Chesapeake (band)

Last updated
Chesapeake
Origin Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Genres Folk, folk rock, progressive bluegrass
Years active1994–1999
Labels Sugar Hill
Past members Jimmy Gaudreau
Mike Auldridge
T. Michael Coleman
Moondi Klein

Chesapeake was an American bluegrass band formed in 1994 in Bethesda, Maryland as a direct offshoot from The Seldom Scene. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Mike Auldridge, T. Michael Coleman, and Moondi Klein, who played together in Seldom Scene in the mid '90's didn't feel satisfied with the way John Duffey led the group with only occasional playing and keeping their day jobs. All of them wanted to play more seriously and started to play outside the Seldom Scene. The three formed Chesapeake along with Jimmy Gaudreau, mandolinist of the Tony Rice Unit. This occurred in mid to late 1994, after the release of their last album with the Seldom Scene, "Like We Used to Be". Chesapeake stayed together for five years and then disbanded; Mike Auldridge to pursue his own solo music, while Jimmy Gaudreau and Moondi Klein continued to play together as a duo. [3]

Music style

Chesapeake's music style cannot be clearly defined, as it is a blend of bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, folk, folk-rock, country, rock and more. Folk songwriters such as Tom Paxton and Steve Gillette influenced their music as well as rock performers such as Van Morrison and Little Feat. Their music was strongly led by Dobro and mandolin with Auldridge adding lap steel and pedal steel guitar to their arrangements. Later on the band added more percussion to their music.

Members

with

Discography

During the short time the group was together (1994–1999), they released 3 studio albums. A compilation of live recordings was released in 2014.

Related Research Articles

The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band that formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland. The band's original line-up comprised John Starling on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom Gray on double bass, and John Duffey on mandolin; the latter three also provided backing vocals. Together they released their debut studio album, Act I, in 1972, followed by both Act II and Act III in 1973.

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Dream Scene is an album by the progressive bluegrass Maryland band The Seldom Scene. There were several personnel changes in the group after the unsuccessful comeback with John Starling. Mike Auldridge, Moondi Klein, and T. Michael Coleman left the group to form progressive band Chesapeake. Duffey and Eldridge recruited guitarist/singer Dudley Connell, dobroist Fred Travers and bass player Ronnie Simpkins to continue with the group. This album would be the last for John Duffey who died late in 1996.

<i>Rising Tide</i> (Chesapeake album) 1994 studio album by Chesapeake

Rising Tide is a debut album by the progressive bluegrass band Chesapeake.

<i>Full Sail</i> (Chesapeake album) 1996 studio album by Chesapeake

Full Sail is a second album by the progressive bluegrass band Chesapeake. The band combines folk, pop and country music on this album and most of the tracks include also drums, played by Pat McInerney.

<i>Pier Pressure</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Chesapeake

Pier Pressure is the third and final album by the progressive bluegrass band Chesapeake. It is marked by more original material by the group members - four songs by bassist Coleman as well as one by guitarist Klein.

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Mike Auldridge discography

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T. Michael Coleman Musical artist

Thomas Michael Coleman is an American bass player of bluegrass and folk music. He is best known for work with Doc Watson and the Seldom Scene.

Lawrence Parker "Moondi" Klein is an American singer and guitarist. He is known for his work with Chesapeake, The Seldom Scene, and Jimmy Gaudreau.

Rickie Simpkins American singer-songwriter

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p45112/biography Chesapeake bio (retrieved Feb 2010)
  2. ↑ "Chesapeake Music Band". Archived from the original on 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2010-02-15. Band bio (retrieved Feb 2010)
  3. ↑ "Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein: Welcome". www.jimmyandmoondi.com. Archived from the original on 2008-03-31.
  4. ↑ "Chesapeake: Hook, Live & Sinker". Bluegrass Unlimited. September 1, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
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