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Dean Shawn Tim Dave Ray Karen Don Jimmy Lee
Dean - "Leader Of The Pack"
Acoustic guitar, accordion, lead vocals, harmony, bass
Dean had many wonderful memories from the years of entertainment. His favorites was the fact that Roy Acuff asked him to play accordion for him as Roy sang his favorite song, "No One Will Ever Know". Roy liked it so well that Dean played the remainder of Roy's show.
Gear: 1953 D Martin acoustic guitar - 1950's "Piggyback" Fender Bassman amp
Bass, lead vocals, harmony, piano, sax
Gear: "Stinger" bass - Framus bass - Hartke 2500 bass head - Hartke 410 bass cabinet
Shawn sang with 8 of his fellow classmates at Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City as a senior in high school.
Lead guitar, lead vocals, harmony, accordion, piano, clarinet, bass
Gear: Ibanez electric guitar - Fender Stratocaster (sunburst) electric guitar - Peavey Special 112 amp - Crate GLX120 amp
Timothy played bass at age 15 in the Rita Rose Band when they fronted for Ricky Nelson near Allentown.
I started playing
bass with McNett Country right after high school. I was extremely shy and very
quiet on stage and there was NO WAY I was going to be singing! Dad gave me a few
lessons such as the basic progression patterns and a few fret identities and I
took it from there. Didn't really study the theory or commit myself to hard-time
practicing any instrument but I did enough to learn the ropes.
Growing up around traditional country music was, and still is, a great value.
Dad has an abundance of experience behind him that he effortlessly brought with
him where ever we played. That is what makes a real stage show. I've gained so
much respect for his lifestyle that it's virtually my own as well. The corny
humor is REALLY where it's at. Delivery is also one of the biggest parts, which
he has down to an art.
One Christmas day, my wife, Brenda, and I went to mom and dad's where we
exchanged gifts. This is where I got my new toy.....a new guitar. Sure, I'm just
getting used to the bass and now I'm looking at playing LEAD! Not to worry, I
had Bunkle (Uncle Bob) to start me on that.
Uncle Bob was still on the road with the Drifting
Cowboys, Hank Williams Sr.'s band, and had played with Hank for a number of
years up until his death. He was home more at this time and was able to teach me
some standards on playing lead. Bar chords, chord position, fingering etc. I
never got to learn as much from him as I would've liked but what I have is
priceless. My biggest hump was trying to learn Fingers On Fire. Like learning to
play lead was hard enough now dad is asking for this?! I'm still working on it,
though have played it quite a lot on jobs and the response is overwhelming, due
to the fact that Bob & Dean left a big mark in a lot of people's hearts around
the world.
I wouldn't trade any of this history for the world and I plan to keep it alive
in my family as well.
Dave Preston (The Fearless One)
Percussion
Gear:
Dave is Vice President of Canton National Bank.
When John Ellis
decided to retire at the end of 1996(?), Dave Preston decided to "unretire".
Dave stopped playing regularly in 1981 to spend time with his children. When the
opportunity to join the legendary Dean McNett appeared, the time was right, and
Dave jumped at the chance.
When asked what changed his mind after the long layoff Dave said, "I've always
loved to play along with good musicians, and Dean, Karen, Ray, Shawn and Tim are
among the best. My boys are pretty well grown, and the time was right. I was
honored to be asked to join McNett Country, and we have a ball playing! I made
the right decision."
Born in 1952, and raised in Canton, Pa, Dave learned his craft from George Lyon,
the instrumental music teacher in the Canton Area School District. Dave says he
started taking music lessons in the third grade "because they told anyone
interested to go to the auditorium. Since I didn't have my math homework done,
it seemed like a good time to leave the room!" When he was 12, an older brother
of a family friend gave David his first drum set. "One cymbal, a snare, and a
bass drum with a torn head. I used the set until I bought my first and only new
set in 1967. I kept the snare though and still use it every job. I gave the bass
drum and cymbal to a family friend to continue the tradition. When I'm done with
the snare and the rest, I'll give them to some young
drummer too." said Dave.
Like most kids playing music in the 60's, the first groups he played with were
trying to play Rock and Roll. Dave played for school dances starting at age 13,
with groups such as "The Rock Riders" and "The Green Mist". After college (a
psychology/sociology major) Dave started his career in Banking. Along the way he
played with "Buck and the Country Wranglers" from 1975-1981. Sometime in the
early 80's, Dean McNett showed up for a block dance in Canton. Dave tells the
story.
