Howdy!
The Bluebird Ramblers play the kind of music that feels at home under neon lights or a wide open sky. Their sound mixes honky tonk swing, early rock and roll, rockabilly drive, and the easy charm of classic country. Every show is a trip back to a golden era of American music when the jukebox ruled and a good shuffle beat filled the floor.
Part of the band’s mission is to keep these sounds alive and invite newcomers to join the fun. They welcome anyone with open arms, whether you grew up on 45s or just wandered in out of curiosity. Expect harmonies that sneak up on you, stories that get taller as the night goes on, and a set list full of tunes you forgot you loved. Come for the music and leave with a grin that lingers all the way home.
Danny
Danny Garrison – Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals, Jukebox Junkie
Danny’s love of live music sparked back in high school when he rented a drum kit just to join his friends’ jam sessions. Maybe he was chasing the wild sound of early rock and roll or maybe he just did not want to miss the party. Either way the bug bit hard. Today he has swapped the sticks for guitar and harmonica and will even pick a little banjo when family calls. His heroes include Elvis, The Louvin Brothers, Johnny Cash, and The Everly Brothers, and their influence still shapes the way he sings and strums.
On stage with The Bluebird Ramblers, Danny’s voice rings out on “Travelin’ Man,” “Crazy Arms,” and “Cry, Cry, Cry,” before shining on the classic Louvin Brothers’ song “I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby,” a favorite because he gets to trade harmonies with Brother Bil. Off stage he is the quiet engine behind the band, helping with booking and promotion while keeping the camaraderie strong.
When he is not honky tonkin, Danny serves as Vice Principal at St. Thomas More. He spends every chance he can with his wife, two sons, and seven grandkids and enjoys tinkering with antique trucks and motorcycles. He has a soft spot for 1950s memorabilia, bad dad jokes, and Cadbury Mini Eggs. Ask nicely and he might even show you his secret kazoo if he has not already surprised the band with it.
Zoop
David “Zoop” Coonce – Electric Guitar, Vocals, Rockabilly Rascal
Zoop stepped onto a stage before most kids had figured out a chord when he joined a country gospel band as a twelve year old drummer. His parents passed down the jukebox and radio sounds of their own youth, from Elvis and Buddy Holly to a stack of early rock and roll favorites, and that spark still fires his playing. He plays drums, bass, harmonica and even heartstrings, yet it is his electric guitar playing that delivers the message best. His style is a restless mix of rockabilly, honky tonk, blues and swing.
With the Bluebird Ramblers his favorite moment is when the band tears into “Move It On Over” and the whole room starts to swing. He also brings the kind of off the wall spirit that keeps the band laughing, from reenacting movie scenes to telling stories that skirt the edge of legend. Ask him about the Birds Nest Lodge Incident and he will just grin.
Zoop has logged time in Sweet Spirit as a drummer and fronted The Silvermen as a lead singer and guitarist, but he calls the Ramblers his favorite group of humans. Away from the stage he spends time with his wife exploring small towns and scenic back roads or with his grown daughter and son. He is known to disappear into pawn shops and guitar sites in search of the next prize or to lose himself in the golden age of old radio.
A small worn photograph of his beloved friend Toni rides in his guitar case as a quiet keepsake. Coffee fuels him, ice cream and pudding count as comfort food, and his cat Fwuff Fwuff never fails to make him smile. Friends call him ornery and he wears the nickname Zoop with a wink.
Brother Bil
Bil Brown – Bass, Vocals, mischief maker
Bil grew up in a house alive with music. Every night his dad would strum acoustic guitar and sing standards. One of eight kids, a few of his older siblings played country professionally while the rest of the family’s record collections and radio stations filled the house with pop, rock, and funk. Bil picked up bass in fourth grade orchestra and was wrangling electric bass in the family band Sweet Spirit by twelve. He went on to co-found The Silvermen, play in the legendary 90s Christian alternative band DigHayZoose, and now anchors The Bluebird Ramblers with a bass line that lays the foundation, swings, and keeps everyone on their toes.
Bil’s influences are a little bit of everything. Honky tonk, early rock and roll, pop, and even children’s records shaped him. On stage, he loves any song that lets the four Ramblers’ harmonies shine with “Crazy Arms” standing out for its tight swing and vocals.
Off stage, he handles the band’s visual side, creating a unique poster for every Ramblers show. (He’s also available for freelance work if you need a guy.) He loves spending time with his wife, Valerie, their four grown children, and three dogs. He’s always hunting for treasures: in thrift stores, antique shops, garage sales, and in the hearts of the people he loves. His collections range from visual oddities and clip art books to early monster movie memorabilia and abandoned photographs. A tiny toy donkey rides in his bass case as a reminder of how to behave or what NOT to do.
