Well, it's good to have a happy ending. To date the Donga Book has sold a huge 18 copies!!! (I live in hope of it becoming a best seller). As a result I have been able to make a donation of $50.00 to the Nyankunde Fund. As all money raised by the Nyankunde fund goes to feed, clothe and educate the children this money will go a long way.
There's still opportunity to buy copies for your friends! Follow the link in an earlier post to www,blurb.com
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Nice Day! A chronicle of Donga Dan's Derelict Band
This blog has inspired the publication of a book! The small chronicle of Donga Dan's Derelict Band will be published using the tools available through blurb.com
It will be 30 pages in colour and feature 38 different photographs and images of the band and its members, and of early promotional material. The book will cover all the stories in the blog and more! It will provide an overview of the story of the band that became a family.
Copies in soft cover will be available in early December at a price of $A30.00 each. If you are interested in ordering a copy please post a comment on this blog.
Proceeds from the sale of the book will be sent to the Nyankunde Fund. A Christian Brethren fund supporting children orphaned in the war in Congo. This fund has NO administrative expenses levied on it and ALL funds go to help the children.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The country and western guys
Trevor Gunter and Graeme Bardsley-Smith joined the band in 1978. This pair of guitarists had been playing together for years and had a really tight, sweet sound. They became the heart of a recreated Donga Dan that specialised in bush dance. With Robyn Rodger providing melodies, Ray Christison, Glenn Rodger and Peter Aroney running rhythm the band developed a tight sound that was perfect for dancing.
Trevor and Graeme brought a good slice of country and western, old time gospel, Chad Morgan and Australian folk music to the music mix. The new band was an instant success.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Bush dance mania sets in
The early 1980s saw everyone focused on building their families and careers. Allan Chard was pursuing his calling as a professional musician and the rest of us were buying homes and the domestic stuff.
Over time many of the original band members moved to the Lower Blue Mountains and started attending Blaxland Gospel Chapel. It was here that a new chapter of the band's history was to be written.
At Blaxland we teamed up with a few of the local musicians who had a bent for both kinds of music (Country and Western) and in July 1987 we revived the concept of the Big Nite Out. After that we decided that we should do bush dances.
A gig at the Nepean Christian School led to bookings from people who wanted to pay us money to play. This was too good to pass up. 1988 and 1989 became a blur of bush dances from Katoomba to Arcadia. We raised enough money to buy a new pa system for the church at Blaxland.
In the 1980s Gordon Gecko said: "Greed is good." Donga Dan said: "Heel and toe!" and then some more ....
Donga Dan members - 1974 to 1978
One of the wonderful things about Donga Dan's Derelict Band has been the great inclusiveness of the band. More than a band, it's a family - and there's always room for more.
At different times many people have brought their musical talents and enthusiasm to augment the core of the ensemble. A roll call of band members from the early years is as follows:
- Ray Christison - donga board, knife and fork, plumbing, washboard, jug, vocals, kazoo, aquaphone.
- Allan Chard - guitar, vocals, kazoo, autoharp, banjo-mandolin.
- Graeme McWilliams - guitar, banjo-mandolin, jew's harp, kazoo, harmonica.
- David Ryan - bass, drums, bongoes.
- Glenn Rodger - lagerphone, kazoo.
- Robyn Aroney (Rodger) - vocals, recorder, autoharp, tambourine.
- Richard Ollerton - vocals, guitar, twelve-string guitar.
- Peter Aroney - bass, kazoo.
- Ross McLachlan - washboard, jug.
- Graeme McLachlan - harmonica, bass, lagerphone.
- Glynn Lamb - piano, vocals.
- Sandra Neale - vocals, twelve-string guitar.
Who can ever forget Glynn Lamb. Her hair pulled up in a bun, looking quite prim, but banging on an open fronted upright piano like it was the only thing keeping her alive!! Awesome.
For one night only - The Donga Dearies
Every band must have its backup vocal group. Donga Dan's Derelict Band had the Donga Dearies. A lineup of beautiful boiler-suited young women who gave the band a hint of sweetness and a bit of class!
Donga Dearies:
- Robyn Aroney,
- Donna Parnell,
- Joanne Quarmby,
- Joanne Stacey,
- Kerry Taylor.
One night only - Drift Inn Cafe 15 October 1975. Forever etched in Donga history.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
