Dana Colley | |
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 Dana Colley performing with Vapors of Morphine in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2014) | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instrument(s) | baritone saxophone,tenor saxophone, harmonica,triangle |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | Rykodisc,Dreamworks Records,Hi-n-Dry |
Dana Colley is an American musician, best known as thebaritone andtenor saxophonist in thealternative rock bandMorphine.
Colley was born inPortland, Maine, but he was raised inHanson, Massachusetts, where he took up the clarinet in the 4th grade, switching to tenor sax in 7th. He picked up the baritone sax in 1984.[1]
Colley originally appeared in theBoston, Massachusettsindie rock scene playing with the group Three Colors, apost-punk band formed in 1981 whom he joined in 1985.[2] While Colley established himself as primarily a saxophonist, he also played harmonica with the group. After modest success behind several small-run records and a brief relocation toPrinceton, New Jersey, the group disbanded in late 1988.
In 1989, Colley co-foundedMorphine[1] with front-manMark Sandman of Boston-basedTreat Her Right. The two were joined by drummerJerome Deupree and quickly garnered a local following. Their debut album, 1992'sGood, was picked up by theRykodisc label in 1993, and the band embarked on extensive, successful touring. Colley's main instrument with the band was baritone sax, but he occasionally sang backing vocals, played percussion or other saxes (tenor, bass or soprano).
Shortly thereafter, Treat Her Right drummerBilly Conway replaced Deupree, who was suffering from health problems. Following two more albums with Rykodisc, the band signed with the major labelDreamWorks Records in 1996. They scored a minorMTV hit with "Early to Bed" from 1997'sLike Swimming, and continued to enjoy local and international success, particularly in Europe. In 1999, Sandman died unexpectedly of a heart attack while onstage in Italy, bringing the band to an abrupt end.
Following Sandman's death, Colley, Conway and Deupree assembled a nine-piece band they dubbed Orchestra Morphine to tour behind their posthumous final album,The Night. Orchestra Morphine remained sporadically active thereafter, reassembling occasionally to perform Morphine material.[1]
Musical chemistry between Colley, Conway, and Orchestra Morphine memberLaurie Sargent (a Boston mainstay and former member ofFace to Face) led the trio to start their own group,Twinemen,[3] a name they took from a comic drawn by Sandman. Formed in 2001, Twinemen have since released three full-length studio albums and toured extensively. Continuing a tradition he had begun in Morphine, Colley providedwoodblock print artwork for the band's records.[3] Colley, Conway and Sargent were also instrumental in re-opening theHi-n-Dry studio and record label, Sandman's former workspace and imprint.
In 2004 Colley produced and performed on "Black Feather Wings", the second release from Bourbon Princess. 2006, Colley co-founded A.K.A.C.O.D. with bassist/songwriter Monique Ortiz of Bourbon Princess and drummer Larry Dersch. The band released their debutHappiness album in 2007.
Colley and Deupree began playing withNew Orleans transplantJeremy Lyons as Members of Morphine in 2009. This trio performs classic Morphine songs alongside of new material, and played the ten-year anniversary of Sandman's death at the festival at which it occurred, the Nel Nome Del Rock Festival in Palestrina, Italy, on July 3, 2009.[4] As of 2014, the trio renamed themselvesVapors of Morphine and regularly performs shows in Boston and New Orleans.
Colley has also made guest appearances withPrimus (on live versions of the song "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers"), andLilium, a project fromPascal Humbert of16 Horsepower andWoven Hand.[5] He also played saxophone and bass clarinet onDan Brenner's 2011 CDLittle Dark Angel, produced byJay Newland. In 2012 he played in Italy with the Italian bandRudy and the M.O.B. made by the Italian singerRudy Marra.
Occasionally since about 2012, Colley has been a guest with several Boston-area bands, prominently the instrumental groups Dub Apocalypse and Club d'Elf.[6]
In 2013 he joined a 3-piece named The Deltahorse, releasing an EP despite never having been in the same place at the same time as the bandmembers.[7] They released their first full-length album, "Transatlantic" in September 2016.[citation needed]
Colley contributed to the albumStewing released in 2015 byThe Grownup Noise.
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