Chris Darrow | |
|---|---|
| Born | Christopher Lloyd Darrow (1944-07-30)July 30, 1944 |
| Died | January 15, 2020(2020-01-15) (aged 75) |
| Genres | Rock,country rock |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, bass, fiddle, violin, banjo, resonator guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin, sitar |
| Years active | 1963–2019 |
| Formerly of | The Dry City Scat Band,Kaleidoscope,Nitty Gritty Dirt Band |
Christopher Lloyd Darrow (July 30, 1944 – January 15, 2020) was an American multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter.[1] He was considered to be a pioneer ofcountry rock music in the late-1960s and performed and recorded with numerous groups, includingKaleidoscope and theNitty Gritty Dirt Band.[2]
Darrow was born inSioux Falls, South Dakota, but grew up in the Los Angeles suburb ofClaremont, California, listening toRitchie Valens and theEverly Brothers on the radio. He began playing ukulele, but purchased his first guitar at age 13. His father Paul had played clarinet with traditional jazz band The Mentor Street Maniacs.
AttendingPitzer College, Darrow spent two years assisting folkloristGuy Carawan, who taught American Folk Life Studies. Darrow's interest in folk and bluegrass music sparked the formation of his first band, the Reorganized Dry City Players in 1963, followed by the Mad Mountain Ramblers.[3]
In 1964, Darrow formed the bluegrass band The Dry City Scat Band withDavid Lindley,Richard Greene, Steve Cahill, and Pete Madlem. In 1964, the Scat Band performed regularly atDisneyland and at theAsh Grove in Hollywood.[4]
Darrow also attended Claremont graduate school, getting his master's degree in art.[5] During this time, Darrow met fellow bluegrass artistChris Hillman, and Hillman's transition to playing rock music withThe Byrds had a profound effect on Darrow.[6]
Darrow's first rock band was the Floggs, which also included Roger Palos (bass), Bill Stamps (lead guitar), Tommy Salisbury (drums), and Hugh Kohler (keyboards).[3]
Darrow then joined Lindley in the psychedelic bandKaleidoscope, which also included Solomon Feldthouse and Max Buda. The band blended Middle Eastern, country, folk, blues and psychedelia, incorporating the Turkishoud andsaz. Darrow, who composed and sang lead vocal on a number of songs, quit Kaleidoscope shortly after completion ofBeacon From Mars.[7][8]
In 1976, Kaleidoscope reunited to record the albumWhen Scopes Collide and then, in 1991,Greetings From Kartoonistan... We Ain't Dead Yet.[3]
In 1967, Darrow joined theNitty Gritty Dirt Band, replacing Bruce Kunkel,[9] and recorded two albums with the band:Rare Junk andUncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy.[10][11] As a part of the band, he appeared in theClint Eastwood musicalPaint Your Wagon.[12]
In 1969, Darrow andJeff Hanna formed The Corvettes, releasing two singles produced byMike Nesmith forDot Records.Linda Ronstadt recruited the band to be her touring band.[13] When Hanna left the Corvettes to return to the Dirt Band, he was replaced byBernie Leadon.[4]
In 1972, Darrow released his first albumArtist Proof onFantasy. It was reissued with bonus tracks in 2012 byDrag City Records.[10][14] Personnel includedMickey McGee (drums), Ed Black (pedal steel guitar), Arnie Moore (bass), Loren Newkirk (piano),John Ware (drums), and Claudia Linear andJennifer Warnes (backing vocals).[15]
His next two albumsChris Darrow andUnder My Own Disguise were released byUnited Artists.[4][16]Chris Darrow was recorded with members ofFairport Convention, theJeff Beck Group, andElton John's band.[17] After Darrow tookBen Harper under his wing, Harper recorded a cover of Darrow's song "Whipping Boy" as the lead single for his major label debut album.[18]
In the mid-'90s, Darrow recorded for the German label Taxim. In 2000, he released the two-CD setCoyote: Straight from the Heart which includes a 40-minute instrumental suite and 20 original songs.
Darrow played bass on Leonard Cohen's debutSongs of Leonard Cohen. Outtakes of those sessions were later used inRobert Altman's filmMcCabe and Mrs. Miller.[5]
Darrow provided fiddle and violin onJames Taylor'sSweet Baby James.
In 1973, Darrow andBob Mosley ofMoby Grape recorded three demos as the Darrow/Mosley Band. These were later released onDesert Rain on the Shagrat label. They were joined byFrank Reckard (lead guitar), Loren Newkirk (keyboards) and Johnny Craviotto (drums).[19]
Darrow took photographs since age 9, and shot album cover photographs forStarr Parodi, David Lindley andHenry Kaiser,Mojave, The Cache Valley Drifters, Swampdogs, and Los Chumps.[20]
Darrow died, aged 75, on January 15, 2020, of complications from astroke.[21]
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