The Saint Vitus Dance Band was conceived unexpectedly one distant summer night as an emergency fill-in group at the Ozark Folk Center Theater in Mountain View, Arkansas. With over 90 years combined musical experience between the four members, however, they did not remain a fill-in for very long!
Their primary style is oldtime string band music, the rollicking hoedown tunes and songs of the pre-bluegrass era, but the varied backgrounds of the band members provides for an eclectic mix of other styles as well; blues, Texas swing, bluegrass, Celtic and British Isles, and even the passionate and fiery music of Eastern Europe. The Saint Vitus Dance Band is well known for their high energy instrumentals and boisterous songs as well as their expressive slows airs and ballads.
Band Members:
DeeAnn Gillispie, the founder and fiddler of the group, spent most of her childhood studying classical violin. A studio musician since the age of 15, she has performed at numerous festivals around the US, on many recordings, TV, radio and the movie, “The White River Kid” , with Antonio Banderas. DeeAnn spent several years playing with Irish folk groups in California before moving to Arkansas in 1995.
She currently performs at the Ozark Folk Center with three different groups. Her playing is sensitive and forthright, a perfect combination of strength and soul.
Beki Jeanne is the group’s magical banjo player and vocalist, and has performed solo and with various groups since childhood. Her unique, percussive clawhammer banjo style adds an indispensible rhythmic driving force to the band’s sound. She has also performed at festivals, on TV, radio and movies, and done studio work for years.
Beki can belt out a song like ‘Mule Skinner Blues’ with the best of them, and still touch your heart with a tender love song.
Albee Tellone is the consumate session man and eveyone’s favorite back-up guy. Easily flowing from rhythm back-up to lead player, Albee is in demand by many local groups for his outstanding guitar and mandolin work. He has done studio work for many years, TV and radio, festivals, and performed on saxophone with Bruce Springsteen in his early days.
Albee’s playing is characterized by his rock steady rhythm and creative leads, no matter what style of music he may be performing. A master at oldtime, bluegrass, swing and jazz, he is the style consultant and chord meister of the band.
Gresham McMillon, only eighteen years old, has been playing since he was in fourth grade. He also is in demand by many local groups, and performs constantly. His playing has a focused intensity that brings a high energy enthusiasm to the band’s sound. He can switch from bowed bass on a sweet, gentle song, to a raucous slap-bass on the fast tunes.
Gresham is the heart beat of the Saint Vitus Dance Band.