raymondale and the Family Band
Biography

raymondale and the Family Band is a sibling trio based in Central Florida that meld intricate piano melodies with layered vocals, soft percussion and various other instrumentation including trumpet, bells, and occasionally strings.

The band is clearly influenced by much of the music they grew up listening to, adapting songwriting and lyrical styles of such favorites as Billy Joel, Buddy Holly, and Elton John, and melding them with more contemporary styles like those of Elliott Smith, Damien Rice, and Sufjan Stevens, and finally adding to the mix instrumental arrangements reminiscent of a minimalist Danielson Famile.

raymondale and the Family Band is the long-term project of singer-songwriter RD Bonner, who began his classical training at an early age, began songwriting in high-school, and is continually adapting his writing style to fit his sense of personality and experience.  RD led several bands in his early songwriting days, and has played in the Gainesville-based indie-folk sensation Redboy, as well as other projects. He first began w
riting arrangements for what would turn into the Family Band in November of 2008 adding multi-instrumentalist Alyson and percussionist Kiah Bonner to his then solo-project, forming the Family Band who would subsequently launch into gigs across Central Florida, shoot a homemade no-budget music video, and record a debut album titled Consider the Birds.  

Consider the Birds is set for release in January 2010, and the band will set out across the East Coast to promote the album. All members look forward to the continuing evolution of their music and their lives.