Accordion, Vocals, Songwriter
Dana "DP" Mandell got started with music at an early age in the summer of 1968 when he took up French horn and played that as well as bass trombone through college in symphonic, marching and jazz bands. After college he had some minor successes with original scores and music for Marin Shakespeare productions, a radio commercial and a movie trailer in 1992.
The next year Dana borrowed his brother's bass and took it to play at a new years Zydeco party jam. He was hooked and learned to play bass. He joined up with his friend Bruce Sadownick, started jamming in what later became "Quarter to Blue," a blues and swing band in which he still performs.
After a year of playing bass at house party jams and dances, Dana began subbing occasionally with the bands of Danny Poullard, Andre Thierry, Froglegs, Creole Bells, and sitting in with Motordude Zydeco, Zydeco Slim, and Tete Rouge.
After being frustrated at house jams that would end when the accordion player left, Dana decided to learn to play Cajun accordion and six months later formed the band, DP & the Rhythm Riders. Dana also played accordion for three years with the wine country's own band, Gator Beat and continues to play bass with Mes Bon Ami, Andrew Carrier, Gerard Landry and others.