Frances Mundy Mooney

At the age of seventeen, Frances (Westray) Mooney learned to play the guitar from her uncle, Gary Looper. Soon Mooney was traveling around with her dad, Roy Westray, picking and singing on Friday & Saturday nights at the home of various friends… sometimes taking the stage at the “Everett Brothers” home in Suwanee, Georgia, a historic gathering for many musicians and artists.
In 1968, Mooney married Jimmy Mundy; around 1970 together they formed “The Bluegrass Generation”. This band included current FS member, Jimmy Ross. Mooney left the guitar and learned to play Bass in this band. In 1973, they moved to Louisville, Kentucky where they were booked by Lonnie Pierce of the Bluegrass Alliance at various venues and festivals all around the Northern and Southern states. They recorded 4 LP’s, one being produced by Ricky Skaggs. Also, Skaggs appeared as a guest on two (2) of the LP’s and Vince Gill appeared on the last Bluegrass Generation LP.
In 1977 Mooney left the “Generation” and moved back to Georgia and soon formed an “all female band” known as “Cherokee Rose”. The traveling proved to be hard on Mooney while raising her boys, Matthew and Mark Mundy. Frances left CR to spend more time at home and play music locally.
In 1980, Mooney re-grouped and managed another band, “Indian Summer Band”. Jimmy Ross and Steve Sosebee current FS members also joined her with this band. Over sixteen years ISB worked national and international festivals, private concerts, and clubs. The highlight of “ISB’s” music career was when they were invited by the China Government to perform music of the United States in Shang Hi, China.
In 1998, with her children raised and a career in Georgia State Government, Frances (Mundy) Mooney, a long-time professional bluegrass musician, began to organize her final band, “Fontanna Sunset”, only this time her son, Mark Mundy would be a part of her journey. With several years of refining the bands sound and membership, Fontanna Sunset is complete.
Frances (Mundy) Mooney sets the solid timing and plays a hard driving Bass…she adds the soulful, plaintive bluegrass vocal to their shows on, old country, bluegrass and gospel songs…sings lead, tenor and high baritone.
Mark Mundy plays rhythm and lead guitar lending his own unique style that compliments each song they perform. Mundy sometimes picks up the Westray resophonic finger style guitar on a few songs…sings lead, tenor, and baritone bringing to the band that good family blend.
Steve Sosebee on Mandolin keeps a rock solid chop you can count on, with a confident strong lead; you might find him playing fiddle on some of the old country songs also sings lead, tenor, baritone and bass on the quartet gospel songs.
Ronnie “Termite” Wilbanks plays a good hard driving Banjo that attracts the attention of the audience, which adds excitement to the bands stage performance. He picks up the guitar on a few songs throughout their show…sings lead, tenor, baritone and bass.
Jimmy Ross on the “Resophonic” slide guitar brings with him years of experience, playing his own unique style while providing quality tone, sound and fills to every song, adding some of his own original tunes to the show, Sings tenor and baritone.
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