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Allan Spinney
guitar & vocals
Born in Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada, on August 5, 1965. In 1969, his family moved back home to
the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. He now makes his home in Gaspereau,
with his wife Lynn. Raised in the midst of a musical family, it was
country and bluegrass music that played the largest role in his musical up
bringing. At a very early age, Allan demonstrated the desire to be a
performer. Home recordings have documented his vocal abilities, as early
as age six. Shortly after, he took a strong interest in the organ. It was
in 1979 however, upon buying his first guitar, that he started down the
road to performing on stage. He began studying the guitar works of Smiley
Bates, as well as the sounds of Bill Monroe & Flatt & Scruggs. It was the
vocal harmonies of the Stanley Brothers however, that really appealed to
Allan. He strongly encouraged his brother Rick to explore the music as
well.
In 1989, Allan co-founded his first bluegrass band with his brother
Rick. The “Bluegrass Student Union” was comprised of Allan, Rick, and
their good friend, Steve Jackson. This formation performed at various
school functions, variety shows, and benefits. By 1991, Allan was ready to
put together a full bluegrass Band. His dream was realized, in the
creation of The Spinney Brothers Bluegrass Band. Through out various
personel changes, four independent recordings, and years of live
performances, Allan continues to craft the Spinney Brothers style of
traditional bluegrass music.
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Rick Spinney
banjo & vocals
Born in Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada, on August 5, 1966 – one year to the day of his brother
Allan. As Rick likes to point out, “he was his brothers first birthday
present”. Rick makes his home in Gaspereau, Nova Scotia, with his wife Machaela and step-son Keegan. Compared to his brother, in his early
school years, Rick did not spend as much time on music. Instead, Rick
excelled in sports. First in soccer, and then in basketball. His
dedication to team sports, found him on championship teams at numerous
levels. It was with the persistence of his mother Wava, however, that Rick
began examining his musical abilities.
In 1987, Rick obtained his first banjo. After some instruction from
local musician Roy Thompson, and Canadian bluegrass great Vic Mullen, Rick
was well on his way. Along with his brother, Rick began to study
traditional bluegrass music. As a banjo player, the music of Earl Scruggs
was very influential. Vocally, Rick and his brother worked on their own
style of “brother duet” vocals. With the creation of the Spinney Brothers
Bluegrass Band in 1991, Rick has continued to work tirelessly, in shaping
the sound and image of the Spinney Bothers music. Rick is the main
spokesman for the Band. As well, he handles bookings and promotions.
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Gary Dalrymple mandolin
Gary Dalrymple was born in 1969 in Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia.
Gary, like Allan and Rick, grew up in a musical family. His father, Carl
was a local Country and Bluegrass musician. Gary was exposed at an early
age to the recordings of Country and Bluegrass greats like, Buck Owens,
Merle Haggard, Flatt and Scruggs, and Reno and Smiley to name a few. Gary began attending
Bluegrass festivals with his family and soon had an uncontrollable urge to
play an instrument. He thought that he would play the 5-string banjo, but
intuition steered him toward the mandolin. He bought his first mandolin in
March of 1984, it was a "Newfeld" mandolin.
He was encouraged by local
musicians at festivals to keep it up, and with the early inspiration of the
pioneers of Bluegrass music, he strived to develop his style of Traditional
Bluegrass. It was the drones and double stops of Benny Martin and Paul
Warren, whom all played with Flatt and Scruggs, that caught his attention.
Their style of fiddle convinced Gary that this music was extra special, and
Gary decided to take up playing the fiddle as well.
Gary played with
several local bands until 1993, when he joined the Spinney Brothers. With
Gary southern bow on the fiddle and lonesome tremolo on his Gilcrest
mandolin, Gary adds the final ingrediant necessary for Genuine Acoustic
Bluegrass Music.
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Terry Mumford acoustic bass
Terry was born in August, 1960 to Reg and Mae Mumford. He was raised in the
Windsor, Noca Scotia area and listened to classic country on CFAB. A favorite
childhood memory was watching
 "Don Messer's Jubilee" with his family. Mr
Messer and his bands musicality and teamwork set standards that Terry
strives for in his music.
While attending Windsor Regional High School, Terry joined a new band
program started by Brian Johnston. With Brians encouragement he played the
trombone, euphonium, tuba and did some conducting. He also was a member of
the Acadia University concert band, The Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra and
local Army Reserve Band.
The first exposure to bluegrass came at a Christmas Daddies radio show in
Windsor. Who knew the nice lady behind the local jewelry store counter
played banjo? Thanks for everything Peggy Warner. A decade later he went to
a bluegrass festival at the Bridgewater Exhibition grounds and he was
hooked. Since then he has played bass or banjo with the groups Custom Made,
Blue Haze, Just In Case and Sunrise. He does sound for bluegrass shows and
other acoustic music.
Terry now lives in Dartmouth with his supportive wife, Janice and sons Tommy and
Patrick. He serves with the 36th Canadian Brigade Group Band as the
assistant director of music. When he doesn't have an instrument in his
hands, he's been known to play some golf at his favorite course, Coyote Hill
which is just down the road from the old Ardiose festival site. On a windy
day, he's sure you can still hear Brian Mitton's banjo coming from the
greenbelt or the Meteghan piano from the lower field.
Terry is looking forward to countinuing his musical journey with The Spinney
Brothers.
"It is a pleasure to perform with them and meet so many bluegrass fans at
the shows and festivals".
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