Blackbury Band

Blackbury Band Bios

The group was started in 2005 while attending the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. The Blackbury Band features tight harmonies backed by innovative acoustic arrangements. Western, Folk or Gospel. They create a comfortable atmosphere in which you can just sit back and enjoy yourself. Their first album “Thirty Years Too Late” was released in February 2007. It is a testimony to the group’s love of acoustic music.

Bob Black: Guitar, Vocals

Bob has played the guitar and performed for over 40 years. He has a great appreciation and love for all types of acoustic music. Folk and Western Swing Music have influenced him the most. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, he has had the opportunity and pleasure to perform with many outstanding talents, including his fraternity brother, John Denver. The Blackbury Band represents a unique opportunity to record and perform many of the songs he grew up with new arrangements. The rich vocal harmonies of the group are the best he has ever heard. He welcomes everyone to relax and enjoy the music.

L.B. Taulbee: Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals

Raised in the hills of Kentucky, going to church and school were the main social activities in the hills and playing music just came natural in a family of musicians and gospel singers. Although enjoying the music, putting food on the table was his first priority when a family came along, and the guitar went into the closet for over three decades. Now with the family "raised up" the guitar came out of the closet. Joining the Blackbury Band has been an "unexpected treat." Although this CD is 30 years too late, it is never too late to for a music lover to: Get that instrument out of the closet and find your unexpected treat."

Garry Bury: Vocals

Garry is a native Kansan, with a love of the old west, and the colorful cow town heritage of his home state. He is the youngest male member of the band, and was raised watching the TV westerns of the 1960’s. Garry says when he grows up, he “wants to be a cowboy”. Although they were before his time, Garry loves the silver screen portrayals of the cowboy way, filmed in the 30s, 40s and 50s. His music style is influenced by the vintage country music greats, Hank Williams, the Sons of the Pioneers and Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.

Garry is the lead singer for the group, LB calls him The Crooner. He sang for decades in the shower and from the congregation side of the pulpit at church. It wasn’t until the turn of the new century that Garry started “singing out”, then performing. His rich baritone voice harmonizes so naturally with that of Bob’s & LB’s, you’d think they were brothers. Garry appreciates Bob and LB’s musical expertise and has had a great time riding this trail with them.

Richelle Basgall: Violin, Vocals

Richelle started playing violin in the third grade in Dodge City, Kansas. She learned the joy of old timey and folk music from the life long players of the Fiddlers and Pickers Association in Spearville, KS. Her music went with her to The University of Kansas, and while attending college she found a performing outlet both with the KU Orchestra and at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. Recently, Richelle was asked to return to her western roots and has been working since 2006 with the Blackberry Band. Not only does Richelle play fiddle and provide lead and harmony vocals, but she also plays mandolin, guitar, piano, penny whistle and maybe a few others just for kicks. The talent and ability comes straight from a supportive musical family and friends and a personal love for playing.

Felix Baz-Dresch: Banjo

Felix began playing the 4-string banjo while in college. Upon entering the Army in 1961, switched to a 5-string banjo and formed a 4-man folk music group that toured US Army bases along the east coast. Upon leaving service, he played with the Town Criers for a year at the famous Gaslight Square in St. Louis. Moving to the Kansas City area in 1969, Felix began jamming with friends and played in a folk music group at his church. He and his friends formed the group Cabin Fever in the early 90’s, and joined the Blackbury Band in 2006. He attended the very first Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Ks in 1972 and has been a regular participant ever since. While attending the Arkansas Folk Festival for a number of years, he became friends with historian/songwriter Jimmy Driftwood.

Dick Krueger: Bass

Dick has been making music all his life. He began singing and playing piano in grade school and picked up trombone and string bass in high school. At the University of Kansas he played in the KU Band and sang in the Acapella Choir, two operas and a musical. In the U.S Navy he played in The Drum and Bugle Corps and picked up the guitar and the banjo. He has been a member of the Shawnee Town Band for 20 years, the KU Alumni Band for 30 years, The Barbershop Harmony Society for 45 years, and his church choir for 50 years. He has played trombone and string bass professionally in various bands around the Kansas City area for the last 10 years.

