Although
the combination of Miss Mary Ann and the Ragtime Wranglers has been playing for years, the
band originally started out as The
Ranch Girls and the Ragtime Wranglers. The Ranch Girls (Caroline
& Mary Ann) sang Hillbilly Harmony.
When
we started The Ranch Girls it was the first time for 40 years that a band did
this sort of female hillbilly harmony. And it didn’t take long before
we got invited to play American festivals. All the band members had been
drawn to Hillbilly music by their love of Rockabilly music. That is how
six city slickers from Rotterdam (Holland) ended up making American
roots-music, all over the USA!
We
had been playing as the Ranch Girls & Ragtime Wranglers for over 15 years, recording
11 CD and vinyl releases, including a 78 record (Yep they still press
them). But after a couple of changes with Mary Ann’s singing partner,
the Ranch Girls stopped! Mary Ann went solo and the style of music
changed to Rockabilly.
The
Ragtime Wranglers
are still the band behind Mary Ann and over the years the Ragtime
Wranglers recorded two instrumental records, featuring mostly their own
material. With influences of their peers, such as Joe Maphis, Grady
Martin, Buddy Rich, Willie Dixon ....
After
a lot of inquiries we have decided to reform the
Ranch Girls one more time, for exclusive appearances, with the New
Ranch Girl Raina! Raina came from California (and used to front a
Western Swing band). After Raina’s move to England she became close
friends with Mary Ann (who had moved to the UK about ten years ago).
Both girls had sung together on many occasions (like the Rhythm Rocker
in Long Beach VS in 2010) and so the idea of The New Ranch Girls was
formed. The first appearance of the New Ranch Girls will be taken place
at the Rockabilly Rave in England in 2013.
So
apart from Mary Ann singing solo, Hillbilly Harmony will once more fill
the air....!
Miss
Mary Ann, London, November 2012
Info
sheet dowwnload here.
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