CURRENT TOURING LINEUP:
David Nelson-Guitar, vocals Buddy Cage- Pedal steel Michael Falzarano- Guitar, vocals Johnny Markowski - Drums, vocals and Ronnie Penque- Bass, vocals
CLASSIC LINEUP:
John Dawson
- Rhythm guitar, vocals
David Nelson
- Lead guitar, mandolin
Spencer Dryden
- Drums (replacing Hart)
Dave Torbert
- Bass guitar (replacing Lesh) and
Buddy Cage - Pedal Steel(replacing Garcia)
OTHER ORIGINAL MEMBERS:
Jerry Garcia
- Pedal steel guitar
Robert Hunter - Bass guitar
Bob Matthews - Bass guitar (Replacing Hunter)
Phil Lesh
- Bass guitar
Mickey Hart
- Drums
and the almost original
Skip Battin - Bass guitar (Replacing Torbert)
As promised if you don't want to wait for the in store date of June 2 for the new CD Where I Come From along with the bonus CD head on over to www.woodstockrecords.com and pick up an advance copy now. Also this just in, it's now available for download on itunes.
Great news, our new studio CD Where I Come From will be in stores June 2. It features 7 new songs written by David Nelson and Robert Hunter, Where I come From, Big Six, Barracuda Moon, Down The Middle, Blues Barrel, Ghost Train Blues and Rockin with Nona along with two new ones by Michael Falzarano, Carl Perkins Wears The Crown and Something In The Air Tonight plus live show favorites Higher by Johnny Markowski, Olivia Rose by Ronnie Penque and the Classic Them Old Minglewood Blues. Several of the tunes have our old friend Mookie Siegel sitting in, he laid down some sweet stuff for us. It was great to have him on board....
There is also a bonus disc that was intended to only go out to radio but because we had some other cool stuff hanging around we decided to add it to this promo CD and make it available to all for a limited time. It features radio mixes of Where I Come From, Barracuda Moon and Higher along with Pour house Jelly an Instrumental jam played and recorded at sound check at The Pour House down in Charleston, SC in '07, Let it grow an original Falzarano tune played and recorded at sound check at the Shawnee Cave in '06. We later added some masterful Hammond organ playing by Professor Louie to those two tracks. Luckily our ace sound man at the time Tim Stiegler captured these tunes because we only played them that one time, we just started jamming and got lucky. The remaining four tracks Louisiana Lady, Peggy O, Truck Driving Man and Dirty Business are from the DVD/CD we put out in '06, Live At Turkey Trot Acres. We couldn't fit them onto the CD back then so we're happy to get those out in the world now. We hope you enjoy both discs. Check back soon because both discs will be available for mail order before the in stores-street date
As promised if you don't want to wait for the in store date of June 2 for the new CD Where I Come From along with the bonus CD head on over to www.woodstockrecords.com and pick up an advance copy now.
"Wanted: Live at Turkey Trot" celebrates the first new release by The NRPS in over 25 years and that's mighty-fine 'cause this album truly captures the spirit and music of "The Greatest Cosmic, Psychedelic Country Rock and Roll Band Of the Universe". Fa-Ka-Wee Productions
This is the official NRPS MySpace page.
The New Riders Of The Purple Sage
The Renaissance
Featuring original members:
David Nelson & Buddy Cage
with
Michael Falzarano
Ronnie Penque
and
Johnny Markowski
The New Riders of the Purple Sage, signed to Columbia Records by Clive Davis, released its eponymous first album in September 1971 to widespread acclaim. In the next 11 years the band toured and released over 12 albums, selling over 4 million records. NRPS began as a part-time spin-off from the Grateful Dead when Jerry Garcia (pedal steel guitar), Phil Lesh (bass) and Mickey Hart (drums) teamed up with John Dawson (guitar, vocals) and David Nelson (guitar). Although early live appearances were viewed as an informal warm-up to the main attraction, the group quickly established an independent identity through the strength of Dawson's original songs. By 1971 Dave Torbert had replaced Lesh, and Spencer Dryden, formerly of Jefferson Airplane, had joined as the group's permanent drummer. Garcia remained in both The Dead and The New Riders until he found himself overcommitted, at which time Buddy Cage replaced him and the classic NRPS lineup was born. Original NRPS bass player Dave Torbert and drummer Spencer Dryden have passed away, and co-founder John Dawson cannot lend his considerable talents at this time due to ongoing health problems but has given his blessing and is excited to know his music is being heard live again to a whole new generation of fans. The new lineup vows to keep the NRPS spirit and tunes alive by taking them to fans everywhere.