The group was started in 2005 while attending the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. The Blackbury Band features tight harmonies backed by innovative acoustic arrangements. Western, Folk or Gospel. They create a comfortable atmosphere in which you can just sit back and enjoy yourself. Their first album “Thirty Years Too Late” was released in February 2007. It is a testimony to the group’s love of acoustic music.
Bob Black: Guitar, Vocals Bob has played the guitar and performed for over 40 years. He has a great appreciation and love for all types of acoustic music. Folk and Western Swing Music have influenced him the most. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, he has had the opportunity and pleasure to perform with many outstanding talents, including his fraternity brother, John Denver. The Blackbury Band represents a unique opportunity to record and perform many of the songs he grew up with new arrangements. The rich vocal harmonies of the group are the best he has ever heard. He welcomes everyone to relax and enjoy the music.
	L.B. Taulbee: Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals Raised in the hills of Kentucky, going to church and school were the main social activities in the hills and playing music just came natural in a family of musicians and gospel singers. Although enjoying the music, putting food on the table was his first priority when a family came along, and the guitar went into the closet for over three decades. Now with the family "raised up" the guitar came out of the closet. Joining the Blackbury Band has been an "unexpected treat." Although this CD is 30 years too late, it is never too late to for a music lover to: Get that instrument out of the closet and find your unexpected treat."
Garry Bury: Vocals Garry is a native Kansan, with a love of the old west, and the colorful cow town heritage of his home state. He is the youngest male member of the band, and was raised watching the TV westerns of the 1960’s. Garry says when he grows up, he “wants to be a cowboy”. Although they were before his time, Garry loves the silver screen portrayals of the cowboy way, filmed in the 30s, 40s and 50s. His music style is influenced by the vintage country music greats, Hank Williams, the Sons of the Pioneers and Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Garry is the lead singer for the group, LB calls him The Crooner. He sang for decades in the shower and from the congregation side of the pulpit at church. It wasn’t until the turn of the new century that Garry started “singing out”, then performing. His rich baritone voice harmonizes so naturally with that of Bob’s & LB’s, you’d think they were brothers. Garry appreciates Bob and LB’s musical expertise and has had a great time riding this trail with them.
	Richelle Basgall: Violin, Vocals Richelle started playing violin in the third grade in Dodge City, Kansas. She learned the joy of old timey and folk music from the life long players of the Fiddlers and Pickers Association in Spearville, KS. Her music went with her to The University of Kansas, and while attending college she found a performing outlet both with the KU Orchestra and at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. Recently, Richelle was asked to return to her western roots and has been working since 2006 with the Blackberry Band. Not only does Richelle play fiddle and provide lead and harmony vocals, but she also plays mandolin, guitar, piano, penny whistle and maybe a few others just for kicks. The talent and ability comes straight from a supportive musical family and friends and a personal love for playing.
Felix Baz-Dresch: Banjo Felix began playing the 4-string banjo while in college. Upon entering the Army in 1961, switched to a 5-string banjo and formed a 4-man folk music group that toured US Army bases along the east coast. Upon leaving service, he played with the Town Criers for a year at the famous Gaslight Square in St. Louis. Moving to the Kansas City area in 1969, Felix began jamming with friends and played in a folk music group at his church. He and his friends formed the group Cabin Fever in the early 90’s, and joined the Blackbury Band in 2006. He attended the very first Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Ks in 1972 and has been a regular participant ever since. While attending the Arkansas Folk Festival for a number of years, he became friends with historian/songwriter Jimmy Driftwood.
	Dick Krueger: Bass Dick has been making music all his life. He began singing and playing piano in grade school and picked up trombone and string bass in high school. At the University of Kansas he played in the KU Band and sang in the Acapella Choir, two operas and a musical. In the U.S Navy he played in The Drum and Bugle Corps and picked up the guitar and the banjo. He has been a member of the Shawnee Town Band for 20 years, the KU Alumni Band for 30 years, The Barbershop Harmony Society for 45 years, and his church choir for 50 years. He has played trombone and string bass professionally in various bands around the Kansas City area for the last 10 years.