The duo Molly & the Tinker began its performing career under the name Denim & Lace. It was formed by Brian Leo and Diane (Shuton) Fishbein in 1984 when both were actors in an Illinois Theatre Center production, the first Actors Equity job for each of them.

Brian had been a folksinger since 1962, with assorted high school and college duets, trios and quartets. Starting as an avid Kingston Trio collector, he became an avid Clancy Brothers fan, as their music helped him discover and explore his County Roscommon roots. By the time Denim & Lace came to be, Brian had become a passionate grandson of Ireland, and a student of her history and culture. But his performing passion was theatre, not music, and his talents were evidenced across the South Side of Chicago as an actor, a director, and a playwright in many productions. In 1984, Brian earned a Master's degree in theatre from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 1989, he became a dual citizen of the USA and the Republic of Ireland.

Diane Fishbein (nee Shuton) majored in music at Roosevelt University, with a specialty in voice. Her classical music training and skills as a pianist helped launch her into the role of Miss Illinois for the International Order of Job's Daughters. She also won over $4,000 worth of scholarships in the Miss America Pageant system. Marriage at an early age ended that pursuit, and Diane chose to emphasize instead the theatrical training she had received from Yolanda Lyons, William Norris, and others. Among her professional roles was her appearance in the first Chicago-area production of "Quilters". When she performed in "The Show-off", the cast took a rehearsal break where an open mike was being held. Fellow cast member Brian dared her to sing, and she said she would but only if he did, too, and we all know what happened after that. Lacking a common repertoire, Brian and Diane sang mostly rock oldies and lesser country hits in the early days, with a few Irish drinking songs thrown in.

The duo began performing professionally in 1985. Since Brian had been a longtime participant in the local Renaissance Faire (originally as an actor/director, then as a madrigal singer, then as a folksinger), it was natural for Denim & Lace to work King Richard's Faire, too. But there was no such thing as "denim" in the 16th century, so the name could not be used. Well, Brian's last Faire name had been "The Tinker MacLea" (after some years as "Tom the Miller's Son") and his last character had been Irish (whereas "Tom" had been Manx), so Denim & Lace took on an alias, The Tinker MacLea and Molly, while at the Faire. A few years later this schizophrenia was eliminated by their becoming Molly & the Tinker in all venues.

Brian and Diane have performed their comedy and music in Minnesota, Kansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia and Massachussets, as well as in Cappamore, County Limerick, Ireland. Media appearances so far have included the nationally syndicated "Dr. Demento Show", radio superstations WGN and WFMT ("The Midnight Special" has featured their music, live and recorded, on several occasions), public television's WTTW (live performances on New Year's Eve 1995/96 and 1996/97), Joliet's WJOL, and cable access channels throughout the midwest. They have produced ten albums of their music, plus Brian's 1997 solo album, relying heavily on some 70-or-so original compositions. Folksingers throughout the country have included M&T songs in their repertoire. Indeed, one of their first comedy songs, "Virtue", has attained the ultimate status of all good folksongs: it's now considered by many to be an old traditional song by an anonymous author. Singers performing or recording M&T songs have included Sean Hickey, Kat Eggleston, William Pint & Felicia Dale, and Jacquie Manning, now of Small Potatoes. And fan mail for M&T has arrived from as far away as Hungary!

In 1997, Molly & the Tinker took on a new face, literally. The duo became a part-time trio, Molly & the Tinkers, by adding its frequent accompanist, Adam Velez, as a full member. After a year, the group returned to duo status, while Adam now tours with Chris Vail in his own duo, Tourdion.

In 2001, Brian got together with Jesse Linder of Crossrogues and Gordon Lyons of Wild Mountain Thyme. Together they formed a quirkly, fun group called Tippler's Way which performed at the Bristol Renaissance Faire, the Kansas City Renaissance Festival and elsewhere.  Alas, the group survived only until October of 2004, but their one CD is available from our catalog.

Diane and Brian were married in December of 1987 and have received the blessing of two remarkable daughters, Amanda Kathleen and Megan Margaret. That's Amanda holding her ears in pain on the back of the "Best Of M&T, Vol. One" album, and Megan offering a Guinness on the back of the "Fifteen Years" CD. Both are singers and versatile musicians.

In recent years, Molly & Tink have performed only sporadically, largely due to the demands of being parent of teenagers, and also due to their pursuit of Master’s degrees (Molly’s in school administration and Tink’s in theology).  More and more, though, their original songs are being sung and recorded by other performers such as Pint and Dale, Minstrosity, The Shantyman, Leo Pola and Queen’s Gambit.