Cuff the Duke

Cuff the Duke
Cuff the Duke performing at The Exchange in Regina, Saskatchewan in 2006
Background information
Origin	Ontario, Canada
Genres	Alternative country, indie rock, rock
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Paper Bag, Three Gut, Hardwood, Noble
Website	www.cufftheduke.ca
Members
Wayne Petti Paul Lowman Dale Murray Corey Wood François Turenne
Past members
Matt Faris Jeff Peers Brad Fudge Patrick Conan Paul Aucoin Steve Krecklo Christopher Sandes

Cuff the Duke is a Canadian band from Oshawa, Ontario. They play a blend of traditional country and folk music with indie rock influences, and can be categorized as an alt-country group.

History

In 2002 they released their first album, Life Stories for Minimum Wage on Three Gut Records. They spent the next few years touring with Hayden, acting as his backing band. In 2005 they released their second album, Cuff the Duke on Hardwood Records.

The line-up for Cuff the Duke has evolved, with the consistent members thus far being Wayne Petti and Paul Lowman. With Dale Murray (Nephew to Anne Murray) now in Cuff the Duke, the band has taken on a more polished tone, due to his pedal steel and guitar playing. Patrick Conan (who temporarily filled in for Matt Faris who has been side-lined from playing live due to wrist surgery) has been a steady drummer and has filled Matt Faris' shoes well. Paul Aucoin of the Hylozoists also occasionally performs live with Cuff the Duke playing vibraphone, glockenspiel and percussion. Paul also produced Cuff the Duke's self-titled album in 2005. Since June 2007, Corey Wood has taken on the role of Cuff the Duke's drummer, and is now an official member of the band.

Cuff the Duke utilizes a wide range of instruments, of these the more notable instruments are bells, Moog synthesizers, wind organs, Hammond organs and lap steel.

Cuff the Duke performing at CBC's Studio 40, April 22, 2008

On March 16, 2007 a Cuff the Duke recording was released on The Secret Sessions, a tribute album to the Rheostatics. The band recorded a version of "Claire", which was originally released on the Rheostatics' Introducing Happiness. The Secret Sessions is available from Canadian digital indie label Zunior.

On October 23, 2007 Cuff the Duke's album Sidelines of the City was released.

Petti and Murray have also released solo albums.

On April 22, 2008 Cuff the Duke performed with Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo at a taping of the CBC Radio show Fuse at CBC's Studio 40 in Ottawa. On September 8, 2009 they released the album Way Down Here, which was produced by Keelor.

Band members

Current members

• Wayne Petti – vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica, bass (2001–present)
• Paul Lowman – bass, piano, backing vocals, fiddle, guitar, lap steel (2001–present)
• Dale Murray – guitar, pedal steel, backing vocals (2005–present)
• Corey Wood – drums, percussion (2006–present)
• François Turenne - Live Guitars (2009–present)

Past members

• Jeff Peers – guitar, keyboards, percussion (2001–2005)
• Brad Fudge – drums, percussion (2001–2003)
• Matt Faris – drums, percussion (2003–2006)
• Patrick Conan – live drums, percussion (2006)
• Paul Aucoin – live keyboards, percussion (2005–2006)
• Steve Krecklo – lead guitar, lap steel, keyboards, organ, percussion, backing vocals (2002, for Life Stories for Minimum Wage)
• Christopher Sandes – live keyboards (2007–2008)

Discography

• Life Stories for Minimum Wage (2002 on Three Gut Records, re-released 2007 on Outside Music)
• Cuff the Duke (2005 on Hardwood Records)
• Sidelines of the City (2007 on Hardwood Records)
• Way Down Here (September 8, 2009)
• Morning Comes (October 4, 2011) Paper Bag Records

See also

Music of Canada portal

• Music of Canada
• Canadian rock
• List of bands from Canada
• List of Canadian musicians
• Category:Canadian musical groups

External links

• Cuff the Duke official website
• Cuff the Duke on Myspace
• Cuff the Duke at Last.fm
• Wayne Petti interview in Canadian Geographic discussing how the Canadian landscape has influenced his music