toured with his wife, songwriter Kate Wolf. In the 80s, he toured Europe with The Eclecticatz, an acoustic trio playing Celtic, Cowboy, Country, and Swing. Since then, he has continued to play Irish, Italian, Bluegrass and Country music. He now lives in Lake County where he produces the Anderson Marsh Old Time Bluegrass Festival, near Lower Lake, and also does an early-morning Bluegrass radio show in Lakeport.
Sam Page
(contrebass)
One of the North Bay’s most innovative bass players, Sam’s musical interests are truly eclectic. For many years, he and singer Allegra Broughton have led the popular group Solid Air, performing and recording original songs and current covers. Sam also performs and records with The Wild Catahoulas Zydeco Band, Laughing Gravy, The Rancho Nicasio All Stars, and more. Originally from Bishop, California, Sam now lives in Petaluma.
Photos by Michael Garelick.
Sam Page, photo by Al Sinerco.
You can reach the Hot Frittatas
in Santa Rosa at (707) 526-7763
or in Lake County at (707) 995-0658.
Or find us on the web at www.hotfrittatas.com.
For more information contact:
Don Coffin don@hotfrittatas.com
Gus Garelick gus@hotfrittatas.com
