THE BAND

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Frances Mooney

"Imagine the soul of the North Georgia mountains and the legacy of generations of family and friends who play country and bluegrass music. Put these in the hands of somebody with undying love of bluegrass and vocal talent to match, and you have singer Frances Mooney. Soul and heart, and a commitment that has taken her down bluegrass roads over 41 years, make Frances somebody people stand up and pay attention to, and it happens wherever the band plays.  Frances isn't afraid of the emotion that makes a song poignant, lonely, or up beat.  For over 40 years she's led Georgia-based groups to regional popularity, and with Fontanna Sunset, Frances wants to shoot toward the moon."  Louisa Branscomb

Band Leader and Atlanta Country Music Hall of Famer, Frances Mooney says, "We feel our approach is unique for many reasons, we’re not afraid of challenges, driving rhythm and power vocals.  Then too, we aren't afraid to vary the style, and arrange old country and rock & roll to our shows. We add a few of my original songs, (Louisa Branscomb) to every show. They are traditional yet creative, with gorgeous melodies that allow for gripping harmony singing and crowd-pleasing."

Frances is a veteran, having been in music over 41 years.  She was a high profile singer and bass player with The Bluegrass Generation in the Louisville bluegrass scene around 1975 in the days when Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill still played bluegrass. Both Ricky and Vince helped on a couple of early Generation albums.  Another well-known member of the Bluegrass Generation was Danny Jones who formally played with Bill Monroe, The Bluegrass Alliance and The Goins Brothers just to name a few.
 
In 1975 The Bluegrass Generation was recognized by the Governor and each received Certificates making them Kentucky Cornels‘. The Bluegrass Generation traveled throughout the US, as far North as Canada and South to Florida.  In 1978, back in Georgia, Frances formed "Cherokee Rose", an all female band.  At this time all female bluegrass bands were still new to the bluegrass circuit. Cherokee Rose soon began to hit the bluegrass festivals, clubs and other venues. The traveling became very hard for Frances as a single parent raising two small boys, and she chose to leave the band, one of the hardest decisions she has had to make in the music. "But bluegrass is a habit I can't shake," Frances says. "It's too much a part of me, and I had to find a way to do that and be a good mother too." 

In 1981, Frances began to put another band together and named it Indian Summer and they performed at various festivals in the northern and southern states. In 1987 Indian Summer won 1st place in the "WPLO" Talent Contest out of 200 entries. Skeeter Davis was one of the judges and presented us with the 1st place award, which took us to Nashville, where they performed at Opyrland and the Station Inn.  The highlight of Indian Summer's career was October 1990 to be invited by the China Government to Shanghai, China to perform for the Grand Portman Hotel and represent music of the United States.

In October 1998 Frances formed her current band, Fontanna Sunset.  Members included long time friend, Mindy Rakestraw and Brenda Nation.  This would be a band  with “mostly women”.   Brenda left the band around 1999 . Louisa Branscomb, a renowned songwriter joined Fontanna Sunset. After a few years of membership changes and refining the bands sound, we now have what we need to take us down the road to success!

"Frances has been known for her evocative, soulful voice, and her ability to move from the poignancy of a country ballad to the joy of an up-tempo gospel number to traditional bluegrass, always keeping the heart of the audience in her hand.  Some players have the ability to capture and hold your attention. A few others have the magic to put you under a spell. This is singer Frances Mooney," said Louisa Branscomb, Songwriter

To contact Frances fontannasunset@bellsouth.net

Mark Mundy

Seldom do you find a guitar player so versatile in so many genres of music. Mark has accomplished a career in music that many can only hope for. Some have said every time they perform with Mark or listen to him play there is always a lesson to be learned. Many have said he is the finest guitar player they have ever heard. Mark is accomplished on the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, resophonic guitar and vocals.

Mark was born into a family of music but developed his first interest around the age of five years old when the family minister taught him his first song on the guitar. From then on Mark has only strived to improve his musical abilities. Most days you will find Mark practicing or recording for hours.

Mark first performed with his mother, Frances Mundy Mooney and his brother Matthew Mundy in the family church. Mark continued to express his passion for music by performing in his high school band. From there he played in various groups, a local Christian rock band to "Southern Rock" with the Urban Shake Dancers.

