BIOGRAPHY

     Paul Kenney and John Catterall (The King Brothers), have been performing together since 1984 when they entered and won a Bluegrass Music Festival band competition somewhere in the wilds of New Jersey.  Although they are not brothers they are both Kings: Paul is the former King of France while John is the current reigning monarch of Ruthenia.

    They‘ve played Irish music in American bars and the most American of musics, bluegrass, in Irish pubs on both sides of the Atlantic. A special career highlight has been repeat performances at   the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival in County Waterford, Ireland!

...guitar, bouzouki, vocals:

     Paul’s musical development sprung from the American folk and pop music scene before his heart was stolen by the drive and emotion, rhythm and lyrics of bluegrass.  Paul’s non-musical career took him to Dallas, Texas where he forged several powerful musical friendships.  Next stop, Northern Virginia, hotbed of east coast bluegrass where he quickly added his talents to a couple of highly respected bluegrass bands.

     Paul performed and recorded with TOO FAR GONE to whom he brought, along with a driving guitar and powerful vocals, his skill as a songwriter. TOO FAR GONE performed in several pubs and a major festival in the United Kingdom. (They have a thing for Kings over there!)

      Paul is also very proud to have performed with them at an Inaugural Party for President Clinton where the new President and the former King of France exchanged a hearty handshake.

..mandolin,tenor & 5-string banjo,guitar,vocals

     John’s musical formation began when his Uncle Tommy mysteriously brought him a tenor banjo for Christmas when everyone else in the world was trying to become a Beatle!  The Beatles could wait...John learned the banjo, joined a string band and marched with the Mummers while still in grade school.

     John gradually added guitar and mandolin to his arsenal but was totally overpowered by the rapid-fire staccato of the 5-string banjo and was driven to learn its secrets.

     He has performed and recorded with THE MOUNTAIN LAUREL BLUEGRASS BAND, CELTIC CROSSROAD, JOHN & TECLA, and TOM GALA & FRIENDS. John is also pleased to have been asked to record with three other regional groups.

     Performing before President Reagan at the  Bicentennial Celebration of the Constitution is one of his proudest musical moments.