Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers
Encyclopedia
The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers are an Americana
group formed by songwriter Mark Olson
and his wife Victoria Williams
after Olson left his previous band The Jayhawks
. The group has also been called Rolling Creekdippers as well as just Creekdippers.
For their first three albums, the band consisted mostly of Olson, Williams and multi-instrumentalist Mike "Razz" Russell
with a little help from drummers Don Heffington and John Convertino. These were all recorded at the couple's home in Joshua Tree, California
and were distributed by mail order with very little touring to support them.
In 2000 the group picked up touring multi-instrumentalists Joshua Grange and David Wolfenberger
as well as long time Creekdipper "Razz" Russell, dropped "Original Harmony Ridge" from the name and began a constant two continent touring schedule in support of three full band recordings; My Own Jo Ellen
, December's Child
and Mystic Theatre
, which featured the touring quintet along with Greg Leisz
, Danny Frankel, Don Heffington, Jon Birdsong and most notably a reunion duet of Olson and former Jayhawks bandmate Gary Louris
on December's Child
.
Olson and The Creekdippers have toured in several different combinations without Williams, Grange and Wolfenberger but with drummer Ray Woods
and Russell. In 2004 Olson and Louris reunited for a tour with Woods and Russell.
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
group formed by songwriter Mark Olson
Mark Olson (musician)
Mark Olson is an American musician. He is one of the founding members of acclaimed alternative country bands The Jayhawks and The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers and a respected singer/songwriter in his own right....
and his wife Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams is an American singer-songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. She is noted for her descriptive songwriting talent, which she has used to immerse the listener of her songs into a...
after Olson left his previous band The Jayhawks
Jayhawks (band)
The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene during the mid 1980s. Their country rock sound was influential on many bands who played the Twin Cities circuit during the 80s and 90s like Uncle Tupelo, The Gear Daddies and The Honeydogs...
. The group has also been called Rolling Creekdippers as well as just Creekdippers.
For their first three albums, the band consisted mostly of Olson, Williams and multi-instrumentalist Mike "Razz" Russell
Mike "Razz" Russell
Mike "Razz" Russell is a multi-instrumentalist and member of The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers. He has played fiddle on records for The Jayhawks and Joe Henry....
with a little help from drummers Don Heffington and John Convertino. These were all recorded at the couple's home in Joshua Tree, California
Joshua Tree, California
Joshua Tree is a census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2010 census, up from 4,207 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Joshua Tree is located in the Mojave Desert at ....
and were distributed by mail order with very little touring to support them.
In 2000 the group picked up touring multi-instrumentalists Joshua Grange and David Wolfenberger
David Wolfenberger
David Wolfenberger is a singer/songwriter from Cincinnati, Ohio. Former frontman for The Marshwiggles and Thom Scarecrow, Wolfenberger has 3 solo CDs to date; Tales From Thom Scarecrow, and World of the Satisfy'n Place on Blue Jordan Records and more recently in 2006 on Fundamental Records,...
as well as long time Creekdipper "Razz" Russell, dropped "Original Harmony Ridge" from the name and began a constant two continent touring schedule in support of three full band recordings; My Own Jo Ellen
My Own Jo Ellen
-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Olson.# "Someone to Talk With" – 4:06# "Linda Lee" – 4:32# "Walking Through Nevada" – 3:15# "Meeting in Lone Pine" – 3:56# "Diamond Davey" – 3:58# "Rainbow of Your Heart" – 4:27# "Ben Johnson's Creek" – 2:54...
, December's Child
December's Child
-Track listing:All songs by Mark Olson except as noted.# "How Can I Send Tonight " – 3:46# "Still We Have A Friend In You" – 3:52# "Alta's Song" – 3:49# "Back To The Old Homeplace" – 2:29# "December's Child" – 4:21# "Nerstrand Woods" – 4:38...
and Mystic Theatre
Mystic Theatre
Mystic Theatre is the sixth album by Mark Olson, Victoria Williams and the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers.-Track listing:# "No Water No Wood" – 3:35# "Standing in the Sun All Day" – 2:49# "Betsy Dupree" – 3:20# "Salome" – 2:27...
