The Crayfish Sisters, featuring Sarah Bonner, Caroline Alderson and Sue Fedor, along with rhythm
guitarist Steve Devoney, recreate the emotive and unabashedly direct harmony sound of the Davis
Sisters and other vocal groups of the 1950s and 60s. Along with their core repertoire of vintage
country harmony, they revive swinging sister trios from the Fontane and Andrews Sisters, pop
harmonies from the Chordettes, the Fleetwoods and Everly Brothers and doo wop gems. Their
repertoire also includes original harmony arrangements of dance hall and transistor radio favorites
by Wanda Jackson, Brenda Lee, Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent.
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Sarah and Caroline began their partnership in 2013, reviving old Davis Sisters songs; they were
thrilled to welcome Lynn Healy, another Davis Sisters fan, in 2014, and Sue Fedor in 2016, after
Lynn retired and left the area. Caroline and Lynn emerged from the close harmony tradition of
vintage bluegrass and country, in bands that included Orange Blossom Special, Red Toad Road,
Rodeo Motel and the Blue Moon Cowgirls. Sarah and Sue bring to the trio choral backgrounds
as participants in choirs, duos and vocal ensembles such as the Capital City Voices. Steve Devoney
plays rhythm and lead guitar for the group, along with Sue on ukulele, supporting the trio’s acoustic
ensemble, as well as full bands, such as the Hall Brothers and Backroads, with whom the Crayfish
Sisters perform for dance events. Steve also contributes baritone and bass vocals in the group’s doo
wop quartets.
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Like the Crayfish Sisters, Betty Jack Davis and her partner Skeeter weren’t really sisters, but sang
as if they were. With songs of love lost or almost had, like “I Forgot More (Than You’ll Ever Know
about Him)” and “You Weren’t Ashamed to Kiss Me Last Night” the Crayfish Sisters bring these
and other legacy performances back to life —unvarnished as when they were first pressed more
than 50 years ago.
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