Cowboy Junkies & Related Musicians
A complete list of everyone who has played on a Cowboy Junkies recording, and most of the people who has played live with them.
Who are the Cowboy Junkies?
Formed in Toronto in the summer of 1985, the Cowboy Junkies are (and always have been) these 4 plus 1 very special friend:
Michael Timmins - Songwriter and Guitar
You have to start here. Michael writes all of the words and plays guitar.
He doesn't want the spotlight and as a result doesn't get all the credit
he deserves for his brilliant songs.
(These photos from the back of the original
Latent version of The Trinity Session)
Margo Timmins - Vocals
Luckily the band found the voice for Michael's words. Although she doesn't
seek out the spotlight either, Margo is the singer and therefore gathers
much of the attention. A more beautiful voice I've never heard.
Pete Timmins - Drums
A big part of the magic of the band's music comes from the relationships.
Margo's little brother has been keeping the beat for the band since
the beginning.
Alan Anton - Bass
A friend of Michael's since nursery school, you have to look carefully
to find Alan on stage, he's standing at the back trying not to draw
attention to himself. Have a closer look, though, and you'll see (and
hear) his contribution to the band.
Jeff
Bird - Fiddle, mandolin, electric mandolin, harmonica, organ, 8 string
bass, percussion and other instruments.
Jeff has been a key member of the bands recordings and live shows since
The Trinity Session. His ability to pick up the right instrument and
add the right flavour to any song or show should not be overlooked.
Everyone who plays with the Junkies contributes, but no one more
that Jeff.
Jeff is from Guelph, Ontario and formed Tamarack before playing
with the Cowboy Junkies. Jeff has also released a number of solo albums
which are available at the Cowboy Junkies store and has performed on
a number of other releases over the
years. Jeff is the 5th Junkie.
Everyone else in alphabetical order:
Ryan Adams
In November 2006 Ryan played with the Junkies at a taping of 'The Trinity
Session' for DVD. More information to follow when it is released,
expected for the 20th anniversary of the original recording.
Dave
Allen - Fiddle on Black Eyed Man
Having played for years with The Mahones and Pat Temple he met his wife
in the UK and moved over. He still plays, currently with an up and coming
potential future star known as 'Wee
Alex', a combination described by one reviewer in these words - "...alone
these guys will stand out from any crowd - together they'll create one!"
Richard Bell (1946-2007)
- Piano, organ - Pale Sun, Crescent Moon
Richard is a legendary performer who has played with everyone from Ronnie
Hawkins, The Band, Colin Linden and a million people in between. His
contribution to the history of rock and roll was cemented early with
his performance on Janis Joplin's Pearl.
Karin Bergquist - Vocals
Karin and Linford Detweiler make up the band Over
the Rhine. They have toured with the Cowboy Junkies on many occasions.
Karin provided backup vocals on Open and vocals and acoustic guitar
on Waltz Across America.
Kevin Bond aka Rebel - Vocal and Lyrics on 21st Century Blues' I Don't Want To Be a Soldier
Anne Bourne - Cello on Early 21st Century Blues
Andy Carlson - String arrangements,
violin - Lay It Down
Vic Chesnutt
In November 2006 Vic played with the Junkies at a taping of 'The Trinity
Session' for DVD. More information to follow when it is released, expected
for the 20th anniversary of the original recording.
Greg Clarke - Ambient
guitars on verses of Darkling Days
Greg is a member of The Corndogs, a band who's first record was released
on Latent records and was produced by Peter Moore and Michael Timmins.
Randall Coryell -
Drums
Long time player around the Guelph area, Randall stepped in during the 2006
tour when Peter Timmins was unable to play due to a bad back. Randall has
played with Jeff Bird, Gwen Swick and many others including touring with
Glass Tiger.
Colin Couch - Tuba on Oregon Hill
Colin was a member of the band The Polka Dogs from 1989 to 1993 and has
played with a number of bands including The Rheostatics and Allison Cameron.
Jaro
Czerwinec- Accordion
Jaro first played on The Trinity Session and was a key contributor
to The Caution Horses. Listen especially to the cover version of Neil
Young's Powderfinger. Jaro is from Sudbury, Ontario and played with
the polka band Black Sea Cossacks and with Daisy Debolt.
Kim Deschamps
- Pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro,
bottleneck slide guitar
He played on The Trinity Session and The Caution Horses.
Kim spent time
as a key member of Blue
Rodeo and released a very good blues based solo CD.
Linford Detweiler - Organ, piano and wurlitzer.
Along with Karin Bergquist make up the band Over
the Rhine. They have toured with the band many times and played on
Open and Waltz Across America.
Bob
Doidge - Acoustic guitar, cello - Black Eyed Man
Bob is the owner of Grant Avenue Studios in Hamilton where Black Eyed Man
was recorded. He is also a producer, engineer and a musician.
