Jayhawks

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Page contents 1 History 2 Members 3 Albums 4 Audio 5 Related Web sites 6 Related Bands

History

The Jayhawks were formed in February 1985. Mark Olson, standup bass player for the local rockabilly band, Stagger Lee, and sometime solo acoustic performer, invited former Neglecters guitarist Marc Perlman and drummer Norm Rogers to form a band. Soon after, Olson convinced Perlman to switch to bass. Olson, Perlman and Rogers were joined at their first gig by temporary guitarist Steve Retzler. One person in attendance at that gig, Gary Louris, had formerly played guitar in Schnauzer and the rockabilly band Safety Last. Louris joined the band shortly after as their permanent guitarist.

Later in 1985, stockbroker Charlie Pine became their manager and formed a record label, Bunkhouse Records, with the band. Their debut album, The Jayhawks (usually referred to as "the Bunkhouse album") was released in 1986. With no major label offers in sight, Norm Rogers left and eventually joined the Minneapolis band, the Cows. He was replaced by Thad Spencer on drums.

Twin Tone released the recordings that the band accumulated over the next couple of years in 1989 as Blue Earth. The album garnered critical raves, and The Jayhawks decided to go full time and hit the road. The band was signed to Def American in 1991. By this time Thad Spencer had left to pursue other projects and Ken Callahan had replaced him on drums. Produced by George Drakoulias and released in September 1992, Hollywood Town Hall was greeted with critical praise and radio airplay. When the Jayhawks launched their 1992 tour, they had added keyboardist Karen Grotberg, formerly of The Ranchtones, to the lineup.

Tomorrow The Green Grass was released in February 1995. Fueled by popular single "Blue" the album had commercial success, becoming the #8 album of 1995 in the Adult Alternative Album charts. Drummer Tim O' Reagan was a new addition to the band in 1995. Then in late 1995, Mark Olson announced he was leaving the Jayhawks to spend more time with his wife, singer-songwriter Victoria Williams. Olson would later form the country folk band The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers with Williams and Mike "Razz" Russell.

After taking a short time to reassess what they wanted to do, the remaining members got back together in early 1996. They were joined in the studio by guitarist Kraig Johnson and violinist Jessy Greene. Johnson is a member of the Minneapolis band Run Westy Run and also Golden Smog, the Minneapolis supergroup (with a wink), whose members include Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum), Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Jody Stephens (Big Star) and in the past, Chris Mars (the Replacements) and Noah Levy (the Honeydogs). Greene, a classically trained violinist, formerly played violin in the Geraldine Fibbers. Together with Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner, Johnson and Greene also perform as O'Jeez.

Sound Of Lies was released in April 1997. In addition, Louris, Perlman, Johnson and Greene worked on a new Golden Smog album and tour. In December 1998, it was announced that Karen Grotberg was leaving the band to pursue other creative outlets. She was replaced on keyboards and vocals by Jen Gunderman, formally of the North Carolina funk band Dag.

Smile was released May 9, 2000 on the American/Columbia label. The Jayhawks toured the US, UK and Spain in support of Smile during 2000-2001. In July of 2001 Kraig Johnson left the band to tour with Iffy and was replaced by guitarist/pedal steel player Stephen McCarthy (formally of the Long Ryders). Keyboardist Jen Gunderman left the Jayhawks later in 2001.

In 2002 the Jayhawks toured as an acoustic trio (Gary Louris, Marc Perlman and Tim O'Reagan) while also recording the album Rainy Day Music with producer Ethan Johns. The album was released April 1, 2003 by American Recordings and distributed by Lost Highway Records. They toured extensively throughout 2003. Early in 2005 Gary Louris and former Jayhawk Mark Olson did short tour together playing their own songs and classic songs from the Jayhawks catalog.

Members

Past & Present

• Ken Callahan
• Kraig Johnson
• Jessy Greene
• Karen Grotberg
• Jen Gunderman
• Gary Louris
• Stephen McCarthy
• Tim O'Reagan
• Mark Olson
• Marc Perlman
• Steve Retzler
• Norm Rogers
• Thad Spencer

Albums

Full Albums

• The Jayhawks
• Blue Earth
• Hollywood Town Hall
• Tomorrow The Green Grass
• Sound Of Lies
• Smile
• Rainy Day Music

Audio

Related Web sites

Jayhawks Fan Page [1]

"For New Orleans" Sugarfoot Music Benefit CD [2]

Related Bands

• Golden Smog
• Polara
• Safety Last
• Iffy
• Stagger Lee
• Schnauzer
• The Cows
• The Ranchtones
• The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers
• Run Westy Run
• O'Jeez
• The Long Ryders

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