the band
David Ludwick - mandolin
Coming from a musical family, I've played music all my life. Starting with piano at age 6, drums at 11 and low brass at 17, I continued with a music degree from KU. After college came the slide guitar, acoustic guitar and finally the mandolin. I've played in dance bands of different styles since junior high school. Getting to play diverse music in many genres (orchestra, city band, rock, country, jazz and bluegrass to name a few) has really prepared me to play with the Prairie Dogs. I can't imagine a more eclectic band and songlist!
James “J.R.” Daniels - bass
After playing two years at Dodge City Juco in various musical settings, I transfered to Kansas University in the fall of 1978 to study Music Education and play tuba in the Marching Band. I also participated in chorus in addition to some other musical endeavors. In the Spring of 1980, I joined a successful Rock n Roll Band called White Mound and also played bass with such groups such as MYXT Co., Country Riders, and the very popular, Dave and The Wave. I’ve been playing live gigs for over thirty years and am very happy to be playing with the Prairie Dogs and watching the dancers at the Camelot Ballroom!
Bruce Roberts - drums
I have truly enjoyed adding the Prairie Dogs to my experience as a drummer. Great musicianship, creative variety, and supportive audiences work well for me. Like many young musicians in the 60s, I started playing rock and roll but soon devoted my musical interests to playing jazz. During college I played with a jazz trio, and then later with small jazz combos in Lawrence. In 1987 I began playing with Junkyard Jazz, a traditional jazz group formed by John Weatherwax in 1981. This group has provided musicians in the area a weekly opportunity to keep their chops in shape while entertaining loyal fans, first at the Elks Club, and then at the American Legion. On any Thursday evening you can find 8-15 musicians, from 25-95 years old, playing from 7:00 – 8:30! I have also enjoyed drumming for Clyde Bysom's River City Six!
In 1993, I added big band drumming to my repertoire, by joining the Jazzhaus Big Band. Formed in 1982, this band has been rehearsing every other Sunday for 26 years! Once again, motivated musicians will find the opportunity to create music together. This has been a joy for me.
I have developed most as a musician by keeping myself open to playing with new musicians in a variety of settings. In the last few years I have also added playing for musicals, and play regularly with the High Plains Jazz Band.
Doug Nickel - guitar
Like most other young boys growing up in middle America during the early ‘80s, I got hooked on classical music. (Thank you Bugs Bunny!) I sang in choirs all through school but for some reason never learned to play instrument. Later in college, in the hopes of becoming more attractive to the opposite sex, I picked up a guitar for the first time. I did the folk/blues guitar thing for a while, learned some jazz tunes, and inflicted my playing on the youth of Hungary as Peace Corps Volunteer. But when I first heard the Getz/Gilberto’s album of bossa nova tunes, I knew I had found my home -- I couldn’t stop playing that stuff.
As the founding member and leader of The Prairie Dogs, I’ve tried to bring together music I like with music that is good for dancing. Sometimes on stage when I know the dancers are really enjoying a tune, when the music is so good it demands movement, you might see me put down my guitar, let my stellar band mates take care of everything, and look for partner to dance.
We’ve been fortunate to have a number of other fine musicians play in our band, sit in as guests, or fill in for us in a pinch.
Johnson Machado, clarinet/saxophone
John Thompson, accordion
Greg Allen, fiddle
Issy Tait, vocalist
Michael Paull, bass
Maria Polonchek, vocals
Buddy Jeans, upright bass
Jason Slote, drums
Steve Westphal, drums
Bianca Storlazzi, percussion
Mark Synder, trumpet
Nettie Foley - Accordion/vocals
First musical memories: singing in the kitchen along with Perry Como, Andy Williams, and the like on TV. Other musical memories: my "old maid" German piano teacher, "Von, too, tree, keep yoor fingers CURVED!" as her pencil was poised above my knuckles. I was born for music. It's in the DNA. Piano lessons, high school band and choir, music major at (oh, no!) MU--please don't key my car-- I carried on with a musical duo and various combinations with my husband Dennis in the early years. Did weddings and receptions, taught Yamaha Music School and did an after school piano program. I still love to sing and do so at about every possible occasion including the infamous "Winfield"--are we recovering from Winfield Fever yet? I continue teaching my private students in voice and piano, play music at church with my husband, accompany the local high school choir and help coach the students for Contest, and teach general classroom music K through 8. I play pennywhistle, piano, and/or accordion depending on the flavor of the music. Add this to some local band gigs with the country Goodtimers, featuring Prairie Dogs mandolin player Dave Ludwick and bassist JR Daniels and with Dennis Foley of Axle and the Equators, and that's a musical memory.
Mary Huntimer - Soprano Saxophone
Working hard on her DMA at the University of Kansas!