Coal-Fired Ramblers
The Coal-Fired Ramblers is a traditional bluegrass band from Schuylkill County, PA. The band consists of 5-7 members who are family and friends, all sharing a great passion for bluegrass music. The Coal-Fired Ramblers are proud of their heritage and enjoy representing their local history and culture by writing songs about trains, pioneers, hard times, history, and, of course, coal mining! The band also performs cover songs by some of the greatest names in the history of bluegrass music. They love interacting with their audience and fans, and they enjoy promoting this music to young people, the next generation. The Coal-Fired Ramblers is a friendly and energetic band that would love to entertain your audience and make new friends through music.
The Band
John E. Donton: Guitar, Banjo, Vocals
John is a family man, and along with his wife Becky and their three children, they make up five total members of The Coal-Fired Ramblers. John has been playing the 5-string banjo and guitar since he was a teenager. He was introduced to bluegrass and country music by his grandfather and family friends at an early age. He credits most of his knowledge about guitar to family friend Donald and his cousin Terry. John studied piano under Ellen Gurtler of Schuylkill Haven and Kim Russel Siebert of Port Carbon, and contrabass with Simon Maurer. Much of his musical performance has been related to gospel music in church, where he plays guitar, bass, and contrabass for St. Ambrose Catholic Church, as well as performances in various other churches. John enjoys other musical genres in addition to bluegrass, such as Irish and English folk music, classic country, classical-baroque music, punk rock, and '80s pop. His all-time favorite and most influential band is Johnny Horton. Outside of music, John also enjoys coaching baseball, working out, and going on vacations.
Becky L. Donton: Bass, Vocals
Becky is the wife of John, and along with their three children, they make up five total members of The Coal-Fired Ramblers. Becky took piano and guitar lessons as a child and teenager and spent most of her life playing and singing in church. She also enjoys other genres of music, such as rock, country, jazz, and Irish folk music. In addition to music, she enjoys animals, vacations, shopping, and watching movies.
Saxton J. Donton: Fiddle, Vocals
Saxton, along with his siblings and parents, makes up five members of The Coal-Fired Ramblers. He was introduced to the violin through the St. Ambrose School Strings Program in third grade. His violin instructor was Simon Maurer of the Gabriella Chamber Ensemble. He also attended the Braun School of Music in Pottsville to study piano. Saxton continued to study piano under the direction of Kim Seibert of Port Carbon, PA. Saxton enjoys music and has an excellent ear. He is a multi-instrumentalist and in addition to playing violin, he plays accordion, guitar, banjo, and piano. He enjoys multiple genres of music especially folk music. Outside of music, Saxton also enjoys riding his motorcycle and bicycle, target shooting, vacations, canoeing, collecting knives, and video games.
Madisyn A. L. Donton: Vocals, Irish Dance
Maddy along with her siblings and parents, makes up five members of The Coal-Fired Ramblers. She was introduced to the violin through the St. Ambrose School Strings Program in third grade. Her violin instructor was Simon Maurer of the Gabriella Chamber Ensemble. She later continued voice lessons with Kim Seibert of Port Carbon, PA. Maddy has been participating in chorus since elementary school and participates in drama club and musicals. Along with her singing, she also attends the Sabo School of Irish Dance, where she competes in numerous Irish dance competitions. Maddy also enjoys multiple genres of music. In addition to music, she enjoys vacations, amusement parks, baking, decorating, working out, and shopping.
James R.I. Donton: Vocals, Mandolin
James, along with his siblings and parents, makes up five members of The Coal-Fired Ramblers. He also plays the French horn in the school band and participated in chorus in elementary school. In addition to music, James loves playing baseball, target shooting, going to amusement parks, taking vacations, and riding his 4-wheeler and bicycle.
Craig Bixler: Rhythm Guitar
Craig is a long-time family friend of the Donton family and has a nice lineup of beautiful Martin guitars that he plays in the band, including his DS-17 custom. Craig studies guitar and music theory under the direction of Frank Flandorffer from Allentown, PA. He comes from a family of bluegrass music lovers and even has a cousin who played professional dobro with a touring band. Craig is a bluegrass and country music enthusiast and enjoys reading about the history and current trends in the music.
Dave Derbes: Vocals, Mandolin, Rhythm Guitar
Dave is a part-time performer with The Coal-Fired Ramblers. He is a percussionist with the Anthracite Phil Harmonic Orchestra and a church organist for St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Pottsville, PA. Dave is also an independent solo performer within the local community and has a history of playing rock, jazz, classical, sacred, and Irish folk music.
Tony Upshaw: Banjo, Rhythm Guitar
Tony is a long-time friend of the Donton family and a long-time fan of bluegrass music. He started playing rock and jazz music during the early 1970s, but later learned to play the banjo after being inspired by listening to Earl Scruggs' 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown.'
Elijah Barnett: Banjo
Elijah is the newest member of the band and is a talented multi-instrumentalist. He is a member of the high school band and jazz band and also plays accordion and piano.