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A Day Late and a Dollar Short - The
Band!
Bob Bissillion - Guitar &
Vocals
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Bob
Bissillion the leader of the group and relative
newcomer to bluegrass, has been playing guitar for
over 42 years. Starting in Calgary, his first
professional appearance was at the age of 15 when
he hooked up with Calgary's Mr. Banjo, Johnny
Thorson and played on the same stage as Roy
Warhurst and Ray Griff. In 2001, his wife bought
him an inexpensive 5 string banjo thus took the
first steps into bluegrass. A three month trip to
the Smokey Mountains that fall was all it took to
get him hooked. Bob now sings lead vocals, plays
rhythm guitar and provides comic
relief. |
Darrell Corbel - Guitar &
Vocals
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Darrell Corbel caught the music bug in Medicine
Hat, Alberta playing with his mom and dad and
uncles and aunts. Learning guitar at the age of 13,
this largely self-taught musician explored rock,
country, folk and especially bluegrass. He learned
how to read tabulature and music theory, how to
fingerpick and he played in many local talent
shows. Darrell experimented with the banjo,
mandolin, bass guitar and piano and by grade seven
he was singing harmony and lead. He has shared the
stage with the Heritage Singers and the King's
Herald quartet. Darrell is currently a professional
music/choir teacher and is a past director of
Chordial Invitation, Kelowna's Barber shop Chorus.
Adding to lightening fast guitar flat picking,
Darrell sings both lead and harmony
vocals. |
Gene Bretecher - Banjo
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If
you asked people to name the top five musicians in
bluegrass in Canada, Gene Bretecher’s name would be
on the list. Gene once described bluegrass as
"acoustic folk music in overdrive." Not
surprisingly, this is a description of his own
banjo and guitar-playing style. Manitoba’s former
"Instrumentalist of the Year", Gene has opened
concerts for music legends including Flatt and
Scruggs, Don Williams, Leona Boyd, Hank Snow and
Roy Clark. His well-earned success stems from
decades in sound studios and live performances,
including a studio sound-track session for the
popular TV show, "Sesame Street" and his own CD’s
"Banjo Holiday" and "Canadian Whitewater" and “Live
at Creekside.” Gene is credited with inspiring
several dozen banjo enthusiasts in workshops all
over Canada. The newest member of the band, Gene’s
enthusiasm and expertise are a welcome addition to
the band. Gene has been an instructor at the
Sorrento Bluegrass camp for many years and still
teaches private lessons. Visit Gene's Web
site. |
Vic Ukrainetz - Fiddle, Mandolin
& Vocals
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Vic
Ukrainetz started his musical career on the piano
at the age of 5 but soon switched to the fiddle and
guitar. Playing in various dance bands in Ontario,
Saskatchewan and Alberta he now leads one of
Kelowna's top groups called "The Dance Band". Vic
is a BC Fiddle judge and sought after
instructor. He has performed in many shows and is
on a number of recordings including his own fiddle
album titled "My Dad's Waltz". He has shared the
stage with Tommy Hunter, Peter Dawson, and Calvin
Vollrath and has performed with the Sunshine
Theatre. Now into bluegrass in a big way, Vic's
fiddle, mandolin and harmony vocals are a welcome
addition to A Day Late and A Dollar
Short. |
Ron Hillcoff - Bass &
Vocals
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Ron
Hillcoff is a man of many talents playing electric
and upright bass, guitar and mandolin. Originally
from Winnipeg, Ron started playing guitar in the
early '50's in dance bands, blues combos, big band
orchestra's as well as bluegrass groups. Ron has
played with such notables as Burton Cummings, Randy
Bachman, Fred Turner, Ronny Profit and also the
George Jones band in Nashville. Along with his
musical talents Ron adds harmony vocals and a
humorous twist to the group. |
Jack Kinakin - Dobro
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Jack
started playing at about 14 years of age, mostly
guitar and banjo. He was self taught relying mostly
on listening to records over and over "until it
made sense to me." Growing up, he played in a
family band for weddings and club dances and also
played with other groups to help fill in on drums
and bass. He casually played a Dobro over the years
as banjo was his main instrument. He got serious
about the Dobro in 2000 and it's been his main
focus ever since. Listen for some of Jack's
lightening fast breaks in the music - quick, clean
and tasteful. |
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