truly entertaining bluegrass music

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Musicians seem to come and go, hence the band name, but one thing we strive to maintain in Gone Tomorrow is great musicianship. Gone Tomorrow has over 100 years of combined musical experience. Here's the current lineup for the band:

Richard Burkett (guitar and mandolin) founded Gone Tomorrow and has played bluegrass for over 30 years in bands in the Midwest and San Diego, starting with TJ's Review bluegrass band in Indiana and more recently as mandolin player in the Hwy 52, Rose Canyon, and Second Delivery bluegrass bands in San Diego. Watch a YouTube video of Richard's old band, Hwy 52 with Chris Stuart here. A visual artist in his other life, he is an acclaimed potter and professor in the School of Art at San Diego State University. Take a look at his pottery and sculpture here: richardburkett.com.


Steve Dame (banjo and fiddle) has played banjo and fiddle with a wide variety of bluegrass bands all around San Diego County and with Richard is the only other remaining original member of Gone Tomorrow. Steve has appeared at major regional events, including First Night Escondido and at the Adams Avenue Street Fair with bluegrass legend Kenny Wertz. In his free time, Steve is a professional landscaper operating Dame Landscape. His driving banjo and strong vocals are at the heart of the Gone Tomorrow sound.

Don Hickox (fiddle) has been a part of the bluegrass scene in San Diego for several decades. His fiddling shows the influences of a diversity of musicians and styles, from bluegrass master fiddler Kenny Baker to Irish fiddle tunes. Don has been a member of almost all of the major bluegrass bands in San Diego over the years, including Richard's old band Rose Canyon Bluegrass Band in the 1990's. You might catch him playing with the Irish band, The Shamrockers, at a pub here in town, too. We're excited to have him back in the band.

Dale Desmuke (guitar) is a veteran musician and singer who learned his chops as a teenager in the honkytonks of Texas. He's a great rhythm player with a big voice that we love to hear, and brings his love of Texas swing and encyclopedic song list to the band. Dale played with Richard in the Shy Persons, Richard's first band in San Diego.

Dwight Worden (bass) is a long-time San Diego area resident and a great musician, he's often seen playing music with a variety of bands around town. A talented musician, Dwight plays fiddle, guitar and mandolin in addition to bass. Dwight's currently the president of the San Diego Bluegrass Society and a board member of IBMA - the International Bluegrass Music Association. We're glad to have him in the band, too.

• Given Harrison (substitute upright bass, rhythm guitar, vocals) started playing bluegrass in 1974 as a founding member of Late For Supper - an energetic group of young guys stirring things up in Palm Desert. As time has passed, he moved to San Diego County where he can be found playing with The Unstrung Heroes, Box Canyon, Graybeard, Superstrings, Highway 76, and The Tail Draggers. On occasion he gets to sit in on bass or rhythm guitar for Gone Tomorrow. Given is a retired educator who also enjoys restoring and racing small sailboats and playing with old cars.

Once in a while Dwight or Given can't play a gig you may see one of our other favorite bass players: Becky Green (at the SD Fair gig 2007), Fred Wade (North County Bluegrass & Folk Club 2007), or when we can talk her into a visit down south, Lisa Burns (it's been a while, Lisa...).

• John Mailander fills in on fiddle and mandolin when he's in town. He's a great player and does some fabulous twin fiddle work with Don.

Former Gone Tomorrowites – gone from the band but not forgotten:

• Beth Mosko (fiddle) Formerly of Fort Collins, Colorado, Beth is classically trained and has played with symphony and chamber orchestras, and string quartets. New to San Diego, she has picked up the bluegrass style quickly and with deep understanding; Beth is much in demand in the bluegrass scene. Gone Tomorrow loved having her great playing in the mix! Catch Beth with other bands around town, notably 2nd Delivery, and as a duo with Marke Foxworthy called Last Transit.

• Marke Foxworthy (guitar, dobro, banjo) has been playing music in San Diego for many years. Marke and Beth have their own CD of tunes from their band Last Transit, so check their Last Transit site for news of the CD and their 2nd Delivery band performances.

• Lisa Burns (upright bass) has been playing the upright bass since 1994, and has appeared in many Northern California bands such as The O’Pinions, Loose Gravel, and most notably her current Bay Area band, Sidesaddle & Co. She also teaches bass. Sadly, Lisa has returned to her home in the Silicon Valley area. We still love it when we can get her to come down to play gigs with Gone Tomorrow!

• Dan Sankey (mandolin and fiddle) is a bluegrass veteran of many San Diego bands. Dan played with Gone Tomorrow when he was available. He and Beth did several beautiful twin fiddle numbers that would break your heart. Dan's mandolin playing is really stellar, and he's sings and writes a few numbers, too.

• John Highkin (mandolin) returned to bluegrass after a career in circus and theater. He co-founded and led Fern Street Circus from 1990 to 2003, created theater pieces at the Big Kitchen and studied at Bertolt Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble in East Berlin. His bluesy mandolin playing and lead vocals on Hank Snow numbers added to the richness of the Gone Tomorrow sound. He has been known to attempt mandolin levitation with the help of over 200 audience members! Unfortunately on his last attempt he instead levitated himself to Salina, Kansas for several years! Oh Auntie Em... Thanks to the Wizard of Oz (did he really click his ruby slippers together three times?), he's now back in San Diego and occasionally fills in on mandolin.