Goose Creek Symphony

Goose Creek Symphony
Origin Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Genres Progressive, country, acid, folk, surf, rock music, jazz
Years active 1968–1976, 1985, 1990–present
Labels Capitol, Columbia
Website goosecreeksymphony.com
Members West Coast Line Up
Charlie Gearheart/Acoustic Guitar-Percussion-Vocals
Paul"Pearl"Spradlin/Electric & Acoustic Guitars-Jaw Harp-Vocals
Bob"Willard"Henke/Electric & Acoustic Guitars-Bass-Keyboards-Percussion-Jaw Harp-Vocals
Jon Parry/Fiddle
Pat Moore/Bass
Dennis Kenmore/Drums

East Coast Line Up
Charlie Gearheart/Acoustic Guitar-Percussion-Vocals
Paul"Pearl"Spradlin/Electric & Acoustic Guitars-Jaw Harp-Vocals
Bob"Willard"Henke/Electric & Acoustic Guitars-Bass-Keyboards-Percussion-Jaw Harp-Vocals
Jon Parry/Fiddle
Dan McGlamery/Electric & Acoustic Guitars
David Heyer/Drums
Doug Habbena/Bass-Vocals
Past members Rick Gilbreath/Piano
Bob James/Bass
Paul Byes/Drums-Vocals-(dec.)
Dave Birkett/Bass
Mickey McGee/Drums
Mike McFadden/Guitar-Vocals
Doug Haywood/Bass-Vocals
Fred Weisz/Fiddle-Banjo-Vocals
Ed Black/Bass-Pedal Steel-Vocals-(dec.)
Pat Moore/Bass
Chris Lockheed/Drums
Jim Tolles/Fiddle-Mandolin-Vocals
Harold Williams/Alto-Tenor-Baritone Sax
Randall Bramlett/Soprano-Alto-Tenor Sax
Dennis Kenmore/Drums
Gene Elders/Fiddle
Ellis Schweid/Fiddle
Chris Mostert/Sax-Flute
Clarke Pierson/Drums
Jack Schroer/Sax-(dec.)
Ray Trainer/Bass-(dec.)
Cleon Nalley/Bass-Vocals-(dec.)
Matt McClure/Drums
Vince Micko/Guitar-Vocals
Gary Mackey/Fiddle
Sid Walker/Fiddle
Eric Day/ Guitar-Dobro
Dave Duncan/Guitar
Howard Naughton/Fiddle
Tim Lorsch/Fiddle
Kevin Arrowsmith/Fiddle-Mandolin
Roy Agee/Trombone-Comedic Relief
Dennis Taylor/Sax-(dec.)
Tom McGinley/Baritone Sax
Ritchie Albright/Percussion
Steve Smith/Drums
Gary Olivar/Fiddle
Notable instruments
Guitars, Drums, Bass, Fiddles, Banjo, Mandolin, Keyboards, Horns, Voices, Jews Harp, Cows & Various Barnyard Animals

The Goose Creek Symphony is an American rock band with roots in Arizona and Kentucky. They were formed in 1968 in Phoenix, Arizona as an outlet for the songs of Charlie Gearheart, aka Ritchie Hart, and were best known for their 1972 cover of Janis Joplin's song, "Mercedes Benz". The band recorded their first album at Audio Recorders in 1968-69 and were subsequently signed to Capitol Records in 1970. They continued recording until 1976, then reformed in 1990. The band is considered one of the tightest, musically, of its genre and has continued touring to popular acclaim.

The band appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show with Bobbie Gentry and shared the stage with Jimi Hendrix and The Allman Brothers Band among others at the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival. Charlie Gearheart performed on American Bandstand as Ritchie Hart in 1959. The Goose Creek Symphony has been inducted into "The Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame" class of 2011.

Music

In the '70s they fit into a country rock mode, but were more esoteric and versatile than many of their contemporaries and had more grit and a rugged, less commercial sound. They were/are a good time band known to jam and stretch out regardless of the genre. The band recorded three eclectic albums for Capitol, Est 1970, (1970) Welcome to Goose Creek (1971) and Words of Earnest (1972). All were moderately successful with the last boasting a hit single cover of Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz.” Re-mastered versions of these discs are available on the group’s website (http://www.GooseCreekSymphony.com). In 1974 the band moved over to Columbia Records and recorded, to less success, Do Your Thing But Don’t Touch Mine. Shortly thereafter the band took a hiatus which lasted almost 17 years. Out of nowhere, they came back with a contemporary sound.

In the years since they resurfaced, they’ve played many festivals and released several albums, including a live set, The Goose Is Loose, in 1995, which highlights their extended jamming, witness the meandering 20 minutes or so of “Talk About Goose Creek and Other Important Places.” Also released is the Acoustic Goose live album, as well as studio albums, including Going Home (1998) and I Don’t Know (2003). They’ve also released a couple of lost albums, such as Head For the Hills (recorded in 1975-76 and released in 1997) and recently The Same Thing Again (one music CD and a bonus DVD). The latter was recorded in the mid-70s and essentially forgotten for three decades. Ironically the title cut has Gearheart singing, “If I could live my life over I’d do the same thing again, for 20 long years I’ve picked and I’ve sung.”

Discography

Radio and television appearances

Goose Creek's mixed genre versatility is demonstrated in their 2003 appearance as sole guest on show 259 of the WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour. The WoodSongs Archive has both the radio program and a 111 minute video of the show which includes 20 minutes of performance not included in the hour-long radio show.

References