Muleskinner (band)

Muleskinner (band)
L-R: Bill Keith, Clarence White, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Richard Greene. Hidden behind R. Greene: Stuart Schulman.
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, US
Years active	1973
Labels	Warner Bros. Records, Micro Werks
Associated acts	Seatrain, Earth Opera, The Byrds, Bill Monroe, Grateful Dead
Past members
David Grisman Clarence White Richard Greene Bill Keith John Kahn John Guerin Peter Rowan

Muleskinner was a bluegrass supergroup, active during early '70's.^{[1] [2]}

Early history

In the late '60's, Peter Rowan and David Grisman played together in a psychedelic band Earth Opera. The band didn't last longer than couple of years and Rowan went on to join Seatrain, where he met Richard Greene. After two albums with Seatrain, Greene and Rowan went on to form Muleskinner, banjoist Bill Keith, former guitarist of Kentucky Colonels and The Byrds, Clarence White along with bassist John Kahn and drummer John Guerin, who also worked for The Byrds.

Planned show with Bill Monroe

This lineup can be considered as a bluegrass supergroup, term not often used with bluegrass. The original start of the group was connected with Bill Monroe, as Richard Greene (who played for his Bluegrass Boys before), was asked to put a band together a band to join him in a TV show. However, Monroe's bus had some technical problems and Muleskinner had to play the whole evening on their own and it was a success.

Recording contract

All this resulted in a recording contract with Warner Bros. and the band recorded its first studio album, A Potpourri of Bluegrass Jam, which included elements from jazz, country and progressive bluegrass. This recording can be noted as the first one in the bluegrass genre to include drums.

Clarence White death

The album was successful, but the band ended under tragic circumstances: guitarist Clarence White was killed by a drunken driver just couple of months after the record was released ^[3] The band also recorded a live album in 1973 [1], which was released 25 years later.

Discography

• A Potpourri of Bluegrass Jam (1973)
• Muleskinner Live: Original Television Soundtrack (1998, recorded 1973)

Members

• David Grisman - mandolin
• Clarence White - guitar, vocals
• Richard Greene - violin, vocals
• Bill Keith - banjo
• John Kahn - bass
• Peter Rowan - guitar, vocals
• John Guerin - drums

• Stuart Schulman - bass

External links

• Muleskinner on You Tube
  • New Camptown Races, Dark Hollow

References

1. ^ http://www.partialobserver.com/anotherspin/permalink.cfm?blogID=34 Muleskinner bio
2. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p19475 Band bio
3. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_White#cite_note-2 Clarence White death