The Rainmakers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | 1983–1990, 1994–1998, 2011–present |
| Labels | Polygram |
| Members | Bob Walkenhorst Rich Ruth Pat Tomek Jeff Porter |
| Past members | Steve Phillips Michael Bliss |
| Website | www.rainmakers.com |
The Rainmakers are a Kansas City, Missouri-based original rock band, fronted by Bob Walkenhorst, which had a small string of hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the United States and Europe, especially Norway.
The Rainmakers were formed in 1983 as a three-piece bar band called Steve, Bob and Rich. They released one album, Balls, under this name. The addition of drummer Pat Tomek allowed Walkenhorst to switch to guitar and assume the role of frontman. The band changed their name to The Rainmakers when they were signed to PolyGram by A&R man Peter Lubin.
The band's self-titled 1986 debut album received good reviews in the U.S. entertainment media ( Newsweek magazine dubbed it "the most auspicious debut album of the year") and reached No. 87 on the U.S. Billboard album chart. The band made a fan of horror author Stephen King, who quoted the band's lyrics in his novels The Tommyknockers and Gerald's Game . [1] The album, however, achieved its greatest commercial success overseas. In the United Kingdom, the single "Let My People Go–Go" (a song based on the American Negro spiritual anthem "Go Down Moses") broke into the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. [1] [2]
Their follow-up album, 1987's Tornado , peaked at #116 on the U.S. chart. [3] The Rainmakers released one more studio album, 1989's The Good News and The Bad News, and one live album, 1990's Oslo-Wichita Live, which were successful in Europe, but did not chart in the U.S.. The band broke up after the release of the live album, which was only issued in Europe.
Scandinavian interest in their music remained high, and they reformed and released a new album, Flirting with the Universe, in 1994. The album achieved the equivalent of gold record status in Norway in one month. [1] Ruth left the band and was replaced by new bassist Michael Bliss, and one more album, Skin, followed in 1996. The band issued one further track in 1998, a collaboration with Brewer & Shipley in a new version of "One Toke Over the Line", before they broke up again.
In 2011, the Rainmakers reformed, with bassist Rich Ruth returning to the group in place of Bliss, while longtime guitarist Steve Phillips was replaced by Jeff Porter. On March 5, the band was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, with a ceremony and concert at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas. [4] The following week, the band's album 25 on was released on March 14. At the end of March, the band returned to Norway for a two-week tour. The band played two shows (May 14–15) at Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City. [5]
In 2014, the Rainmakers released the album Monster Movie . In June the same year, they performed at the Sweden Rock Festival. [6]
In 2015 they released the album Cover Band.
Former members
The Rainmakers have released eight studio albums, two live albums and a compilation album.
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This is a discography for Kansas City–based rock band The Rainmakers.
Bob Walkenhorst is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and painter, based in Kansas City. After growing up in his hometown of Norborne, Missouri, he became a founding member of the popular Midwestern U.S. roots rock band The Rainmakers. In the Kansas City area, he currently gives weekly performances and participates in art gallery shows. For some shows, he is joined by his daughter Una.
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The Rainmakers is the debut album by the Rainmakers, produced by Terry Manning and released in 1986. It is their highest-charting album on the Billboard albums chart, reaching No. 85, and contains the single "Let My People Go-Go", which reached No. 18 on the UK Singles Chart.
Tornado is the second studio album by the American band the Rainmakers, released in 1987. It reached No. 116 on the Billboard 200. The band supported the album with a North American tour. "The Lakeview Man" is about a Vietnam veteran.
The Good News and the Bad News is the third studio album by the American band the Rainmakers, released in 1989. "Spend It on Love" was released as a single. The band supported the album by touring with the Doobie Brothers.
Flirting with the Universe is the fourth studio album by The Rainmakers, released in 1994. The album achieved the equivalent of gold record status in Norway in one month, and also peaked at #12 on the Norwegian album chart.
25 on is the sixth studio album by The Rainmakers, released in on March 14, 2011.
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