Mark Holihan: Vocals & Guitar
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Mark is the founding member of Mulligan Stew. The band started as an offshoot to him and his friend Bob playing folk music together in the mid-seventies. On his first trip to Ireland back in 1977, Mark fell in love with his rediscovered heritage and the music. The transition from Folk to Celtic was very quick and soon they were playing on the emerging Chicago Irish Music Scene. Mark’s musical legacy comes from the church choirs he has belonged to and his Lane tech High School Music Teacher, George Rico. This lead him to the American Conservatory of Music where he studied Voice with Frances Ernest and Composition with William Ferris which has helped him in the arrangements for the band as well as the original compositions he has composed.
Bob Stern: Vocals, Guitar & Bass
Born and raised in Chicago and now living in Joliet, Bob has been a fixture on the Chicago area music scene since the mid seventies, and is one of the original members of Mulligan Stew. As the primary composer for the band “Body Parts”, Bob collaborated with some of Chicago’s finest dance companies and filmakers. His score for the children’s ballet “The Little Tailor” was featured at the Ravinia festival. His film scores have been featured at the film center of the Art Institute of Chicago. As the bass player for the Flynn Brothers Blues Band, Bob had the opportunity to perform as part of the house band for a roster of legendary performers including multiple appearances with Bo Diddley. Bob has also been a music teacher for over 30 years and helped several generations of students hone their craft on guitar and bass.
Keith Bond: Percussion
Keith Bond added his percussion to Mulligan Stew in 2007. Keith began playing drums at age 10 in school bands and was part of numerous rock bandsin North Carolina. After a multi-decade musical hiatus, he resumed drumming in 2003 and moved into the world of world percussion in 2007. Keith’s current world percussion kit consists of djembe, doumbek, cajon, hand crashcymbal, tambourine, Vibra-slap, maracas, shaker, triangle, wood block, and cowbell. Itdoes not include tin cans. He has yet to bring his bodhran onstage.As his alter ego, Tyrone Lucas, Keith was also lead singer of the legendary Flaming Cools.
Dave Dalessandro: Fiddle, Mandolin & Guitar
Began playing in the early 70’s, learning Beatles songs and Fingerstyle Blues On Guitar. Moved on to Fiddle & Mandolin when he got interested in Bluegrass & Irish Music. Has played in countless ensembles ranging from Rock and Blues to Bluegrass and Irish. Besides playing with Mulligan Stew since 2003 he also plays in an Acoustic Duo with longtime musical associate Patrick Guinee and a Grateful Dead cover band called “The Guise”.
Ruby Harris: Fiddle, Guitar & Mandolin
Ruby began his professional career as an Irish musician at the young age of 15 as an accompanist to Irish singer Anne Finnerty, at Patricks Pub in Douglaston, New York. They moved into many venues, among them Tommy Makems Irish Pavilion in New York City. Among his musical companions are members of the Chieftans and the Bothy Band and other greats of Traditional Irish music, such as the composer of “Dirty Old Town” Ewan McColl, Carmel Quinn, the great Scottish fiddler Tom Anderson, Matt Molloy, Tommy Peoples, Maurice Lennon, Tom Loughran of Tyrone, Paddy Keenan, Joe O’Dowd, the Russel brothers of Doolin, Katy Sullivan and many others. Ruby has been a member of Mulligan Stew since 2000.