The Lost Boys :: Bluegrass Music

The Lost Boys hail from the great north country of New York State, where the cold Canadian wind sweeps down across the Great Lakes, picks up moisture from the waters, and dumps it in a continuous tsunami of snow on a city known as Syracuse. Forced to stay inside for six months of the year, a goodly number of folks in the area play bluegrass music to keep the cabin fever at bay.

The Lost Boys were formed in just such an atmosphere, in1999, by John Cadley, Paul Wakker, and Karl Lauber. John remains the only original member, now joined by Henry Jankiewicz on fiddle, Mark Allnatt on banjo and guitar, Ted Williams on mandolin, and John Dancks on bass. Their style is a blend of the great traditional bluegrass songs like “Uncle Pen,” “Are You Missing Me,” and “Long Black Veil,” and original compositions, mostly written by John but with some sparkling gems from Mark and Henry as well.

The name, of course, comes from Peter Pan. When John, Mark, and Henry were little they said to their mothers, “I’m going to grow up and be a bluegrass musician,” to which their mothers replied, “I’m sorry, honey, you can’t do both.” When they decided to be bluegrass musicians their mothers threw them out and they became Lost Boys.


	JOHN CADLEY - Guitar, mandolin, vocals John started playing guitar at age 13 after getting a Kingston Trio record from his Aunt Molly and deciding he wanted to be just like Bob Shane. He formed a folk group at boarding school called The Rum Runners and has played in one band or another ever since. His songs have been recorded by Jim Hurst & Missy Raines, Lou Reid, Tony Trischka, John Rossbach, and Silk City (Danny Weiss, Barry Mitterhoff and Larry Cohen).
	MARK ALLNATT - Banjo, guitar, vocals Mark is a veteran bluegrass musician who has recorded his own CD of original gospel tunes. He started playing banjo on a dare. When Mark was 11 his uncle told him if he could learn to play a song on it he could have it. Mark got the banjo, and his sizzling banjo instrumental, “Cherry Creek Breakdown,” has become a frequently requested staple of the band’s repertoire.
	Ted Williams - Mandolin, tenor vocals Ted is the newest member of the band but no stranger to bluegrass. In fact, he has the real “pedigree,” coming from southern Ohio near the Kentucky border, not far from the legendary Harlan County. Ted’s family members hung out with the likes of Larry Sparks, and it was there that Ted heard the “real stuff” that listeners enjoy so much in his own playing and singing.
	John Dancks - Bass John has been a fixture on the Central New York acoustic music scene since his days at Syracuse University, when he played with banjo great Tony Trischka in the Down City Ramblers. He also played in the national touring act Country Granola with singer Danny Weiss, and remains in constant demand as the go-to man for solid, tasteful stand-up bass. The Lost Boys are lucky to have him.
	HENRY JANKIEWICZ - Fiddle Henry made his name as an outstanding old-time, bluegrass, and jazz fiddler during his 15-year stint with the Cranberry Lake Jug Band, which toured nationally, released three LPs on national folk labels, and appeared on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. In addition to the Lost Boys, Henry records and tours with National Hammer Dulcimer Champion Dan Duggan, and his song “Einstein the Genius” has been anthologized as one of the most frequently requested songs on Minnesota Public Radio.

The Lost Boys have recorded two CDs, Middle of Nowhere and Black Dog. Both have been honored with a SAMMY Award (Syracuse Area Music Awards) for Best Bluegrass Recording. In addition, Middle of Nowhere, which contains all originals by John, was named the Number One recording of the year in all genres by the Syracuse New Times, and received a Highlight Review in Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine. Black Dog was named one of the Top 10 CDs of 2004 by the Syracuse Post-Standard newspaper.

One of John’s songs from Middle of Nowhere, “Mist of Memory,” has been recorded by both Jim Hurst and Missy Raines and by Lou Reid and Carolina. Lou picked another of John’s tunes, “Time,” as the title cut for his latest CD, with guest harmony vocals by Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill. (According to John, Lou’s version is “as good as that song will ever be done by anybody.”) Yet a third tune from that CD, “Weary Cowboy,” has been recorded by Tony Trischka and Skyline.

John's solo CD, "The Closer I Get," recorded in Nashville with Clay Hess, Randy Kohrs, Terry Baucom and other great bluegrass pickers, is now out and available for purchase. Currently, you can buy it at Barnes & Noble in DeWitt, at www.cdbaby.com, or by contacting John directly. Twelve new songs by John with some paint-peeling playing and singing. Get your copy today!!