The Wildwoods Band

  

Bios

Cathy Severance, born August 28, 1963 in Lincoln, Maine.

I went to school in Ware, Mass. during my childhood. I began singing in Chorus in 5th grade and sang all through High School. My father had a passion for pulling horses so we went to all of New England’s Fair circuit during the summers. My mom had a passion for country music so it was at the fairs, that I was exposed to and fell in love with the songs and performances of such greats as Hank Snow, Porter Wagoner, Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Lynn Anderson, Whispering Bill and many other greats from that time. I spent the first 22 years of my adulthood in Florida where I was married and raised 2 beautiful sons. Upon my return home to Maine in 2001 I began attending the local country jams and began singing again. I was introduced to Slim Andrews, Ginger Mae Dyer, Russ Adams and Bing Crosby by Brenda Millett in 2003 and joined the MCMA that very day. Later that year I was approached by Rod Carr to sing a Don Williams duet, “You’re My Best Friend” for the Springfield Fair Talent Show. Though our performance was a true flop because of technical difficulties, we continued to sing together at local jams and in 2009 I received a Taylor guitar from my brother at Christmas and Rod began teaching me to play.

In 2008 we joined the JR Band with Jimmy Russell, Bob Bell and Sally Twist until 2009 when the band disbanded. We then acquired Rich Nye to sing with us and became a trio with Jimmy Russell providing our lead guitar. Jimmy was also playing with that RFD Gang and decided to go strictly with them.

Rod, Rich and I met our Pedal Steel player Ron Rines soon after that at a jam.  We asked him to play with us and he brought along his Uncle Doug, our drummer. Thus was born “The Wildwoods Band” with Rod, Rich and myself on vocals and harmony, Doug Danforth as drummer, Ron Rines on Pedal Steel and electric guitar, Rich Nye on electric lead, acoustic and bass guitars, Rod Carr on bass & rhythm guitars and myself on electric acoustic guitar.

We joined DECMA in 2009 and have played  and served as house band on several country Sundays for Gary Leet and Connie Fletcher and performed at Country Fest Maine 2010.

Thus far in 2010, we have played over 30 shows and several benefits. We have also had the great pleasure & opportunity to play with some great local bands such as Mainely Country, The Kayla Wass Band, The Higgins Family and Bob Elston. The Sherman Recreation Hall has been our primary venue as we host a dance there each month. I continue to attend as many local jams as possible each week and am beginning to learn the Bass guitar as well. There is no greater pleasure for me than singing and playing Traditional Country Music. Keeping the tradition alive is vital in today’s music society with so many new genres of music out there.

Rod Carr
24 Pleasant Street, Lincoln, Maine
I was born in Dexter, Maine on December 27, 1945. At a very early age I developed a strong interest in music, especially country music. My grandmother Carr was very musical and played the organ and piano. She also had a beautiful voice. My father inherited much of my grandmother’s musical abilities, and played the harmonica and also some piano by ear. On many Saturday nights, my father and I stayed up late and listened to WWVA in Wheeling, WV.

At the age of about 7 or 8 years, I became interested in the guitar, and picked up some chords and began playing.  As I entered school I joined the elementary school band and learned to play the baritone, trumpet, and E flat Horn.  By my high school years I began playing and singing with 4 high school friends.  In my junior year we formed a band called “The Juniors” we played at local dances and other events.   

After high school graduation, marriage and job, I did not play guitar for over 30 years.  In 2003 I was asked to play and sing at a local event to raise money for displaced workers in Lincoln.  My interest in music peaked again and I began going to local music jams.  Also, in 2003 I met Cathy Severance and we began singing together at local jams. In 2005 I joined a local country band with Woody Wood, Danny Twist and Burt Hopler.  I played with them for several months before leaving. In 2006 Cathy and I joined Bob Bell, Sally Twist, and Jimmy Russell and formed “The JR Band”.  The “JR Band” changed when Bob and Sally left the band.  In 2007 Rich Nye joined us and we continued with “The JR Band”.  In 2009 Jimmy Russell left the band and we welcomed two new members, Ron Rines our pedal steel player, and Doug Danforth our drummer.  We became “The Wildwoods Band” where I sing, harmonize, and play the bass and acoustic guitars. 

Richard Nye – Old Town, Maine

 I've been involved with music of some sort as far back as I can remember. My mother and grandmother were teaching me songs at two years old. Mom would sing along with Elvis and Johnny Cash on the radio. I got the fever for guitars watching my cousin Eugene play when I was three.  I was always singing even while riding bike, swinging on the school grounds and doing household chores.
 
    In 1969, the summer of my eighth grade year after returning from summer camp, I took the guitar seriously, and have been at it ever since. It was just a coincidence that it was also the summer of Woodstock. Anyway I was teaching a classmate the next summer. Along with he and another friend we were learning Glen Campbell songs and Beatles songs and the like. Tom T. Hall and Johnny Cash were big influences then too. I did sing at church once in a while, but mostly the music was confined to the back porches of Milo.
 
   After graduating in the early '70's I moved to Bangor and became involved with the music at Columbia St. Baptist Church. I was in the Renewal Singers for fifteen years. From that evolved a Southern gospel quartet called the King's Messengers. I was with them from 1989 until 2003. We traveled over a great deal of the State of Maine doing gospel concerts. I also was with a number of country bands including Cold River and Ricochet (we named ourselves before the Nashville one came out). After Ricochet broke up in the mid 90's due to two key players moving out of the area, I pretty much did jam sessions. I did occasionally do gospel concerts in various churches with my wife, Lynn and my daughter Tory.
 
   Along with being a member of The Wildwoods Band, I am also involved with the music at Glad Tidings Church on Broadway in Bangor. Music is an ongoing, learning experience.

Ron Rines on Steel

 Ron Rines was smitten by music at the age of 9, when he held his first guitar and learned the chords G, C, and D.  Over the years he has expanded that knowledge and dabbled with more guitars, banjos, and most recently the pedal steel guitar.  For more than three years he has been captured by the complexity and versatility of that most interesting instrument, and has vowed to master it, hopefully, in this lifetime.

His talent on the steel was what brought him to the Wildwoods Band and he has been playing with them for over a year.   Although the practice sessions are at times grueling; trying to learn two or three new songs in a week’s time can be tough, but the pay-off is always worth it.  The band’s harmonious tunes bring in the fans with their wonderful applause to show Ron and the rest of the band that their hard work is appreciated.

Ron lives in Glenburn with his wife, Linda.  They have been married for 36 years and she still remains his biggest fan.  They have one daughter, Heidi; a son-in-law, Brian; and a grand-daughter, Jocey, who is also quite impressed with her Papa’s musical abilities.

Doug Danforth on Drummer

Doug has been playing the drums for over 40 years. He started out with just a snare, then added to them. He and Ron Rines would play for friends and family; played at a niece's wedding, and at parties.

Last year he started going to jams in Lincoln & Milo. That’s when he was asked to join The Wildwoods Band, and he's been loving it ever since.

Doug lives in Brewer with his wife Rose. They have 4 children and 9 grandchildren & one great grandchild, who are all very proud of their Papa.