MUSICIANS' BIOS

Charlie Hurley and Jerry Stonebraker

have performed as The Amazing Harmonatras since 1990 presenting educational enrichment programs at elementary schools in Nevada and California. The Group performs for more than 100 school groups annually all over California. They have also appeared at numerous family events, festivals, and fairs throughout the state, including the California State Fair, the Sacramento Children's Festival, KPBS San Diego Family Festival, and Tahoe Kid's Day. The group's historical performances have been featured at Sutter's Fort, the Eagle Theater, James Marshall Gold Discovery Site, California State Railroad Museum, and the Sacramento Public Libraries. Winners of a New Works grant from the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission in 1997, the Harmonatras created a program for public access television on the history of railroads in the United States as told through traditional folk music. This program has aired annually for the past five years. In addition the group has released two albums and is currently working on their third. The Harmonatras are members of WFA, Calfest, T.A.F. & E., IFEA International, and the American River Folk Society.

Jerry Stonebraker

is a gifted instrumentalist playing a variety of instruments.  He began performing with the Bluegrass group "Dog in a Hole" in the early 1970's and quickly rose to prominence as a harmonica player in the greater Los Angeles area.  He began learning the guitar and developed a unique frailing guitar style while in Los Angeles.  In the late seventies Jerry moved to Sacramento to attend school.  He met Charles Hurley and the two combined their skills to form The Amazing Harmonatras.  Jerry added banjo, mandolin, and seaman's concertina to his instrument skills, further creating the historical feeling of traditional music; the band's specialty.

Charlie Hurley

says he can't remember a time when he wasn't performing; he recalls standing on the couch at age three singing Tennessee Ernie Ford Songs to anyone who would listen. He performed in choirs at school and church beginning in elementary school and continuing into his college years. He learned to play the guitar at age thirteen so he could accompany his singing. Charles began his professional music career as a member of the World Famous C & L Jug Band performing with the group for more than 25 years. Charles Hurley began performing for children in 1990 and in 1991 he and Stonebraker founded The Amazing Harmonatras to present historical music in schools and at public events. In addition to the Harmonatras, Hurley is known locally to thousands of school children as "Music Charlie". An accomplished actor he has appeared in several community theater productions since 1972.