Bil enjoys burnt ends, old-fashioned donuts, and a good bourbon. He also loves the small joys of life, the belly laughs of little kids, discovering treasures in unexpected places, and finding moments of humor wherever he can. Loyal, slightly whimsical, and full of humor, he embraces life’s unexpected roads and loves these men like brothers, a feeling you can hear in every note.
Paul
Paul Pace Jr. – Drums, Vocals, Shuffle King
Paul grew up in Belton, Missouri, where the hills were alive with the sound of country and the clatter of everything that could be struck. He got his start playing drums in a Christian rock band called Correct Change alongside Zoop, and later lit up the stage in The Silvermen with Zoop and Bil. Over the years, Paul has been a fixture in the Kansas City music scene, except for a stint in Nashville where he was an in-demand drummer with several acts who, for legal reasons, prefer to remain unnamed. He continues to hold down the backbeat for The Outtakes with Danny while anchoring The Bluebird Ramblers with his signature swing and steady groove.
On stage, Paul drives the music with precision using sticks, brushes, spoons, or whatever else comes to hand, while adding vocal touches that blend seamlessly with the Ramblers’ harmonies. He has a knack for lifting a song with the perfect beat and a cantankerous charm that keeps the audience guessing.
Off stage, Paul works in transport and logistics, keeping the world moving with the same steady rhythm he brings to the drums. He enjoys time with his wife Jen at live shows, hunting for drum gear, digging into classic albums, collecting Beatles memorabilia, and testing sandwiches in unconventional ways. Paul avoids the big city unless there’s a paying gig or a high-profile party to play.
Paul’s favorite quotes include: “I am the Walrus,” though he remains unsure if that truly applies to him. He enjoys Diet Mountain Dew, smoky barbecue, and happy meals. He delights in the little pleasures in life: late-night diners, 80s teen comedies, and the road stories and lore that come with a life spent playing music. True to his Belton roots, he can be stubborn, sly, and slightly suspicious. But Paul has a heart of gold, loves hugs, and carries plenty of small-town swagger. If you catch him on a slow night, he’ll be the first to spin a story or give you the run down on the Hallmark movie he's currently watching.
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Click on “Contact Us” and shoot an email our way. Give us as much detail as you can about your event and we’ll get right back to you before the coffee’s gone cold.
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Now accepting bookings for parties, festivals, dance halls, drive-ins, diners, barn dances, birthday bashes, weddings, block parties, car shows, county fairs, church picnics, front porches, pie auctions, parades, dive bars, VFW halls, and anything else with room for a rhythm section.
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We wander through honky-tonks, drive-ins, and barn dances with a mix of early rock ’n’ roll, rockabilly, roots, and a touch of wild twang. Jukebox favorites, songs that make your boots tap, and a few surprises that will make you holler, “I haven’t heard that in ages!” A dash of mischief, a pinch of back-porch charm, and plenty of rhythm keep even the stiffest hips moving. Every set takes you on a ride through the countryside of a golden era with long roads, neon lights, and a little magic in every note.
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Paul conspired with Danny. Then Paul called Zoop. Then Paul texted Bil. Then Zoop texted Bil. Then Bil’s crow swooped in carrying a message. Then someone accidentally left a voicemail on the wrong phone. After approximately 27 notifications later, the four of us finally got together, knocked out five songs at our first practice, and said, “Wow, that sounds pretty good!”
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It’s a careful combination of nostalgia, intuition, and luck, seasoned with a dash of honky-tonk twang, a pinch of rockabilly stomp, and a healthy dose after hours jukebox wisdom. We try to balance the expected with the unexpected. We like to keep things in the 1950–1975 pocket, although we occasionally stray around the countryside. Our motto is “Echoes of a Golden Era.” We take special pride in hearing people say, “No one plays that one,” or “What was that?!”
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If you’ve got the money, honey, we’ve got the time! We’re ready, willing and able and pretty accommodating. It all just depends on the details. Between his gig as a dance instructor and assorted musical ventures, Paul keeps a very busy social calendar. Send us a message and we’ll wrangle the schedule and make it happen.
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We’re currently booking shows up to a year in advance. The sooner the better!
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We tailor our sets to the needs of our host. We can play anything from a tight 45-minute opener to a three-hour party. That is long enough for your boots to need a rest and your heart to want an encore.
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We do what we can. Again, if the price is right, we’ll be your huckleberries. Just don’t ask for freebird.
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Naming things is difficult. After several false starts and misfires, Bil received a visitation in the night from someone who mysteriously sounded a lot like Roger Miller. The phantom said, “As you ramble about the world, bear in mind that the bluebird always has a song in his heart.” The rest was history.
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Yep! Our goal is to record a record once we have three or four hours of standards ready to share.
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We have a spreadsheet.