Since May of 2001, the McDaileys, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, have been entertaining audiences at festivals and concerts throughout the west. Their own brand of “rural-roots style” traditional music draws inspiration from many sources: bluegrass, western-heritage, Golden Age of Radio, contemporary folk, older country music and old-timey genres’, mixed in with originals compositions.
The McDaileys have a sense of fun and love for the music that is captured in their performances. One of Willies favorite stage jokes is; “we like to play songs from the 50’s and 60’s…the 1850’s and 60’s”. The McDaileys are available as a duet, trio or full band.
The instrumentation of the full band consists of Willie McDonald on guitar, Susan Dailey on mandolin, Amy Anderson on acoustic upright bass. The group features vocal duets and trios. When fiddle player “extraordinaire”, Paul Kiteck joined the trio, the resulting collaboration infused the sound with a new and exciting rhythmic dimension.
Guitar ~ Mandolin ~ Vocals
Willie McDonald (guitar, mandolin and vocals) a multi-instrumentalist, is perhaps best known as the mandolin player in the Bluegrass Patriots; an internationally-known traditional bluegrass band that was together for over 30 years. The Patriots toured extensively in the United States, Canada and Europe and have 9 recording projects to their name. Willie is also a prolific published songwriter. In the McDaileys, Willie is the featured guitar player and front man for the band. His dynamic solo playing, lead and baritone singing combined with his unique sense of humor are a driving force in the McDaileys.
Mandolin ~ Vocals
Susan Dailey (mandolin and vocals) has performed in many area bluegrass bands over the years including Darkhorse, a group who formed at the South Plains College Bluegrass Music program in Levelland Texas, and ultimately went on a Department of Defense tour of the Pacific. Susan has taught beginning mandolin at Camp Bluegrass (in Levelland, Texas) and for many years at Front Range Community college (in Fort Collins, CO). Her mandolin style is steeped in bluegrass tradition and she is known for her high lonesome harmony singing and she is also featured on some of the lead vocals.
Full Band Featuring
Bass
Amy Anderson (acoustic bass), a founding member of the McDaileys, provides the steady rhythmic beat for the band and is also a talented harmony singer. She sings some leads as well. Amy was a founding member of the T-Band, a local favorite that entertained audiences in the Northern Colorado area for over 30 years. Amy is adept at playing many styles of music and is a sought-after bass player in the Fort Collins area.
Fiddle
Paul Kiteck (fiddle)is a sound acoustics engineer by trade. Paul is an experienced and talented fiddler who started playing at age 9. He has performed with groups from Colorado (including the Bluegrass Patriots in the 1980’s) as well as groups in North Carolina and Texas. He was a member of the Lonestar Bluegrass Band in Houston for 10 years. He has recorded for Flying Fish Records, Lonestar Records and Don Sanders and Sugar Bayou (an Austin, TX eclectic and original music band)