Goose Creek Symphony

Goose Creek Symphony originally found its roots in the Phoenix, Arizona area as a countrified side project for <a href="spotify:artist:4JNrFjFEmDsJXTnLK5azBy">Richie Hart & the Heart Beats</a>. Vocalist and guitarist Charles Gearheart (aka Richie Hart) spent his childhood "up Goose Creek Hollow" in Floyd County, Kentucky, and when he put together his good-time country-rock group, he drew upon his home's rich musical heritage as well as its name. In 1970, Gearheart and a group of local studio musicians assembled a handful of songs and presented them to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Capitol+Records%22">Capitol Records</a>. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Capitol%22">Capitol</a> signed his project, forcing Gearheart to assemble a touring group. Banjo player and fiddler Fred Weisz was brought in to complement existing guitarists <a href="spotify:artist:7BXsGK4Gpk7FSPJ4G8L1TT">Paul Spradlin</a> (listed as "Paul Howard" on the album), Bob Henke ("Williard"), Mike McFadden (following the breakup of his psychedelic group <a href="spotify:artist:1pMl89vjEX4G7XVIA68imh">Superfine Dandelion</a>), as well as a rotating cast of bassists and drummers.

With a sound very similar to what <a href="spotify:artist:4vpDg7Y7fU982Ds30zawDA">the Band</a> was doing at the same time, Goose Creek Symphony were rock & rollers who played a very faithful brand of country music, all the while layering rhythms and harmonies along the same lines as <a href="spotify:artist:3eskO5m0H4yiF64vRySBjr">Buffalo Springfield</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4TMHGUX5WI7OOm53PqSDAT">the Grateful Dead</a>. They released albums through the mid-'70s, with that streak ending in a long hiatus from 1976 to 1990, when the group decided to re-form and record again.

Their marriage of earthy instrumentation and easygoing vibes has given the group a certain longevity. Into their third decade, Goose Creek Symphony is drawing strong numbers of fans to their summer festival appearances, similar to what <a href="spotify:artist:4TMHGUX5WI7OOm53PqSDAT">the Dead</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:28AyklUmMECPwdfo8NEsV0">Jimmy Buffett</a> have known. Original Goose Creek Symphony drummer Mickey McGee died on July 20, 2020 at the age of 72 due to complications from the COVID-19 virus. ~ Zac Johnson, Rovi