Bob
Egan - Pedal Steel - Early 21st Century Blues
A terrific players who's been around for years with bands like Wilco, Blue
Rodeo, guesting on other's records and recording a few of his own.
Spencer Evans - Piano, Clarinet - Black Eyed Man
Spencer has also appeared on Sarah Harmer's 2000 release You Were
Here and has played live with the Junkies.
Thea Gilmore - Backing Vocals - In concert October 9 & 10
in England
Jack Henderson - Guitar - In concert only
David
Henry - Cello - Lay It Down
David also toured with the band following Lay It Down. He has played
with many bands including Over The Rhine, is an accomplished
Engineer (working with John Keane in Athens) and started the band Brother
Henry.
Bruce Hornsby - Piano
Famous for his hit singles
The Way It Is and Mandolin Rain, Bruce played on a version of Rock and
Bird that was only released as a promotional single.
David Houghton - Percussion
David's main contribution to the band has been art direction. David has
been responsible for the layout of the CD's since The Caution Horses.
In addition he has contributed percussion at a few shows and on several
tracks. Recently he's completed some incredible bike rides.
Garth Hudson - The legendary Garth Hudson from The Band played Accordion at one Junkies shows in June 2007.
Vince Jones - Organ, piano, harmonium on Miles From Our Home. Vince also toured with the band and played keyboards. Vince was a member of the Canadian band Grapes of Wrath.
John Keane - Pedal steel guitar,
arpeggiated guitar - Lay It Down. John also produced Lay It Down along
with Michael Timmins.
John has produced and engineered a number of albums, including work by
R.E.M. and 10,000 Maniacs. John
Keane Studios are located in Athens, GA and John has written a book
called "A Musician's Guide to Pro Tools 6".
Simon Kendall - Keyboards
Simon toured with the Junkies in 2001. He has played with many bands
over the years including Doug and the Slugs, has solo CD's available
and Simon is
currently touring with Colin James.
Craig Leon - String arrangements
on Miles From Our Home
Craig has worked with a wide assortment of artists over the years including
Blondie, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Guy Clark.
Lewis Melville - Banjo on The Last Spike, Pedal Steel on Miles From Our Home. Lewis is a co-founder of DROG records of Guelph and has released his own records and appeared on countless recordings by local musicians.
Natalie Merchant
Natalie played with the Junkies at a taping of 'The Trinity
Session' for DVD. More information to follow when it is released,
expected for the 20th anniversary of the original recording.
Ken Mhyr - Guitar
Ken played on Black Eyed Man and Pale Sun, Crescent Moon. Ken has played
with many other bands, included a number of years with Jane Siberry and
released a solo cassette, shown here.
Peter Moore - Producer
I haven't listed all producers, engineers, etc. but Peter Moore deserves
special mention. His method of recording the band live, using only a single
Calrec Ambisonic Microphone starting with Whites Off Earth Now!! and then
the landmark The Trinity Session helped define the band. Peter used the
same method to record Girl Talk by Holly Cole in 1990. Details can be
found at Holly Cole's
site.
John
Prine - Vocals
John provided vocals on "If You Were the Woman and I Was the Man" from
Black Eyed Man, Live! and 200 more miles. John is a singer/songwriter whose
songs have been covered by artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Bette Midler and
Johnny Cash.
Colm O'Reilly - Bass Guitar
Filled in when Al was either sick or unavailable.
Tony
Quarrington - Lead Guitar
on Murder, Tonight, In the Trailer Park.
Tony is a talented guitar player and producer who is best known for his
work in the world of Jazz.
Don Rook - Lap steel - Black Eyed Man
Carl Schab - Viola - Lay It Down
Peter Schab - Violin - Lay It Down
Ron Sexsmith - Vocals
Ron appeared with the band on July 2, 2007 in Montreal
Steve Shearer - Harmonica
Steve played harmonica on 3 tracks on The Trinity Session. Steve met the
band during shows for Whites Off Earth Now!! and introduced himself as a
harmonica player. As it turned out they called on him to play on their most
successful album.
Rob Summerville - Trombone on Oregon Hill
Terry Templetion - Backing Vocals in concert only
John Timmins - Guitar and Vocals
Older brother John played on 'The Trinity Session'. You can hear his
harmonies on Misguided Angel, a song that was recorded on the first
take, the first time all the players had performed this song together.
John rejoined the band in 2005 for the CD 'Early 21st Century Blues'
and the subsequent tour.
Tom Walsh - Trombone on Oregon Hill
Tom formed the band NOMA in 1989 and has had a varied and very successful
career as a musician.
Tim White - Organ - Lay It Down
Gavin Wright - Orchestra leader - Miles From Our Home