..David Nelson has managed the seemingly impossible. He has remained true to his musical vision and integrity without becoming outdated or archaic in the process. Nelson, an important figure in the musical vanguard of the influential Haight-Ashbury music scene, spawned the Grateful Dead. His ties to Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter extend beyond that with The Wildwood Boys, a bluegrass band they formed together in 1962 in Palo Alto, CA. After the Dead got together, Nelson played guitar on three pivotal albums, Aoxomoxoa, Workingman's Dead and American Beauty. Around the same time, Garcia bought a pedal steel guitar, which he enjoyed playing with John Dawson, a friend from the Palo Alto days. They formed the New Riders of the Purple Sage with Nelson and the Dead's Mickey Hart and Phil Lesh. Nelson who sang one of New Rider's biggest hits, a cover of bluegrass great Peter Rowan's "Panama Red," stayed with the group for 13 years, but left in 1982 and starting writing songs with longtime pal Robert Hunter, among others. Along the way, he was a member of the Good Ol' Boys, featuring bluegrass legends Don Reno, Chubby Wise and Frank Wakefield. He also played in the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and is featured on their 1988 album, "Almost Acoustic." Then in 1994, Nelson formed the David Nelson Band where he showcased his plethora of songs. In six years, DNB released four CDs. Three are live efforts: 1995's Limited Edition, 1997's Keeper of the Key, and 1999's High Adventure in Japan, which is also a concert video. In 1999 Nelson released the band's studio debut, Visions Under the Moon which was recorded in Portland, OR's Aladdin Theater. Things have come full circle with Nelson at the helm of The New Riders.
Not only has Buddy Cage sold over four million records in his ten years with the NRPS, but he has also performed on many gold and platinum albums during his distinguished career including Blood On The Tracks (Dylan), Biograph (Dylan), The Official Bootleg Tapes (Dylan) and various releases with Ann Murray. Cage has also recorded with Grateful Dead Members Garcia, Weir and Hart as well as with Dead lyricist Robert Hunter (on Tales of the Rum Runners); Ian and Sylvia (Great Speckled Bird, the seminal folk band of which Cage was a member); John Cipollina (Quick Silver Messenger Service); Mario Cipollina (Huey Lewis and The News); Rick James; Rick Danko and Garth Hudson (The Band); David Rea (Fairport Convention and Mountain); The Shondells; David Bromberg (with Bonnie Raitt); Pappa John Creach (Hot Tuna); Sly Stone; and Vassar Clements, to name a few. No stranger to TV, Cage has appeared on numerous shows and specials from Della Reese, Joey Bishop and Mike Douglas to Richie Havens, Seals & Croft, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash (Grand Ole Opry), Don Kirschner's In Concert & Rock Concert series and the Midnight Special shows hosted by Wolfman Jack. Most recently Buddy can be heard on his show on Sirus Satellite Radio, Jam On (channel 17) from 6 to midnight Monday through Friday
Guitarist/singer/songwriter Michael Falzarano has most notably been a member of Hot Tuna, the famed offspring of The Jefferson Airplane, and The Memphis Pilgrims, a Memphis-style rock ‘n’ roll/blues band that he founded in 1986. Having recently signed with Blues Planet Records, Falzarano’s current release is a solo project entitled The King James Sessions. He has toured extensively throughout the world on shared billings with The Allman Brothers, Black Crowes, The Other Ones, Rusted Root, Bruce Hornsby and Los Lobos, among others. Falzarano has also appeared live or recorded with such musical greats as Bob Weir (Grateful Dead); Levon Helm, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson (The Band); John Lee Hooker; Johnny Copeland; Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf); Vassar Clements; Paul Simon; Dr. John; Graham Parker; Merl Saunders; Steve Kimok; Bill Keith; Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule, The Dead); Warren Zevon; Greg Allman (Allman Brothers); David Crosby; Eric Anderson; Arlo Guthrie; John Sebastian (Lovin' Spoonful); Geoff Atchison; Bruce Hornsby; Pete Sears; Jonnie Johnson (Chuck Berry); Buddy Cage (New Riders); Peter Rowan; Derek Trucks (Allman Brothers); Paul Kanter (The Jefferson Starship); Trey Anastasio (Phish); Guy Davis; Jimmy Herring; Peter Mulvey; Melvin Seals (The Jerry Garcia Band); John Popper (Blues Traveler); Robert Hunter; and The New Riders Of The Purple Sage.
