---Welcome to the home page of the SANTIAM RIVER BAND, a dance band that played throughout the Willamette Valley and coastal areas of Oregon from 1978-1990. The group featured an eclectic blend of musical styles including pop, rock, country, bluegrass, swing, oldies and latin.
---Founded by Dave Masonhall in 1978, the "Band's" first gig was a wedding reception in a garage featuring Dave and Bruce McLennan. Soon after that, Craig Caffall and Miles McCoy joined the band and the group began a 12-year run of being booked virtually every weekend.
---That early lineup featured Dave on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Bruce on bass guitar and vocals, Craig on lead guitar and vocals and Miles on drums and vocals. Dave also managed the group, booking the gigs and composing some of the music. The band played Elks, Eagles, Moose, American Legion and Veterans' clubs, weddings, singles clubs, outdoor festivals, bars and family reunions. The Santiam River Band's motto was "We're Playing Your Song."
---In the early 80's, Dave moved to keyboard and other personnel changes included Ted Tom (2-20-1948 to 5-15-2010--R.I.P Teddy) on lead guitar, banjo and mandolin, Cody Taylor (deceased) on bass guitar and lead guitar, Mark Slyter on drums, Joey Casprowiak on sax, lead guitar, clarinet and flute, Dennis Denver on drums, Bonnie Day on rhythm guitar and harmony vocals, Don Brady (deceased) on bass guitar and vocals, Larry Lackey on rhythm guitar and vocals, Chuck Cheek on lead and bass guitar, Bill Kennedy on lead guitar, Dave Mowdy on drums, Jack Olson on bass guitar and other professionals who filled in from time to time.
---It was a great and successful run; sometimes the band was booked 18 months ahead. They were a group that catered to the musical wishes of their audience at all times; if they didn't know a song, they would try it anyway and generally received extra appreciation for the effort.
---If you have any questions and/or comments or were a member of the group at one time or another and are not listed here, please let me know and you'll be included. And finally, thanks to everyone who made those years really special for me. Music has always been and continues to be the one sustaining force in my life.
---If you have any news, messages and/or questions about the band, e-mail your queries to the address below and I'll include them on the bulletin board. Also, if you know of any musicians missing from the site, please let me know.
---Finally, your comments/suggestions are most appreciated so send me an email at the address below. Thanks, Dave.
***Twenty-five years of separation, a quarter century of pursuing other musical and personal paths was interrupted for two days recently when three of the original four members of the Santiam River Band met for a reunion in Central Oregon at Dave Masonhall's 5 acre country home.
***Bruce McLennan and Craig Caffall, bassist and lead guitarist respectively, and Dave joined musical forces once again on Monday, August 22, 2005 in Dave's spacious garage on acreage just a few miles east of the majestic Cascade Mountains in beautiful Central Oregon. They recounted old times that began in 1978 in clubs and lodges throughout the Willamette Valley and coastal towns of western Oregon and jammed late into the night. Drummer Miles McCoy had business matters to attend to and could not join in the festivities this time.
***In addition to the melodious sounds that rocketed out of the garage, hiking, exploring, good food, cold spirits and conversation played a big part of the two-day proceedings.
MATERNAL (Cates) GENEALOGY
PATERNAL (Masonhall) GENEALOGY
TRAVEL -- The Lure Of The Open Road
SPORTS -- Dave As Referee/Umpire, Coach and Player
MUSIC -- The Sounds That Soothe The Soul
SIERRA SWEETHEARTS SOFTBALL TEAM -- Dave's Softball Website
CRAIG CAFFALL'S MUSIC WEBSITE