About us

Dave Bell

graduated from Berklee College of Music where he studied with jazz greats, including Gary Burton. Heavyweights Paul and Sheila Smith schooled Dave in Brazilian guitar when playing with their trio.  He also studied with guitar wizard Tuck Andress, toured with Dan Hicks for ten years and works regularly with powerhouse singer/songwriter Johnny Smith.   Busy Dave plays locally with various jazz and r’n’b groups and runs his own studio, Bellboy Recording (Richmond), where he has recorded many of the area's leading musicians. He also has a solo guitar Christmas CD with soulful arrangements of the seasonal carols. Dave is the latest addition to MCHS replacing long time guitarist, Steve Prochnow.

Dennis "Muddy" Juarez

 is a true icon of the Bay Area rock scene.  Not "just a bass player", Dennis has been involved in the music business for just about forever.  Along with stints in The Tickets and Blue Flat, Dennis spent several years with the Chris Cobb Band and was also a member of the Fenders from Hell, Joe Allen & the Shapes - the list goes on!  In addition to playing bass and handling most of the lead vocals for MCHS, Dennis managed some top venues in San Francisco for over 20 years with a hand in booking and production.  He continues to work  behind the scenes as a tour de force in making the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival a success.     

Chris Ferreira 

began playing guitar when the Beatles burst onto the scene in the early 60's.  His musical collaboration with Dennis started in the 5th grade when they played “Louie Louie” and “Wipeout” in a school talent show. Primarily the band’s keyboardist, Chris can also be heard playing electric and acoustic mandolin on a few tunes. Additionally, he plays guitar, banjo, ukulele and flute and is the keyboard player for 19 Hand Horse - a country/Americana band.  As a member of the 80's Bay Area pop phenom "The Tickets", Chris opened shows for the likes of Huey Lewis, Greg Kihn, Cold Blood, Tommy Tutone, The Producers and Pablo Cruise back in the day. 

Mark Carrabello

 is also an alumnus of The Tickets power pop band and got his first drum kit when he was eight years old.  With Dennis, Mark formed the nucleus/rhythm section of Goldust in the mid-70s as well as Woodroe and Chameleon.   Besides MCHS, Mark provided the beat for Heavy Petting Zoo and occassionally plays with Jackson and the Immortals, although his true passion is backstopping the Shark Alley Hobos - a versatile ensemble of several local musicians with a penchant for sea shanties, sing-alongs and bawdy Irish tunes.