Our Current “Best Of”...

Henry

Henry Melendy -Banjo

Ricky

Ricky Melendy - Guitar

Andrew

Andrew Haller - Jews Harp & Harmonica

Hobo Chicken

Joseph Canitia

Joseph Canitia - Mandolin

Tony Macalouso

Tony Macalouso - Bass Fiddle

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About

The Token Gamblers is a 6-piece, old-timey folk-bluegrass band. Among the many interesting instruments are banjo, bass (upright), guitar, mandolin, dobro, and jaw harp.

The Token Gamblers started out by accident…

Late one evening at a house gathering two banjo players bumped into each other and started talking music. It was the winter of 2006. From that meeting began some late night picking and sharing of influences, tunes, stories, backgrounds, all leading up to seemingly nothing substantive, all things in due time. Later, they would get together and pick. The Regis Apartments on Church Street in Downtown Orlando was the setting. Something felt right about old time music being played in that turn of the Century Building. Bobby then moved to Tampa FL, and Henry traveling the country working, spending time in Portland, Oregon. Life has its obligations. In the meantime Henry wrote songs whilst traveling, and Bobby purchased a Bass Fiddle and began to hone chops. Close to a year later, as fate would have it, Bobby moved back to Orlando and Henry’s workload lessened.

A house party of bluegrass picking at Henry’s reconnected the two and it became quickly evident that more music had to be played. After a few conversations the two scheduled a time for practice, at the same St. Regis Apartments as before, and the seeds that would become The Token Gamblers were planted. Before long the music began to take form, borrowing from old standards and learning each others original material the two pressed on, hanging out nightly thinking music. They would listen to the likes of Stringbean, Uncle Dave Macon, John Hartford, Norman Blake, fuel for inspiration.

The arrival of a guitar picker was as simple as touching base with Family and having them over for supper. Well, in all actuality it’s more like calling on your brother to play some guitar. Ricky was an accomplished guitar player who was working on his own project at the time and feeling some frustration finding the right people. A phone conversation later about the frustrations and the need to just play resulted in Ricky dropping by the Regis to play some old time tunes. The three would play its first show at Austin’s Coffee House in March of 2007.

During this Austin’s show the fourth Gambler was found and shortly added to the mix. Andrew would hang out at Austin’s and was known around town for playing the Jews Harp. One Particular night he was simply hanging around Austin’s when Bobby called Andrew up on stage in the middle of a version of Cripple Creek. The twang of the old Jews Harp began cautiously, but shortly the groove set in and hasn’t stopped since. Andrew has also added harmonica to the mix and provides these elements to the Gambler sound.

There have been other locals who have contributed. Jeff Shumard on Fiddle for a stint, as well as Ryan Dick on Mandolin. These guys are part of the Gambler Family and will continue to be heard through countless recordings and perhaps an occasional house party or two. You never know when these guys could pop up.

Currently, The Token Gamblers have added the Dobro work and vocal styling’s of Tommy Cooper and the sweet Mandolin sounds of Joseph Canitia. Both of these guys share the love of Old String Band music, and are final additions to the The Token Gamblers.