Down From The Hills Bluegrass Band
Current Musicians - Biographies
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Bill McWilliams - Bill plays 5 string Banjo - He lives on the westside in Madison <> Bill was exposed to Bluegrass TV as a child on Hootenany, Andy Griffith & The Beverly Hillbillies. His first stringed instrument was the Ukelele in middle school. He took up the banjo after watching John Hartford's weekly banjo solos for the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Always playing or singing somewhere, he's been harmonizing with DFTH since 1985.
Pat Downing - Pat plays mandolin, fiddle & melodeon. He is a luthier & piano tuner/technician living in SW Dane County. The band leader, Pat began making music at age 5 banging on kitchen pots & pans. At 12 he took up the trombone & in his 20's almost took it along instead of a guitar while hitchhiking around the USA to play the campfire circuit. In later years, he played session music in Ireland & jammed with Cajun musicians in Louisiana. His aim is to bring live music to folks. If they dance too, Big Fun!
Terry Jacobs - aka Bluegrass TeA plays bass, guitar and other various instruments. She is a singer/songwriter who co-wrote "Bacon in my Beans" at a "Lil House" songwriting workshop in Lebanon TN (ask her about that, she loves to share Lil House info). Terry has led jams, bands, played solo shows, and played with DFTH members at various jams through the years. Just recently she has been added to the DFTH roster as their bassist. Playing music with and for others is something she always looks forward to doing. While Terry enjoys playing a variety of music, she has discovered an important musical truth... IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT THE BASS.
Dan Hildebrand -- Dan plays Guitar, Mandolin and Fiddle. Dan had a Chicago Blues band in High School and later toured with Del Shannon in the early 70's. Got started on Guitar while living in Chicago when he was 12 years old. For the last ten years he's also been playing Jazz Mandolin and Old Time/Bluegrass Fiddle. He now leads a Beginners Bluegrass Jam class for The Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Association and lives in Madison.
Rex Blazer - Rex's musical journey began growing up in Eastern Kentucky and Austin, Texas - two places with a rich musical heritage and happenings which engendered a great appreciation for those various types of music which have largely been labeled as "Americana"<>
After initially playing bluegrass in Montana, Rex branched out to live in and study Scottish fiddling in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, as well as spending significant time in Lousiana learning Cajun Music. His love for fiddle tunes has resulted in years learning (and then forgetting!?) obscure tunes that no one around him is interested in - although he has gotten significant mileage out of them having played hundreds of Contra Dances, many with his band "Lift Ticket"<>
In Florida, Rex has played with numerous singer songwriters such as Rod MacDonald, Jerry Leeman, and Irish singer Tracy Sands as well as country bands, flat-out rock bands on electric fiddle, and many soft-rock and Folk combos. Rex also enjoys playing at renaissance festivals having led a troupe of Renaissance dancers for many years as well as playing in Ren bands such as Hooligan, Coddywomplers, and currently 3 Pints Gone, with whom he will be touring in Ireland this spring.
Patrick Downing, 256 Tyvand Rd. Blanchardville, WI 53516 (608)-527-2472