Yep! That's what all the enthusiastic folks who follow Dakota
Blonde across the Rocky Mountain Region call themselves!
This vibrant new acoustic "trio" is made up of
Mary Huckins (yes, from South Dakota) whose sweet strong
vocals are the linchpin holding the group together, the smooth
steady guitar playing and cool harmonies of Don Pinnella
(nope, not blonde) and the charming acoustic bass work and
humor of Tony Raddell. Performing originals and covers that
are a unique combination of folk, bluegrass, and country
with a little Celtic tinge - the trio nails their tight harmonies.
They are an unusual group - they met through their careers
in music therapy, working with children and adolescents who
are emotionally troubled. That special capacity for empathy
could explain the titanium bond the band quickly makes with
their audience. All three come from musical families, and
their charm stems both from the music they play and from
the family feeling they bring into any concert hall or venue.
Their shows are very personal! You'll walk away feeling like
you've always known them.
Dakota Blonde has shared the stage with Nickel Creek, John
McEuen, Jimmy Ibbotson, Pete Huttlinger, Tony Furtado, Jim
Horn, John Sommers, Jim Salestrom, Firefall, Mollie O'Brien
and the list goes on. They also played in festivals along
with folks like Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, David Crosby,
Lucy Kaplansky and Greg Brown. Mary Huckins'
song "Somebody's Brother" received top honors in
the 2001 Walnut Valley Festival songwriters showcase in Winfield,
Kansas and her song "Dig Real Deep" recently received
top honors in the Chris Austin Song Contest at MerleFest
in Wilkboro, N.C. The group was again honored to make it
into the final round of the Independent Record Label Awards
this past year. They are certainly on their way up! The "trio" are
the mainstays of Dakota Blonde, which is not so often a trio
anymore. They are joined by incredible talent on the stage
and in the studio on a regular basis. There
are times when you discover something so new and fresh and
exciting, and that moves you so deeply that you want to share
it with the world. That's Dakota Blonde.
"Wow! You guys really know how to throw a party!
All of us connected with the Colorado Avalanche can't thank you enough for
the great job you did orchestrating the celebration at City Hall for
our
Stanley Cup Champions
"