Ronnie Penque has been playing music for over 30 years. When not working with NRPS or his band Neon Gods, which includes his brother Chris Penque on guitar, Ron is busy as a session player. Ronnie started out as the original bass player in the popular Grateful Dead cover band Ripple. Through the years Ron has also played with many other bands and great musicians including Bobby Weir, Mickey Hart, Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan, Melvin Seals, Robert Hunter, John Popper, Pete Sears, David Nelson, Barry Sless, Keller Wiliams, Donna Jean Godchaux, Jeff Pevar, and Michael Falzarano. After Ripple retired in 2003, Ron was asked by keyboardist Melvin Seals of The Jerry Garcia Band to join his band, "Melvin Seals and JGB." A short time after joining Melvin and JGB, NRPS drummer
Johnny Markowski came on board and the two developed a lock and key rhythmic feel on bass and drums that they brought to The New Riders. If the name Penque is familiar, Ron's uncle the late Romeo Penque was one of the most famous woodwind and flute players in the industry who was best known for his work with Miles Davis. At age 12 Ronnie was taught to play bass by his father Ron Penque Sr., an accomplished session bass player for 20 years, who gave Ronnie his 57 Precision bass (Dads Bass) upon his retirement. Some of Ronnie's musical influences are The Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh, NRPS bass player Dave Torbert, Donald Duck Dunn, John Entwistle, Paul McCartney and Jack Casady, among others.
Johnny Markowski, an accomplished drummer, can be found playing his kit these days with The New Riders of the Purple Sage. When not on the road with The NRPS, Johnny works with his band, Stir Fried, and plays with various artists in many styles. Songwriting is also in his blood. His father, Thomas Jefferson Kaye, was a legendary producer and songwriter in the 1960s and 1970s. Markowski’s band, Stir Fried, known for its blend of swamp groove, psychedelic improvisational music performs signature versions of Kaye masterpieces in addition to Markowski originals. The group has recorded and performed with the likes of Dr. John, Vassar Clements (Old & In The Way), Commander Cody, Buddy Cage (NRPS), Jo Jo Herman (Widespread Panic), Bernie Worrell (P Funk, Talking Heads), Derek Trucks (Allman Bros. Band) and Tony Trischka. Recently Jambands.com held a contest for the most impressive drummer/percussionist, and after two weeks of voting Markowski won hands down, beating out some pretty heavy competition.
New Info from NRPS Central
It is with great sadness that we have to say farewell to our brother John "Marmaduke" Dawson, who is now at peace. He was a great poet and musician and he will be missed. We are honored to play his songs, songs that are as great today as the day he wrote them. We're glad that he was able to join us two years ago at Horning Hideout for the String Summit to see the love the crowd still had for him. It was one of the best nights this version of the band has had. We want you all to know that he was thrilled that so many fans, new and old, were coming out to hear the songs he wrote so many years before. He's gone but his music will live on. Somewhere there's going to be one hell of a jam tonight...the ethereal band just got a whole lot better.....NRPS
Our new CD Where I Come From has been out for about two months now and getting great reviews and airplay around the country, if you haven’t gotten a copy yet head on over to www.woodstockrecords.com and get yours today.
Also in case you haven't heard David has been doing some shows on the West coast with The David Nelson Band, Michael has released his new CD called We Are All One and has gotten some great reviews. You can read them on his Reviews page at www.michaelfalzarano.com. The CD features some old friends like the late Vassar Clements, Buddy Cage, Melvin Seals, Garth Hudson, Professor Louie and Jorma to name a few. Check it out. Johnny and Buddy are doing some Stir Fried gigs and Johnny has started recording a solo CD while Ronnie has been playing some gigs with The Ronnie Penque Band. Never a dull moment… The renaissance continues..... NRPS
Peace Sunday, June 5, 1982, Rose Bowl, no nukes - nuclear disarmament - stop nuclear madness concert - NYC - Central Park - June 12, 1982, 1,000,000 person march and rally for Nuclear Freeze. Photography and presentation by Curtis Rainbow. 'Give Peace a Chance' music by Achim Schultz. Inspiration by Yoko Ono. Dedicated to John Lennon.
