The Bent Nickel Dance Band has been playing together since 1988. It was organized by Gerry (Gerald) C�t�, a French Canadian who, for various reasons, discovered he had been living in Indiana for quite some time; and it looked like it was going to stay that way. He longed to find a group who played his style of music but there was none to be found. So, he put one together. It took a lot of looking and a lot of teaching, but...here we are. It is hard to realize how much time has passed since then. It just proves the old saying that; "When you're having fun, time flies."

In the liner notes of our last album, Jerry Baker, our first fiddle player, affectionately referred to the "hordes of our fants hwo follow us around" as "Bentheads". He figured that if Jimmy Buffett could have his "Parrotheads" then we could have our "Bentheads". After shows we often get comments such as, "You guys sure look like you're having fun! You must love playing this music, keep doing it. It sure makes us feel good all over."

Also, we are fequently asked how we got our name, Bent Nickel. Once that question was asked from the audience while we were on stage. Al, overcome with a rare moment of truth replied, "Well, I guess it's because we don't fit in any slot." We certainly play traditional French Canadian songs, but not always strictly in the most traditional manner. Our first album was titled Bending Tradition and that is a fair assessment of our style.

Gerry C�t�
The founder and leader, who plays the two-row button accordion, heel/toe taps, and occasionally sings French lyrics. He sings the lead vocals on La Dago and Mike joins him on the chorus. Gerry grew up in French speaking Qu�bec surrounded by parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who were all accomplished French Canadian musicians. So, it is natural that the band's focus is on the French Canadian traditional music and style. Our repertoire is largely built on Gerry's vast recollection of this music, but the other members of the band bring influences from their own personal backgrounds.
Sharron C�t�
Along with being Gerry's wife, she studied piano as a young girl and played for church, for weddings, and for other social events. Her formal background is greatly realized in her use of the piano for band arrangements and in the lovely waltzes she writes. She plays the triangle on our Cajun tunes. Sharron and Gerry met in a singles group without knowing that each other played music. It did not take long for them to find out.
Jean Herr
Replaced Jerry Baker as our fiddler when he moved away; she is a perfect fit for the band. Jean is a very conscientious student of the French Canadian sytles of fiddle playing. She attends workshops throughout the year bring new songs and ideas to the band. She has a quiet but very real sense of humor that adds a certain charm to the band.
Mike Flowers
Guitarist, vocalist and raconteur, whistler, does heel/toe taps, and plays the spoons. He grew up in a musical family with a rich background of traditional folk and bluegrass music. He was also influenced by other sounds of the times including big band, blues, country and rock-a-billy. That background has done a lot to shape the sound, rhythms and engery of the Bent Nickel. Mike sings the lead vocals on Bandera, Spanish Two-Step, Rolled Up Wet in the Barn and, as already stated, joins Gerry on the chorus of La Dago.
Al (Algernon) Allen
Plays the string bass and occationally does vocals or whistles. He grew up in South Alabama down on Mobile Bay near the bayou country. He brings to the band the energy and influences of Dixieland music and the raucous good times of Mardi Gras. he and Mike share a similar sense of ironical wit and humor that penetrates their musical interpretations and accounts for a lot of the band's fun and energy, which often extends to the audience. It was this type of sared interaction that gave birth to Ebenezer on the last album and Rolled Up Wet in the Barn.