About Us
OUR INTRODUCTION
The Bells formerly known as the Black Tongued Bells started in 2023 after the death of lead singer Dee Miner in 2021.
Now lead singer Mary Lou Stuart singer songwriter continued the swampy vibe with her own music and lyrics & storytelling. Brews a one of a kind blend of swamp rock blues and New Orleans gumbo funk with a little bit country and a lot of rock and roll with fast stomping rhythm and soulful vocals, giving the audience a raw rootsy energy captivated by a spiritual note that leave audiences wanting more. The Bells also have 3 plays written by Mary Lou Stuart utilizing music along with storytelling that engage the audience with tall tales from the american swamp. Thanks to Mary Lou Stuart, Lead guitarist Jerry O’Sullivan, Jeff Masters on the harmonica, Roy Durnal on bass guitar and Mike Jungman on Drums, weaves a perfect blend of woven spun roots music that gives The Bells that perfect ring.
DOWNLOAD LATEST ALBUM NOW!
The latest album from The Bells delivers everything fans crave swamp rock grit, blues-soaked grooves, New Orleans funk, and raw storytelling driven by soulful vocals and fast-stomping rhythms.
The Bells Members
MIKE Jungman
Marylan Stuart
Roy Durnal
Jerry O' Sullivan
Jeff Masters
Mike Jungman
Bio: Mike Jungman Musical Footprint.
Surf Music took the Trombone out of Mike’s life and drumming became an obsession through his early school years.
The 1960’s and 70’s were a blur in The San Gabriel Valley rock and roll
Scene. Starting at age 14 Mike played and toured with numerous nameless rock bands.
After experiencing a Spiritual renewal Mike and Mates forged new paths. The power and style of the music stayed the same but purpose changed.
1968 -76 “Agape” hard rock band was the first to take that genre to the street according to Joe Markko, author of the book, “Genesis of a Genre”, Markko chronicles two LPs and the touring years of that band.
The years that followed were marked with playing with “A”players in Los Angeles. Caleb Quaye ( Elton’s guitarist), Pee Wee Hill, (Rufus) and others.
Mike continued to play with numerous bands from Pasadena to Riverside. Recorded two LPs with the Heat Brothers and Stronghold. (Greg Kramer, Jimmy McGrew)
Most recently Mike has focused on making music with a few very talented close friends.
He has lately happily landed with Mary Lou Stuart and The Bells. (Jerry O’Sullivan, Jeff Masters and Roy Durnal)
Jerry O'Sullivan
Bio: Jerry O’Sullivan Musical Footprint.
Jerry O’Sullivan. An American guitar player singer and songwriter born in Pomona. As a young man he pick up the guitar and fell in love with it and started his own band Rex Holmes playing various gig through out southern california. He enjoyed collecting guitars he favors funky Japanese guitars from the 1960s cranked dirty through a vintage American tube amplifier, and gets both mournful blues and precise, vibrato-soaked rhythm tones, somehow at the same time. Though out his music career he played with many artist like Robert Cray and Gin Blossoms. Jerry even wrote a song Pomona Queen which inspired The Last Name Brewing flagship lager. Jerry also pick up the ukulele and teaches classes at at The Folk Music Center were he worked for 18 year. Jerry stared another band The Claremont Voodoo Society who he plays with still today. A Claremont favorite consisting of greats like Cougar Estrada Bill Barrett, Roy Durnal, dabbling in traditional music and classic tunes. Along with his own originals. He started another band later on called the stolen 58. Playing blues rock with Jeff Masters at his side. Currently Jerry is playing with The Bells formally The Black Tongued Bells as the lead guitarist a swampy blues rock and soul band mixed with a little gospel and country lead by Mary Lou Stuart Singer songwriter and acoustic guitarist, Jeff Masters Harmonica, Roy Durnal Bass, and Drummer Mike Jungman. Playing through out Southern California.
To his credit he has done a CD with The Stolen 58’s and a CD with The Bells.
Jeff Masters
Bio: Jeff Masters Harmonica player.
Jeff Dutch Masters, born in Pomona 1951, raised in Southern California. First began to play harmonica when he was 18 years old. Played in his first band when 20 in Northern California. Traveled to Chicago in early 70’s to see and hear the blues. There he meet many influential blues players and carried it back to California. He met and took lessons from virtuoso harmonica player Rod Piazza in 1973. Joined “The Midnight Creepers” blues band in 1980, began playing with “Stan West Band” in early 1990) again in 2000’s formed his own band “Tobacco Road” with Jim Clem on Guitar, then joined “The Hallablues Band in 2000 as well with Brian Hall on Guitar. Off and on I’v played with “The Mercy Brothers” from 2015 to present with Geoff Gurrola on
Guitar. Formed a band with Jerry O’Sullivan called “The Stolen 58’s. In
2019 Join “The Black Tongued Bells with Dee Miner on guitar in 2018. I am currently with the
“The Bells” with singer, songwriter Mary Lou Stuart since 2023. I have sat in with many various bands through the years, rock, country, soul, folk and reggae bands as well as singer songwriters but my passion has alway been the blues. Jeff Masters was inducted in Claremont’s Treasury of Music in 2025
Roy Durnal
Sent Roy, from Houston, TX, has been a rhythm section mainstay in the Claremont for over 50 years, primarily as a drummer and bassist. After moving to Claremont in 1969, he began performing with local bands and quickly established himself. His drum work spans a wide range of groups, including Homefront, Occurrence at Owl Creek, the Strutters and collaborations with Chris Darrow and Dave Millard. Currently , he drums with the Squeakin’ Wheels, plays bodhrán with the Old Grey Cats, and occasionally supports the Claremont Community School of Music’s youth jazz program.
Roy began playing electric bass in the 1970s and the upright in 2007. He has performed with bands like Downwind, Duck and Cover, and the Desert Croquet Band. Currently, he plays bass with the Claremont Voodoo Society, the Happy Neighbor Club, and the Swingin’ Doors. He’s also a regular presence at the Claremont Farmers Market, playing music and buying fruit.
MaryLou Stuart
Bio: MaryLou Stuart Musical Footprint.
Marylou stuart an American blues, swamp rock and gospel artist, formally of the black tongued bells known for her singing and songwriting weaves stories and myths and through her lyrics and soulful voice capturing audiences wherever she performs.
Born in LA she began to get influenced by Artist like Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin, and BeBe King, Steve Wonder and Micheal Jackson, also by Dee Miner lead singer of the Black Tongued Bells a story teller who was influenced by Sun-house, Booker White and Willy Dickson, Dee Miner influenced Mary Lou with his gritty growl and great story telling and they sang songs of tall tales of the American swamp for 20 years.
To her credits she helped the Black Tongued Bells with Two CD’s The Black Tongued Bells Every Tongue Has A Tale to Tell and That Great and Dreadful Day Tall Tales of the American Swamp.
Now MaryLou has her own band “The Bells” since the death of Dee Miner in 2021. She decided to carry the sound from The black tongued bells with her own style bringing a New Orleans gumbo funk and swampy blues with some dixie roots to the spot light with her own compositions and music to the stage, she has written two plays ” The Bells Memoirs of a Swampkitty” and The Bells “Another Tale Tale of the American Swamp. Her performances received great reviews. Now she has an EP that gives you a taste of The Bells swampy gumbo sound with down home grit of roots soul & blues that leaves your taste buds wanting more.