Gloria Deluxe is Cynthia Hopkins on accordion, guitar, and saw; Kristin Mueller on drums; Josh Stark on upright bass; Philippa Thompson on violin, washboard and spoons; Karen Waltuch on viola; and everyone on vocals. Live shows and albums have frequently featured Curtis Hasselbring on trombone and guitar, Ben Holmes on trumpet, and Tom Hopkins on guitar.
In the spring of 1999, Cynthia Hopkins formed a band in order to record some songs and make an album. The album and the band were both called Gloria Deluxe. The album was released that September and since then, Gloria Deluxe has played at the Bowery Ballroom (opening for David Byrne), the 2001 Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, Pete’s Candy Store, Tonic, and Joe’s Pub, among numerous other venues. In the band’s first performance outside of New York City, they opened for Patti Smith at MASS MoCA, in one of the museum’s outdoor theaters.
In addition to their self-titled first album, Gloria Deluxe has recorded a five song album accurately titled ‘Five Songs’, released in March 2000; a second full length album titled ‘Hooker’, released in October 2000; a third full length album titled ‘Alas Alack’, released in October 2002; and a fourth full length album of songs from the operetta 'Accidental Nostalgia' (see below) released in January 2005. ‘Five Songs’, ‘Hooker’, and ‘Alas Alack’ were all recorded by then bassist Chris Bonner and designed by then guitarist Tom Hopkins. All of their records are self-released.
In March 2008, the band released their most recent album, a recording of songs from the operetta Must Don't Whip 'Um. They are currently working on an album of love songs titled 'LOVE is gonna be my weapon and YOU are gonna be my first victim.'
