Mark Olson

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Mark Olson (2009)

Mark Olson (born September 18, 1961 in Minneapolis , Minnesota ) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was one of the founding members of the American old-country band " The Jayhawks ", later the "(Original Harmony Ridge) Creekdippers ".

Life

Olson formed the Jayhawks in 1985 with singer and guitarist Gary Louris and was originally the group's lead singer and writer. With Marc Perlman (bass) and Thad Spencer (drums), they released their debut album of the same name in 1986 with the independent publisher Bunkhouse Records. After their album Blue Earth (released in 1987 on the Minneapolis Twin Town label) they signed a contract with Def American . Their first album with Def American in 1992 was the work of George Drakoulias produced Hollywood Town Hall with the successful single Waiting For The Sun . After an extensive tour, the band produced the album Tomorrow The Green Grass in 1995 with the radio hit Blue .

The album features the song Miss Williams' Guitar , a love song written to Olson's girlfriend and later wife, the singer and songwriter Victoria Williams . After the release of Tomorrow The Green Grass , Olson left the band to take care of Victoria Williams, who had multiple sclerosis . The Jayhawks later released three more albums without him before Olson returned to the band as a songwriter and singer / guitarist in November 2010 for the album Mockingbird Time and subsequent global tours in 2011 and 2012. After that, Olson announced his final exit from the band.

Olson and Williams moved to a farm in Joshua Tree , California in the mid-90s and released several albums from 1997 onwards with multi-instrumentalist Mike "Razz" Russell as The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers (later just Creekdippers ). Olson returned to his folk and country roots, the band was later supported by Don Heffington and John Convertino ( Calexico ). In 2000, Mark Olson released the album My Own Jo Ellen under his own name as Mark Olson And The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers ; On the 2002 released "Creekdippers" album December's Child he sings a song with his former Jayhawks colleague Gary Louris. The Creekdippers' Political Manifesto, which was initially only self-published in 2004 , furiously dealt with US politics.

In 2005, Olson and Williams separated, but still undertook a joint European tour with the Creekdippers . In 2007 his first pure solo album The Salvation Blues and the half-hour documentary of the same name by director Ray Foley about the creation and background of the album were released.

In 2008, Olson released the classic singer / songwriter album Ready for the Flood with Gary Louris, his former songwriting partner with the Jayhawks . The album was produced by Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes .

In 2010 Many Colored Kite was released on Rykodisc with the Norwegian singer and multi-instrumentalist Ingunn Ringvold and a duet with Jolie Holland . Extensive tours in the USA and Europe followed, as well as longer stays in Norway, South Africa and Albania.

In September 2014 the Americana / world music / folk album Goodbye Lizelle, recorded in various countries with his wife Ingunn Ringvold, was released on the German label Glitterhouse to very good reviews. The US release followed in February 2015.

Discography

With the Jayhawks

  • The Jayhawks (1986)
  • Blue Earth (1989)
  • Hollywood Town Hall (1992)
  • Tomorrow the Green Grass (1995)
  • Mockingbird Time (2011)

With The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers

  • The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers (1997)
  • Pacific Coast Rambler (1998)
  • Zola And The Tulip Tree (1999)
  • My Own Jo Ellen (2000)
  • December's Child (2002)
  • Mystic Theater (2004)
  • Political Manifesto (2004)

solo

  • The Salvation Blues (2007)
  • Many Colored Kite (2010)
  • Goodbye Lizelle (2014)

With Gary Louris

  • Ready for the Flood (2008)

Web links

This text is based on a translation of the article from the English language Wikipedia, version dated October 8, 2007.

personal data
SURNAME Olson, Mark
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American singer and songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH September 18, 1961
PLACE OF BIRTH Minneapolis , Minnesota