Dana Colley
Encyclopedia
Dana Colley is an American musician
, best known as the baritone
and tenor saxophonist
in the alternative rock
band Morphine
.
, Massachusetts
indie rock
scene playing with the group Three Colors, a post-punk
band formed in 1981 whom he joined in 1985. 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 to Princeton
, New Jersey
, the group disbanded in late 1988.
with charismatic front-man Mark Sandman
of Boston-based Treat Her Right
. The two were joined by drummer Jerome Dupree and quickly garnered a local following. Their debut album, 1992's Good
, was picked up by the Rykodisc
label in 1993, and the band embarked on extensive, successful touring.
Shortly thereafter, Treat Her Right drummer Billy Conway replaced Dupree, who was suffering from health problems. Following two more albums with Rykodisc, the band signed with the major label DreamWorks Records
in 1996. They scored a minor MTV
hit with "Early to Bed" from 1997's Like 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 a tragic and abrupt end.
Musical chemistry between Colley, Conway and Orchestra Morphine member Laurie Sargent (a Boston mainstay and former member of Face to Face
) led the trio to start their own group, Twinemen
, 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 provided woodblock print artwork for the band's records. Colley, Conway and Sargent were also instrumental in re-opening the Hi-n-Dry
studio and record label, Sandman's former workspace and imprint.
In 2006, Colley co-founded A.K.A.C.O.D. with bassist/songwriter Monique Ortiz of Bourbon Princess and drummer Larry Dersch. Considering themselves a low rock band in the tradition of Morphine, the band released their debut Happiness album in 2007.
Colley and Dupree began playing with New Orleans transplant Jeremy 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.
Colley has also made guest appearances with Primus
(on live versions of the song "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers"), and Lilium
, a project from Pascal Humbert of Sixteen Horsepower and Woven Hand
.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the baritone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
and tenor saxophonist
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
in the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Morphine
Morphine (band)
Morphine was an American alternative rock group formed by Mark Sandman and Dana Colley in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1989. They disbanded in 1999 after frontman Sandman died of a heart attack....
.
with Three Colors (1985–1988)
Colley originally appeared in the BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
scene playing with the group Three Colors, a post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band formed in 1981 whom he joined in 1985. While Colley established himself as primarily a saxophonist, he also played harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
with the group. After modest success behind several small-run records and a brief relocation to Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, the group disbanded in late 1988.
Morphine (1989–1999)
In 1989, Colley co-founded the dark-spirited band MorphineMorphine (band)
Morphine was an American alternative rock group formed by Mark Sandman and Dana Colley in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1989. They disbanded in 1999 after frontman Sandman died of a heart attack....
with charismatic front-man Mark Sandman
Mark Sandman
Mark Sandman was an American singer, songwriter, musical instrument inventor and multi-instrumentalist.An indie rock icon and longtime fixture on the Boston/Cambridge music scene, Sandman was best known as the lead singer and slide bass player of the band Morphine...
of Boston-based Treat Her Right
Treat Her Right
Treat Her Right is a blues rock group formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1984. The band originally featured Mark Sandman on guitar, Billy Conway on drums, Dave Champagne on guitar, and Jim Fitting on harmonica. Singing and songwriting duties were shared by all but Conway...
. The two were joined by drummer Jerome Dupree and quickly garnered a local following. Their debut album, 1992's Good
Good (Morphine album)
Good is the first album recorded by the Boston based alternative rock trio Morphine. It was originally released in 1992 on the Accurate label, and then re-released by Rykodisc in 1993.- Track listing :...
, was picked up by the Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
label in 1993, and the band embarked on extensive, successful touring.
Shortly thereafter, Treat Her Right drummer Billy Conway replaced Dupree, who was suffering from health problems. Following two more albums with Rykodisc, the band signed with the major label DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
in 1996. They scored a minor MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
hit with "Early to Bed" from 1997's Like Swimming
Like Swimming
Like Swimming is a 1997 album by the alternative rock band Morphine.-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Sandman.# "Lilah" – 0:59# "Potion" – 2:00# "I Know You Like Swimming is a 1997 album by the alternative rock band Morphine.-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Sandman.# "Lilah" – 0:59#...
, and continued to enjoy local and international success, particularly in Europe. In 1999, Sandman died unexpectedly of a heart attack while onstage in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, bringing the band to a tragic and abrupt end.
Post-Morphine projects (1999–present)
Following Sandman's death, Colley, Conway and Dupree 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.Musical chemistry between Colley, Conway and Orchestra Morphine member Laurie Sargent (a Boston mainstay and former member of Face to Face
Face to Face (new wave band)
Face to Face was a new wave Boston, Massachusetts quintet.-Formation:Guitarist Stuart Kimball formed the band in New Hampshire during the late '70s with a close group of friends...
) led the trio to start their own group, Twinemen
Twinemen
Twinemen is an alternative rock band based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA created by former members of the bands Morphine and Face to Face. The group includes Dana Colley , Billy Conway , and Laurie Sargent...
, 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 provided woodblock print artwork for the band's records. Colley, Conway and Sargent were also instrumental in re-opening the Hi-n-Dry
Hi-n-Dry
Hi-n-Dry is a Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA-based independent record label and recording studio. Founded by the late Morphine singer and bassist Mark Sandman, the studio and label are currently managed by former Morphine bandmates Dana Colley and Billy Conway along with Laurie Sargent and Andrew...
studio and record label, Sandman's former workspace and imprint.
In 2006, Colley co-founded A.K.A.C.O.D. with bassist/songwriter Monique Ortiz of Bourbon Princess and drummer Larry Dersch. Considering themselves a low rock band in the tradition of Morphine, the band released their debut Happiness album in 2007.
Colley and Dupree began playing with New Orleans transplant Jeremy 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.
Colley has also made guest appearances with Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
(on live versions of the song "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers"), and Lilium
Lilium (band)
Lilium is a musical project begun by French musician Pascal Humbert, a member of the alternative country groups Sixteen Horsepower and Woven Hand. Lilium is presently a two-piece augmented by frequent guests based in Denver, Colorado, USA.-History:The project began in 1984, centered around home...
, a project from Pascal Humbert of Sixteen Horsepower and Woven Hand
Woven Hand
Wovenhand is a band from Denver, Colorado led by former 16 Horsepower lead singer David Eugene Edwards. Woven Hand's music combines elements of neofolk, alternative country, post-rock, punk, industrial music, folk rock, old-time music and native American music, among other influences.-History:The...
.
External links
- Three Colors at Gbmusic.com
- The Other Side - a Morphine fan page
- Twinemen at MySpace.com
- Official A.K.A.C.O.D. page
- Members of Morphine at MySpace.com