"A very talented, versatile band" - Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.The Gatorbone Band, formerly known as Valla, Turner, Williamson and also VTW, is a musical family of friends. We've been playing together for many years to bring to light the music that moves us and hopefully our listeners. What we play is influenced by an amazing spectrum of musicians and styles from Dr. Ralph Stanley to Pat Metheny. From David Grisman to Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard. We are drawn to tunes that are meaningful to us and bring a sense of belonging to the players and hopefully the listeners.The original tunes of the band are a powerful addition to stage performances as well as our debut recording. We're pleased to let you know that our special guests include Aubrey Haynie on fiddle and Scott Vestal on banjo. Our next recording endeavor is in the works! Please visit us at these places to keep up with the latest.... www.reverbnation.com/thegatorboneband, www.myspace.com/thegatorboneband, or www.gatorbone.com . The Gatorbone Band is Gabriel Valla on guitar, Kurt Johnston on pedal steel and piano, Lis Williamson on rhythm guitar and banjo, Lon Williamson on upright bass and occasionally we have Jason Thomas (of The Claire Lynch Band) or Suzanne Lansford, on fiddle. Gabe, Lis and Lon and Kurt provide some great vocals.Gabriel Valla is a multi-talented performer with many laudable credits to his young career. He won the Merle Watson Festival Flatpicking Championship well over ten years ago and has only honed his already formidable skills since then, writing many great original tunes featured most recently on the recordings of Scott Anderson and Larry Rice as well as on the VTW release. He has a great voice which brings warmth to the stage whether singing a lead or adding a harmony. Lis and Lon Williamson bring many original tunes to the band as well as provide the strong rhythmic groundwork. Lis plays rhythm guitar and frails the banjo and sings lead and harmony vocals. Lon's smooth style on the upright bass provides the grounding force, which drives the VTW sound. His honest voice tells it like it is on this debut VTW recording. Their harmonies are terrific.Kurt Johnston, originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the newest member of the group and brings an extraordinary instrumental prowess to the group on pedal steel and piano. He most recently toured with The Bon Jovi Band on dobro and pedal steel and we're proud to have him with us. Whenever gigs, time and opportunity align, we are pleased to welcome fiddler and mandolinist, Jason Thomas, to join us. Originally from Ontario, Canada, his extraordinary fiddling has been a wonderful addition to the stage performances of the group. Jason tours full time with The Claire Lynch Band and also performs with Kane's River, a Montana-based bluegrass band. He's a busy guy!An original founding member of the Valla, Turner, Williamson band, Greg Turner's contribution on mandolin to this debut recording is marvelous. Onstage it's a thrill to hear and watch his beautiful playing. Greg remains a veteran performer with an exacting and beautiful style on his instrument. and you can hear the influences of these ground-breaking players in his work... Sam Bush, David Grisman, Adam Steffey and Larry Rice to name a few. We hope you enjoy this original debut recording of the band. Sign up for our mailing list on our Reverb Nation site and keep up to date with what's new. Peace Friends!