"My father had talked about the McNett brothers for years, since he went to
school with Bob. I wanted to meet Dean, and tell him Dad said Hi, so while they
were setting up for the block dance, I introduced myself. Dean was his usual
gracious self and asked about Dad. I didn't see anyone setting up any drums, so
I asked who was playing. Dean said that the drummer couldn't make it. When I
told him that my drums were in the car, and that I'd be glad to fill in, you
could see the doubt in his face. Here was this kid he knew nothing about,
telling him he needed a drummer! I said, how about if I set my stuff up, play
the first song or two, and if it doesn't work, just say so; I'll pack up and go
home! I guess I did okay, because I played the whole job, and he started to call
me when he needed a substitute."
Dave still lives and works in Canton with his three boys.
Fiddle, dobro, banjo
Gear:
Ray is a great fan of bluegrass music.
My musical career started in 1947. Since that time I have worked with both country and blue grass bands, playing mostly fiddle, 5-string banjo and dobro. Through the years I have had the great pleasure to play with many stars: Done Reno, Red Smiley, Jimmy Dickens, Jet Williams, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart and others.
In February 2005 I started my 21st year with the Dean McNett country band and currently still with them. I have enjoyed every minute of it playing both stage shows and square dances. I hope I can continue on with this music that I love so well for a long time to come.
Vocals
Karen first met the McNett Country Band when she was a contestant in a country music contest. The McNett Band was the staff band for all of the soloists.
In June 1990, I
entered the Country Showdown contest at Knoebels. It's there that I met Dean and
Tim because they were the backup band for the solo contestants. I went to their
home for a short practice and when I told my mother who was playing, she told me
about Radio Corral and how my grandparents used to go there and listen to the
big stars singing country music. She said my grandmother (who passed away before
I was born) would be very excited to know I was singing with Dean McNett!
I joined McNett Country for their New Year's Eve party in 1990. The summer of
1991, Dean asked me to sing with the band at a couple of shows and the rest, as
they say, is history!
I have been singing for as long as I can remember. Church & school choirs,
school musicals, weddings, and now, McNett Country! I've gained a lot of
invaluable stage experience through the group and Dean, Tim, Ray, Shawn & Dave
are a great bunch of guys to work with. Well, sometimes they get goofy, but
you'll have to see a show or two to
believe it!
I'm originally from Mifflinburg, but now live in Northumberland with my husband,
Mark and two boys, Cory and Bret. I enjoy watching my kids play sports (all
three "kids"!) and I just opened my own business. My family has followed the
band around since I started and they don't complain....much. They get to go to
some of the best fairs around, eat lots of good food and see many different
places and people. I appreciate them sticking with me through all of the
traveling and late nights. Thanks to my mother-in-law and father-in-law who are
usually there in the front row, too!!
I didn't realize what pieces of history I would be learning and how much Dean
and Dorothy would help me with my own singing "career". I am grateful for all
their support and love. They treat me like a daughter!
Of course, I need to thank Tim and Shawn. My "partners in crime". They put up
with a lot of abuse on and off stage and I enjoy working with them. The three of
us competed in the Country Showdown in 199? and won second place!! Ray Rinker
never knows what song I'm singing next, so he's always changing between his
three instruments to give us that extra boost we need on songs. Last, but
definitely not least, is the guy in the back. Dave Preston's drumming allows us
to do the songs we've always wanted to do and he does so with his big smile and
lots of finesse. We might not be making millions like the big stars do, but we
sure do have a lot of fun!
If you make it to one of our shows, please stop by and say hello!
Steel Guitar
Gear: Emmons double-neck with 8 floor and five knee pedals through a Peavey NASHVILLE™ 1000 amp.
I began playing with Bob McNett and Bill McNett in 1960. In 1961 Dean came back from Wheeling, WV, where he worked with Doc & Chicki Williams on the WWVA Jamboree. Bob, Dean, Bill and I reopened the Radio Corral and also played throughout PA., NY, NJ, MD, VA and WV. We played as many as 20-25 dates per month through the summers. In the late 60's or early 70's Bob's daughter, Robin, and Bill's two daughters, Carol and Karen, joined us and we were soon called "The Country Rockers". We remained together through 1977, at which time both Bob & Dean joined the Drifting Cowboys back in Nashville. In the meantime, I attended Lock Haven University and received my bachelors degree. In 1968 I went back to Penn State and was awarded a masters degree in science. From 1977 through 2000 I worked with various area bands. Then in July 2000, Dean called and ask me to play a date around the 4th of July. I have played with The McNett Country Band since then. During the winter months my wife and I spend about five months in our Florida home. While in Florida, I work with a country band known as the Heartland Country.
Don will return to Florida for the coming winter and come back to PA next April. He is involved with a band in Florida also and has been handed some recent hurricane devastation.
Lead guitar, vocals, harmony
Gear: Gretsch Country Gentleman & Gretsch Falcon (both with a Bigsby Tremolo) and a Peavey Nashville 400 amp.
Jimmy says his favorite hobby is playing music, THEN eating.
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The Band Schedule Goodies Bus Trips Gallery