Nov. 5, 2001
Website Contstruction Begins.


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.