The Genuine Jug Band

DOUG FRASER-- My first experience came from starting a stage career at the age of three. Being raised in a show business family, both parents having been vaudevillians and my father being raised by the Ringling Brother’s Circus, music and entertainment was a way of life. Both grandparents were professional performers; I found my childhood filled with Hollywood parties, music, theatre and a swarm of devoted intelligent talented people. We were in southern California late 66 when I chanced upon a performance by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. They were an incredible jug band. NGDB, led by Jeff Hanna would have topped the scene as the most entertaining jug band. But, alas, they eventually added drums, dropped the gut bucket for electrics and eased their way into what rightfully seemed like a larger market. Inquisitive, I immediately caught up with The Jim Kweskin band, although all band members were surprisingly good, Geoff Muldaur’s performance gave representation to the bygone era and a subtle credibility that led you to believe, this was the real thing. Low and behold after referencing original groups from the turn of the century, the Kweskin band not only held up, they were better than the original groups. However, the original groups possessed one strong point, they wrote the songs. The scene swept me away and within a week I too had a jug band. Although I corresponded with Hezzie from the Hoosier Hot Shots, Played with Paul “Mousie” Garner , who was one of the original three stooges, Red Skelton’s vaudeville partner and an original member of “Spike Jones and His City Slickers”, I cannot say that I was influenced. Having heard the majority of existing jug band recordings and experiencing first hand the 1960’s revival era I must say that if anything I have been inspired. What I did get from all that was the "jug bug", a love for jug band music that never leaves you. TERRY DEVINE— 1969 was a good year for a lad fresh out of school and part of a touring jug band. Terry Devine and Doug Fraser were managed by Isy Walters who simultaneously managed The New Vaudeville Band from England. Very soon we found ourselves opening on tour for Buddy Rich, Earl Hines and Les Brown and His Band Of Renown and so many more. During a rampaging whirlwind tour three years later Terry met the love of his life, got married and settled down. Now in 2008, realizing that his fans, still feeling the deep emotional loss, should suffer no more. Terry has once again emerged upon the scene, jug and gut bucket in hand. TONY MCBRIDE— Professional drummer since early childhood, Tony has been in several rock, Goth, punk, heavy metal and Celtic bands. He currently is working with several bands and while still being in the Heartaches Razz Band, so of curse, the Genuine Jug Band was a natural progression. Tony has perfected the ability to play very melodically on a complicated double washboard setup while simultaneously playing a bass drum with his right foot, a snare drum with his left foot and tuned sets of temple blocks, cow bells, bulb horns and restaurant bells. THE GENUINE JUG BAND--This is a three piece high energy, visual, theatrical and comedic musical group. We have written, performed and directed many long running shows and this; the Genuine Jug Band is yet another example of product that delivers at the most professional level everything you could anticipate and more. Jug band music, the birthplace of both jazz and blues was the most popular form of music in the southern states of America from 1910 to around 1930. The Genuine Jug Band plays both styles. As for jazz, the song that legitimized the traditional jazz form we call “Dixieland” was recorded in 1917 when the Original Dixieland Jazz Band recorded The Darktown Strutter’s Ball. The song was written by Shelton Brooks, a Canadian. So you see, Canada has been a major silent contributor to jazz. The Genuine Jug Band brings a sizzling breath of new life to jug band music through traditional and original songs that remind you just how incredibly fun this music really is.