The Martin Family Band, from Newmanstown, PA, is an exciting, energetic group that features traditional Celtic music as well as Irish step dancing.
Five of the six Martin siblings along with Mom and Dad and friend of the family, Earl Pyles, have been performing Celtic music since early 2004. The band consists of the fiddling Martin sisters, Emily, Melissa, and Christy, brother, Brian, and dad, Nelson, on guitars; mom, Elaine, on bass; and drummer Earl Pyles. Their younger brother, Zach on fiddle, joins in this lively band winning the hearts of any audience.
They have perfomed at various fairs, festivals, theaters, and other venues such as Bethlehem Musikfest, Celtic Oyster Festival, McLain Celtic Festival, Sycamore Shoals Celtic Festival, Kutztown PA German Festival, the Kirkland Arts Center, and the Miller Performing Arts Center.
The Martin Family Band is:
Nelson- guitar
Elaine- bass guitar
Emily-fiddle/concertina/bagpipes/Irish dance
Melissa- fiddle/Irish whistles/Irish dance
Brian- guitar/percussion
Christy- fiddle/Irish dance
Zach- fiddle
Earl Pyles- drums
Nelson: Dad
Nelson has been playing electric and acoustic guitar for more than 15 years.
Favorites: canoeing, hanging siding, playing guitar, Phil Keaggy, carrom, painting, Poor Man’s Steak, reading ‘The Biggest Bear’ to his children, Larry Carlton, camping, coffee,house parties, and bushwhacking.
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Elaine: Mom
Favorites: playing bass guitar, homeschooling the kids, canoeing, camping, earth tones, reading, Scrabble, going out on dates with Nelson, scrapbooking, and hanging out with my goofy family.
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Emily: 17 years old.
Favorites: playing fiddle, Irish dance, playing bagpipes with the Quittapahilla Highlanders, cooking, quilting, crocheting, festivals, Nancy Drew, chocolate, MacTalla M'or, jumping rope, LSID, ragtime piano, jamming at Cahill’s, Dutch Blitz, Proverbs, baking cookies for the Glicks, lame jokes, playing oboe at Leigh's house, juggling, 'Cockney Jock's', and treble jigs.
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Zach: 7 years old. 1st grade.
Favorites: playing in the sandbox, reading, cowboys, pizza, red, playing with Phillip and Nathan, Christmas, wrestling with Brian, roasting hotdogs, Twin Grove, camping, playing in the cabin in our backyard, 'Old Joe Clark', Adirondacks, and Andy Griffith.
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Melissa: 15 years old. 10th grade.
Favorites: playing fiddle, Irish whistles, teaching Irish dance, crocheting, reading, mandolin, pesting Alex, potato bread, camping in the cabin, writing mysteries, going to southern gospel concerts with Jenny, puzzles, playing with Celeste, chocolate milk, Reese’s shirts, quilting, parfait pie, playing games with Zach, taco salad, and 'Little Women'.
Christy: 9 years old. 4th grade.
Favorites: playing fiddle, Irish dance, piano, riding bike, crocheting, playing doll, e-mailing her favorite cousin Arvilla, green, yellow, orange, baked corn, pizza, camping, canoeing, swimming, Christmas, ice skating, sledding, 'Pioneer Day', speed reading, paper dolls, blinking toothbrush, cooking with mom, Emily, 'Wake up Susan', and Celtic Spring.
Earl Pyles, a.k.a. Gramps, enjoys all styles of music and plays guitar and drums. A drummer since the age of 10, he prefers playing Roland TD-20 digital drum kits for their versatility and he brings a wide variety of musical styles from rock, jazz, folk, and blues to the band's performances. Earl lives with and cares for his Father in Lebanon County and volunteers with On-Fire Youth Ministries, a local ministry outreach program in Myerstown, PA. In his spare time, Earl's other interest is trying to eat Brian's chickens (YUM!!!!!)
Photos by Joe Pasquale
Brian: 12 years old. 6th grade.
Favorites: playing guitar, the outdoors, playing drums, chickens, woodworking, painting, Eileen Ivers, bbq chicken, 'Trip to Killavil', dark blue, spring, djembe, fiddle, inventing stuff, Thanksgiving, and wrestling with Zach.
Alex: 2 years old.
Favorites: eating, coloring, running, playing fiddle, Grandma Harnley's fudge, playing outside, and reading books.
Bio
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