, which featured the touring quintet along with Greg Leisz
Greg Leisz
Greg Leisz is an American multi-instrumentalist, playing lap and pedal steel guitars, guitar, mandolin, and bass.- Biography :Leisz was influenced early on by the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers, especially pedal steel player "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow...
, Danny Frankel, Don Heffington, Jon Birdsong and most notably a reunion duet of Olson and former Jayhawks bandmate Gary Louris
Gary Louris
Gary Louris is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter of alternative country and pop music. He was a founding member of the Minneapolis-based band The Jayhawks, and their principal songwriter and vocalist after the departure of Mark Olson; he is often credited with the band's subsequent move from...
on December's Child
December's Child
-Track listing:All songs by Mark Olson except as noted.# "How Can I Send Tonight " – 3:46# "Still We Have A Friend In You" – 3:52# "Alta's Song" – 3:49# "Back To The Old Homeplace" – 2:29# "December's Child" – 4:21# "Nerstrand Woods" – 4:38...
.
Olson and The Creekdippers have toured in several different combinations without Williams, Grange and Wolfenberger but with drummer Ray Woods
Ray Woods
Ray James Woods was an American college basketball standout for Illinois in the 1910s. A guard, Woods helped lead the Fighting Illini to two Big Ten Conference championships in 1915 and 1917, with the former being an undefeated 16–0 season that resulted in a retroactive national championship...
and Russell. In 2004 Olson and Louris reunited for a tour with Woods and Russell.
Albums
- The Original Harmony Ridge Creek DippersThe Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers-Track listing:All songs by Mark Olson otherwise noted.# "Flowering Trees" – 3:13# "When School Begins" – 2:37# "Run with the Ponies" – 3:48# "Be on My Way Home" – 2:26# "She Picks the Violets" – 2:33# "Valentine King" – 3:45...
(1997) - Pacific Coast RamblerPacific Coast RamblerPacific Coast Rambler is the second album by the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers. As with their first release, it is a home-made recording with the focus on Mark Olson.Pacific Coast Rambler was re-released in 2001 by Koch Records.-Track listing:...
(1998) - Zola and the Tulip TreeZola and the Tulip TreeZola And The Tulip Tree is the third album by the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers, released in 1999.-Track listing:# "Zola And The Tulip Tree" – 2:32# "Lorna Doone's Garden" – 2:43...
(1999) - My Own Jo EllenMy Own Jo Ellen-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Olson.# "Someone to Talk With" – 4:06# "Linda Lee" – 4:32# "Walking Through Nevada" – 3:15# "Meeting in Lone Pine" – 3:56# "Diamond Davey" – 3:58# "Rainbow of Your Heart" – 4:27# "Ben Johnson's Creek" – 2:54...
(2000) - December's ChildDecember's Child-Track listing:All songs by Mark Olson except as noted.# "How Can I Send Tonight " – 3:46# "Still We Have A Friend In You" – 3:52# "Alta's Song" – 3:49# "Back To The Old Homeplace" – 2:29# "December's Child" – 4:21# "Nerstrand Woods" – 4:38...
(2002) - Mystic Theatre (2004)
- Political ManifestPolitical ManifestPolitical Manifest is the seventh album by the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers.-Track listing:# "Poor GW"# "Walk With Them"# "Duck Hunting"# "Senator Byrd Speech"# "Where Is My Baby Boy"# "George Bush Industriale"# "Saw Song"...
(2004)
Other contributions
- "In My Hour of Darkness" on Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram ParsonsReturn of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram ParsonsReturn of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons is a 1999 tribute album to pioneering country-rock musician Gram Parsons, co-produced by his one-time singing partner, Emmylou Harris and featuring cover versions of songs written/co-written by or popularized by Parsons, performed by Harris,...
(1999)