MUSIC BY DAVID MASON
Further information at the bottom of the page
The Saga of the Music
Ancient History
David and his brother Dare Mason started making music with their friend Marty Willson-Piper way back in the early 70s. They formed a band called "Uncle Rufus" and played a series of gigs in Birkenhead and Liverpool. David left the band in 1974 after a row over the big school assembly gig.
Dare Mason moved to Australia for several years and began a highly successful career in the music industry as a sound engineer and record producer. He continued to work with Marty Willson-Piper who until recently was the lead guitarist of The Church, an Australian band that found world-wide fame in the 80s and 90s and are still performing today (Marty plays guitar on "The Bun Fight" on the Chocolatay album). Dare returned to the UK and worked at the prestigious Town House Studios in London. He now runs his own studio in Penzance called The VIP Lounge and still records studio albums with Marty as Noctorum.
Modern History
In 2002, David and Dare began recording together again. David provides the lyrics and melodies whilst Dare is the musician and producer. The combination results in songs that are energetic and exciting with a huge variety of rhythms and styles. Dare plays instruments himself or session musicians are brought in to deliver a high quality music experience.
The music is a rare commodity in that it fills the gap between nursery rhymes and mass-market pop music. The humour of the songs, however, is not lost on parents who find themselves inadvertently humming those unforgettable tunes!
After the first album's release in 2002, David continued to write and perform his songs a cappella in schools. However, there was always a plan to release another album with Dare and so "Do the Dinosaurus" came to life.
The Masonettes
The group consists of Dave's wife Helen and four of their six children: Rosa, Rory, Lily and Poppy.
The Musicians and Production Teams
The Musicians
As all the music is REAL and played by REAL musicians on REAL instruments.
Lead Vocals
Dave Mason on all tracks except Baa Baa Bright Sheep and Rockpool.
Dare Mason on Baa Baa Bright Sheep and Rockpool
Backing Vocals
Dare Mason, Helen Mason, Rosa Mason, Rory Mason, Lily Mason, Poppy Mason
Vicky Abbot on Rock Pool
Holly Rogers on Another World
Acoustic Guitar
Josh Aubrey - Poo on your Shoe
Slide Guitar
Richard Searby-Gates - Juicy Berries
Lead Guitar
Jeff Sleeman - Wibble Wobble
Tuba
Tony King - Poo on your Shoe
Drums
Nick McCleod on Do the Dinosaurus, Poo on your Shoe, Into the Sea, Get Back Cat! and Rockpool
Mat Harding on Juicy Berries and Wibble Wobble
Banjo
Kirk Bowman - Poo on your Shoe
Saxophone
Marc Hadley - Get Back Cat!
Violin
Paul Harris - Poo on your Shoe
Piano
Tony King on Get Back Cat!
Nya Murray on Do the Dinosaurus
Double Bass
Ross Williams - Get Back Cat!
Mandolin
Mikey Ponsford - Poo on your Shoe
All other instruments played by Dare Mason
Music by David and Dare Mason
Lyrics by David Mason