Who's Who In Donna the Buffalo

Be sure to read the official band bios on the band's official site, www.DonnaTheBuffalo.com.

Current Members

Jeb Puryear Old time music was the first love of lead guitarist and original DtB member Jeb Puryear. Jeb started his musical career on fiddle at a very young age, and still plays fiddle when performing one of the infrequent gigs of his first band, the Bubba George String Band, who traditionally open the Trumansburg (NY) GrassRoots Festival each July. With Donna the Buffalo, Jeb almost always plays electric guitar--a Stratocaster, though since early 2006 he's played a Kent electric on a handful of songs. On occasion, he'll also play pedal steel or acoustic guitar. Jeb writes and sings half of DtB's songs, and serves as the informal spokesman for the band's political and social conscience.

Tara Nevins Like Jeb Puryear, multi-instrumentalist Tara Nevins has been a member of Donna the Buffalo since the band formed in 1987. While onstage with DtB, Tara divides her time among playing fiddle, accordion, acoustic guitar, and scrubboard, sometimes switching among instruments during a single song. Tara's vocal contributions are a major component of the band's unique sound. Tara writes and sings half of DtB's songs. Previously, she was a member of the all-female old time/Cajun band the Heartbeats, and has a solo CD, Mule to Ride, which she released on Sugar Hill Records in 1999.

Tom Gilbert Tom Gilbert started playing drums at a young age and was in several bands that played country music. Before joining Donna the Buffalo he'd listen to their music and dream of being in the band. The story of how he came to join DtB in 1997 is best told on the video On The Bus With Donna the Buffalo. Along with Bill Reynolds, Tom is also a member of DrugMoney. When not busy with music, Tom likes to indulge in his other passion: fishing.

David McCracken David McCracken first played with Donna the Buffalo by filling in for former keyboardist Kathy Ziegler while KZ was on maternity leave in 2006. Dave continued to sit in with the band whenever the opportunity presented itself, and became a full-time member in March 2008. He plays Hammond B3 organ, Rhodes, Wurlitzer EP, clavinet, and piano, and has performed with Buddy Guy, CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana band, Johnny Neel, Fred Wesley, John Paul Jones, Everyone Orchestra, Cyril Lance, Sam Frazier, The Believers, Cosmic Charlie and Folkswaggin.

Jay Sanders Bassist Jay Sander's first gig with Donna the Buffalo took place on 7/5/07 in Milwaukee, and he was a full-time member of the band by that Oct. Jay's other projects include Acoustic Syndicate (rock/folk/bluegrass), The E.Normus Trio (jazz), and CX-1: The Blackhole Bluegrass Boys. Jay's also a web developer and co-owner of Divergent Mind; he maintains a site at www.mindtonic.net.

Former Members

Kathy Ziegler Although Kathy Ziegler played keyboards in Donna the Buffalo, she also studied viola as a child, and has taught herself to play guitar, electric guitar and accordion. Kathy played her first show with DtB in May 2000, played with the band on and off for the rest of that year, and then joined as a full-time member in 2002. Kathy Ziegler has performed and/or recorded with many other musicians and groups, including Mary Lorson, Jim Lauderdale, Mike Kohler, and The Savage Juliets. Kathy has two solo CDs: a self-title debut that came out in 2000, and Don't Worry, The Danger, which she released in 2005. Visit Kathy's site at www.KathyZiegler.com. (NOTE: Kathy Ziegler left DtB in February 2008.)

Bill Reynolds Before joining Donna the Buffalo in November 2003, bassist Bill Reynolds performed with the popular roots band The Blue Rags. The North Carolina native is also an active engineer and producer. Bill works in one capacity or another with many, many artists from several genres, from bluegrass to punk. When not busy with DtB, Bill peforms with several bands, including Seth Kauffman and the Real Mothers, and Fisher Meehan's band Drug Money. Visit Bill's site at www.atonemusic.com. (NOTE: Bill Reynolds left DtB in June 2007 and is now bassist for Band of Horses.)