An All-Star Line-Up of Guest 'Buddies' Join Legendary Rock N Roll Pioneers The Crickets On Their First New Album In 8 Years
FEATURED ARTISTS INCLUDE ERIC CLAPTON, WAYLON JENNINGS, GRAHAM NASH, JOHN PRINE, ALBERT LEE AND NANCI GRIFFITH
Prime-time Television Special Also Planned for Fall
LOS ANGELES - April XX, 2004 - The Crickets, the first great rock 'n roll band, have been joined by an all-star line-up of guest artists in their first album in eight years, "The Crickets and Their Buddies," scheduled for release by Sovereign Artists on July 27th. The album features 15 new tracks of the band's classic songs, including "That'll Be The Day," "I Fought The Law" and "Oh Boy," and a legendary "lost" Crickets song, "Someone, Someone," performed by Eric Clapton.
Perhaps only The Crickets could bring together a group of artists that range the musical spectrum from hard rock to country, folk and pop. Besides Clapton, guest "Buddies" contributing to the album are Vince Neil, Bobby Vee, Rodney Crowell, Waylon Jennings (one of his final recordings), Graham Nash, John Prine, Albert Lee, Nanci Griffith, J.D. Souther, Johnny Rivers, Tonio K. & Peter Case and Phil Everly.
The album was recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles by Grammy Award -winning producer/engineer Greg Ladanyi (Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac). The LP will be available on both 5.1 surround sound DVD-A and stereo CD. A live event concert, featuring all of the artists who perform on the CD as well as special guest appearances, is in the works for the Fall to air on primetime television.
In a career spanning over 45 years and millions of records, The Crickets are bon a fide rock 'n roll icons. Since the group's founding in 1957, scores of recording artists have cited the band as primary influences in their careers from Bruce Springsteen and Dylan to the Rolling Stones and The Beatles (whose name, of course, was even Cricket-inspired).
The band was formed in Lubbock, Texas by guitarist and lead vocalists Buddy Holly and drummer J.I. Allison; bassist Joe B. Maudlin would join the band shortly afterward. From the beginning, The Crickets helped define the nascent music form that became known as rock n roll. They were one of the first rock bands to be self-contained - writing, playing, producing and recording their own material.
The original trio toured and recorded until 1958 when Buddy decided to move to New York and begin a solo career. The Crickets retained their name and called upon their old friend Sonny Curtis to join them. (Sonny had played lead guitar and fiddle in early groups with Buddy and J.I.) The first album without Buddy, "In Style With The Crickets," introduced two classic hits, "I Fought The Law" and "More Than I Can Say."
Over the decades, The Crickets toured and recorded together while also pursuing individual careers. Drummer J.I. Allison recorded with The Everly Brothers, Eddie Cochran, Bobby Vee, Johnny Burnette, Johnny Rivers and many others. Rolling Stones magazine's "Book of Lists" calls Allison among the top three rock 'n roll drummers of all time.
Bassist Joe B. Mauldin, also ranked by Rolling Stones magazine as one of the top bassists of all time, became a recording engineer at Gold Star Studios, the legendary Los Angeles hit factory for Phil Spector, Brian Wilson, Herb Albert & The Tijuana Brass, Leon Russell and Maureen McGovern. Also an accomplished writer, he penned The Cricket's "Well All Right," "Last Night" and "I'm Gonna Love You Too."
Lead guitarist and vocalist Sonny Curtis worked on movie sound tracks, recorded commercials and pursued his writing career. He penned The Crickets "I Fought The Law" and "More Than I Can Say," and wrote "Walk Right Back" for the Everly Brothers. Indeed, anyone who has ever seen the "Mary Tyler Show" knows his work; he wrote and sang the theme song "Love Is All Around."
Collectively, The Crickets songs are among the most popular and most recognizable of the modern era. "The Crickets and Their Buddies" promises to introduce, and re-introduce, new generations of fans to their music.
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