Ruby Dee & The Snakehandlers Country Band from Austin, TX

Ruby Dee & the Snakehandlers are a high octane Americana Roots and Rockabilly four-piece that plays twang the way it was meant to be heard- with attitude! Their music encompasses Texas honky-tonk, Bakersfield twang, Memphis rockabilly, Western swing and good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter Ruby Dee accompanied by Jorge Harada on electric guitar, backed by AJ Mancabelli on drums and Dylan Cavaliere on upright bass. Known for its high-energy shows, the band has made a name for itself as a group that delivers and performs to capacity crowds in local clubs, festivals and other events, including Folklife, Bumbershoot, France's Good Rockin' Tonight, Spain's Screamin' Weekender, Greazefest and Viva Las Vegas. The band was voted Best Unsigned Band in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer People's Picks 2005, Best Signed Band in 2006, and Ruby's song 'Cold Pines and Red Dirt' won first runner up in Songwriter Magazine's 2007 songwriting competition. Ruby was also named Best Americana Vocals by the Los Angeles Music Awards in 2007. Demand for a five-song EP CD, FIVE FOR THE ROAD released in 2003, led to the band's 2nd release, NORTH OF BAKERSFIELD, a full-length CD recorded with producer Conrad Uno under the Dionysus Records banner. Singles from the CD earned spins in the United States, Australia and Europe, with regular play on 70 stations nationwide, including NPR and Clear Channel affiliates. Tunes from this CD charted on the European Americana charts in 2006 and 2007. Their next CD, MILES FROM HOME, was released in late June, 2008. Pre-released songs stirred a buzz in the Americana scene worldwide, leading the band to #86 on the AMA Charts and #26 on the FAR Top 40. 'Round and Round' and 'Childish Memories' are two tunes that receive audience and critics accolades alike, continuing to chart around the globe. Their following CD LIVE FROM AUSTIN TEXAS (Dionysus 2011) garnered the Snakehandlers a well-deserved Grammy nod for Best Americana Album that year. And their latest CD ROCKABILLY PLAYGROUND (Dionysus 2013) charted at #15 on the FAR charts and #103 on the AMA charts! Plus the CD earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best Children's Album. Not bad for a children's roots and rockabilly record ;-) "Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers make a sweet honky-tonk country racket that's perfect for long road trips, lazy afternoons and jumpin' and jivin' at the corner bar," said "If you like Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens, X or any combination thereof, you'll immediately recognize the band as kindred souls. If you don't like those great artists, guess what? You may end up dancing to The Snakehandlers anyway, despite yourself. The band's that good." Seattle Times, 2005 “Risky — and perhaps just a bit risqué — Ruby Dee and The Snakehandlers conjure forth all sorts of visions of another time,” said Metro Santa Cruz after a California show. “Rooted firmly in the classic country and rockabilly tradition, the band is an authentic backdrop for lead singer Ruby Dee's blend of Wanda Jackson sass and Patsy Cline pathos. The band holds it down with the insistence of a chugging train while Dee, a pinup heartbreaker of yesteryear with thoroughly modern attitude, commands the stage.” You want roots rockabilly jumpin' swing music? With Ruby Dee And The Snakehandlers, you'll get genuine American music, roots, rockabilly and country. Wanna know more about the band? Explore the site at and see for yourself. You will not be disappointed.