He and long time friends Jody Abernathy (songwriter) and Mark Millwood formed another Southern Rock band "Step Daughter".  Their shows included original material; cover songs & even traditional bluegrass. When Mark isn’t playing with Fontanna Sunset you can find him performing with Jody and Mark at local venues. 

Mark joined Frances Mooney & Fontanna Sunset in early 2004 playing rhythm/lead Guitar and singing lead/harmony vocals.  With his experience in different types of music throughout his years in music, he brings to the band his own style and unique song arrangements, always keeping in mind his true feelings to what the music and harmonies should sound like whether it be traditional or progressive bluegrass. Mark is the bands music Director. 

April, 2009 Mark and long time songwriting friend, Jody Abernathy traveled to Lyon, France where they performed original songs, cover songs and yes! Even bluegrass.

Contact Mark at:  mrmundy@bellsouth.net

Ronnie "Termite" Wilbanks

One of the newest member of Fontanna Sunset, Ronnie Wilbanks joined the band in January 2004. His first bluegrass band was started in the mountains of South Carolina in the mid 70's, playing banjo with the Carolina Mountain Boys, located in Salem, S.C. After a short stint with them, he moved to Denver, N.C. with work and helped form a new band known as The Plank Road Ramblers, playing festivals around the Statesville and Charlotte NC areas. He stayed with that group until 1979 until moving to Georgia. After a three-year break it didn't take long to decide that his life wasn't complete without Bluegrass music. He then joined a group in 1982 called Rocky Ridge Bluegrass from Jasper, GA and played with them until 1986. It was during this time he first heard the group known then as Indian Summer at Raccoon Creek Bluegrass Festival, with the unforgettable voices of Frances and Mindy, and dreamed some day I would have the opportunity to play with this group.

In 1986 he joined a group in north Ga. called Plain & Kuntry Express playing a host of festivals from South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama till parting 14 years later in 2000. At this time he started playing with a group named Rocky Top Bluegrass (RTB) based out of Rome, Ga., playing in band competitions in Nashville, the Bell Buckle Cafe, Boxcar Pinion Festival and many more, from Nashville, Tennessee to Montgomery, Alabama. During this time he jammed with bands such as Broad River, Stoney Gap, filling in on Banjo and Guitar for a host of bluegrass groups such as The Bluegrass Travelers, Bluegrass Heritage, Cedar Ridge, The Outpost Band and many more. "Finally I got to jam with a group called Fontanna Sunset, a band with some of the members of Indian Summer I had seen some 20 years ago at some of the festivals. After a year or so I found out that a dream-come-true was in the making. Boy Howdy! I became a regular in their camp at the festivals, jamming till the wee hours of the morning and I also got to play on stage with them on a couple of occasions. And finally, after a two-year stay with RTB, Lo and Behold, the unimaginable happened, I was invited to be a member of Fontanna Sunset! After 20 years of picking in the Georgia and Alabama Bluegrass circuit, seeing many changes, growing through these changes, meeting and picking with some of the best talent that either state has to offer, I have the rare privilege of having a dream come true, joining a true dynasty, FONTANNA SUNSET."  

To contact Ronnie wilbanksr@comcast.net

Brian Morgan

Brian is one of the newest member of Fontanna Sunset, joined in May, 2010.

Name a type of music; Brian's done it. All this feeds into bluegrass drive and sensitivity that adds just the right compliment to both the driving and the songs that the band does.  He's the instrumental tie-down, always on top of the chops, arrangement and any spot that needs an instrumental touch.

With a history of band roles since an early age he has performed in numerous bands across Georgia, his professionalism stands out in the music he plays, he evolves, just as our band and our sound is. Brian adds bass vocals on the gospel,  sings baritone and lead, singing on fresh traditional tunes the band revives from bluegrass roots.

Brian Morgan's main instrument with Fontanna Sunset is Mandolin also plays Banjo and Upright Bass

Brian sees his role as to compliment Fontanna Sunset and to give the band versatile, sensitive lead playing that truly fits with the song.

More about Brian Morgan coming soon!

To Contact Brian  fontannasunset@bellsouth.net

Check out Frances Mooney & Fontanna Sunset at MySpace