About Us
| “Soulful, delicate, powerful, insightful… all that and more,” are the words Michael Johnson (International recording artist/song-writer) uses to describe Dakota Blonde. “Highly addictive & absolutely contagious” is how their loyal & captivated audiences describe them! Any way you put it, Dakota Blonde, made up of Mary Huckins, Don Pinnella & Tony Raddell have certainly played and sung their way into countless hearts & souls around the globe! They met through their careers in Music Therapy, working with children and adolescents who are emotionally troubled. Therapy… yes… they have a special knack for including audiences in their music and finding the heart strings that music plays in all of us. This special capacity for empathy could explain the titanium bond the band quickly forms with their audiences. “Wonderful souls on and off the stage!” Performing originals and covers with their unique blend of heart, humor, authenticity and spirit, Dakota Blonde has had overwhelming success with all of their CD releases! … and they just keep ‘em coming! The group has received top honors for their song-writing, CD projects and performances across the country, and even internationally. You certainly won’t want to miss the opportunity to become a Blonde-Head! |
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About Dakota Blonde's sound / musical style:
Dakota Blonde is one of the most unique acoustic sounds around! Their combination of original tunes and carefully selected covers, along with their endearing stage presence and humor is out of this world! Their musical sound is hard to classify, but best put, they are acoustic folk, part bluegrass, part acoustic rock, part singer/songwriter, and sometimes even Celtic! They are a unique blend of heart, authenticity and contagious spirit! Their acoustic sound is like no other, with such tightly blended harmonies that you would swear they were born to sing together!
You just have to experience a Dakota Blonde show to know what you've been missing! |
Available Dakota Blonde Recordings
‘Til They Fade – Wind Over Dakota Records ©1997
Something Simple – Wind Over Dakota Records ©2000
South Dakota Afternoon – Wind Over Dakota Records ©2003
Blonde Highlights “ Live” - Wind Over Dakota Records ©2008
By Heart “Live” – Mary Huckins with Pete Huttlinger ©2012
The Love We Build - Wind Over Dakota Records ©2013
Awards: Winner in the Walnut Valley Festival New Song Showcase (Winfield, KS);
Finalist in The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, MerleFest (Wilkesboro, NC);
Finalist in the Independent Record Label Awards; Winner in the International CD Design Contest; Finalist in the 2013 Indie Acoustic Project Awards for "The Love We Build"
Performed with: John McEuen, Jonathan McEuen, Jimmy Ibbotson, Pete Huttlinger, Jim Horn, John Sommers, John Magnie (The Subdudes), Chuck Pyle, Tom Kimmel, Celeste Krenz, Acoustic Eidolon, Hazel Miller, Rebecca Folsom, Chris Daniels, Jon Chandler, Bob Sinclair, KC Groves (Uncle Earl), Wendy Woo, Liz Barnez, Megan Burtt, John Erlandson, Michael Johnson…
Opener for: Nickel Creek, Nanci Griffith/Bruce Cockburn, Tony Furtado, Firefall, Tish Hinojosa, Tim O’Brien…
Venues/Festivals: Swallow Hill, Denver, CO; Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO; Nissis, Lafayette, CO; Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, Lyons, CO; The Little Bear, Evergreen, CO; National Sports Center for the Disabled, Winter Park, CO; Walnut Valley Festival, Winfield, KS; Desert Ridge Market Place, Phoenix, AZ; Willow Tree Festival, Gordon, NE; America Soul Live Recording, Arvada, CO; The Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver, CO;
Mt Rushmore Amphitheater, Black Hills, SD…
*Downloadable Dakota Blonde one-pager