DON'T KNOW WHERE THE TIME IS GOING, BUT THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE... LOL....HAD OPEN HOUSE ON WED. FROM 1-7 P.M. HAD 10 PARENTS OUT OF 14, SO THAT WASN'T BAD. IT WAS 1ST MARKING PERIOD REPORT CARD DISTRIBUTION ALREADY. ORDERED A NEW CORNER XMAS TREE FOR DOWNSTAIRS & IT CAME IN, PUT CUTE NEW LIGHTED PRESENTS AROUND IT... STILL HAVE TO DECORATE IT, BUT IT LOOKS NICE... HANK'S OUTSIDE STARTING OUR DECS & I WAS IRONING, GETTING THINGS DONE INSIDE.. THAT'S WHAT WEEKENDS ARE FOR, RIGHT? HOPE ALL IS WELL XO
The new True Margrit CD - The Juggler's Progress - is now available for pre-order, along with t-shirts and artwork, photo and drumheads, check it out here: http://bit.ly/7Cu8J
Next shows: October 27, The Swiss, Tacoma, WA October 28, Jazzbones in Tacoma, WA October 30, Mississippi Pizza in Portland, OR October 31, Nana's Irish Grill and Pub in Newport, OR November 1, Muddy's Hot Cup in Arcata, CA November 5, Molly Malone's in West Hollywood, CA
Our tour wraps up with the big show at San Francisco's best rock club, Bottom of the Hill! For the complete show schedule, check here: http://bit.ly/1UgGqQ
EX SCHWAG GUITARIST Shawn Guyot Benefit Concert ...10-17-09@ AB'S PLACE!!!!$$ We could use some help getting the word out. Saturday Oct 17 Doors 8pm AB's Place 5627 Manchester Ave St Louis Mo Donation $8.00 Shawn has been diagnosed terminal and we're just trying to give him a hand Thanks Tony V
Great outpouring of music boys - miss jamming with you! I’m finally up and running here and now distributed online through Universal, for my three acoustic releases, with plenty of banjo and fiddle, Vassar on all three albums. Great to be here. All the best from Ireland – Tom
Tumble weeds scattered when the 15 Cent Wash came in-on the scene. It was the late 1960s. This was a time for new revolution. It may have been forgotten ... but only submerged behind the mind. New services were provided, and the people forgot; into bliss - The clothes were clean and dry.
I am sitting in the wonderful Lancaster Womens and Babies hospital here in Lancaster, PA watching my woman giving birth to my first child and enjoying all that USA health care has to offer and couldnt help but thinking about Buddy Cages comments at the bears picnics regarding obama and his health care. I kept my mouth shut (for the most part) at the Obama Dead Allman Brothers dick sucking brain wash fest (the one on the only coast that matters), i kept my mouth shut at the Dead spring tour and i kept my mouth shut at the bears picnic when a band i respect a great deal and appreciate more than you will ever know decided to tell music fans how to vote and or think. I laughed it off. So now here on october 3rd of 2009 I am wondering how you are liking this change we can believe in? what is it that we can believe in? and why are you guys making such a big fuss about a crooked politician from chicago/hawaii/indonesia/kenya? cause I just have'nt got it yet. also, do you think that chosing sides in this completely destroyed political system will help to unite people or seperate em? Isnt that what this life is all about, unifying. Isnt that what happens when the NRPS gets together? Isnt that what would happen back when Pigpen and the boys first started playing music together? Isnt that what this whole Dead scene should be about, making a difference by using our resources to unite the world?
IN 1976 I HAD A '69 CHEVY IMPALA TWO-DOOR HARD TOP WITH AN EIGHT TRACK TAPE PLAYER IN IT. ONE NIGHT, AFTER A PARTY, I FOUND A NRPS EIGHT TRACK, SUBMERGED IN A PUDDLE OF SPILT BEER ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR. I PICKED IT UP, CLEANED IT OFF, STUCK IT IN MY PLAYER AND DROVE OFF INTO THE NIGHT. SWERVIN' TO THE STRAINS OF ''PANAMA RED''. THANK YOU BOYS, ONE OF THE, ''COOL'', MEMORIES I HAVE IN LIFE. SWL
