Ryan Hedgecock
Ryan Hedgecock | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Rattlesnake Daddy |
| Born | 02/27/61 Los Angeles, CA |
| Years active | 1982-present |
| Associated acts | Bedrock, Lone Justice, Joan Osborne, Parlor James, Rattlesnake Daddy |
Ryan Hedgecock is an American musician, song writer and producer. He was founder or co-founder of these bands: Bedrock, Lone Justice, Parlor James and Rattlesnake Daddy.
Birth and early years[edit]
Ryan Hedgecock was born in Los Angeles, raised in Torrance, CA to Richard and Rosemary Hedgecock. After high schol, while working at his family's furniture business, he started his first band, Bedrock after seeing The Blasters open for the British Rockabilly band, Levi and the Rockats. Their first live show was on New Years Eve, December 31, 1980 at Cathay de Grande. During this time and through the beginning of 1982 Hedgecock is heavily influenced by both Country music, Rockabilly and the rise of the live Punk rock scene in LA.
Lone Justice period[edit]
In early 1982, Hedgecock meets Brian MacLean and his step-sister Maria McKee at Bit of New York, where Bedrock was performing. Shortly thereafter, Ryan reconnected with Maria during a rockabilly jam session at Angelo's Drive in. During this period he also reconnects with musician Marvin Etzioni from the band The Model, who was running an acoustic stage upstairs from Cathay De Grande. Hedgecock and McKee initially perform as a cover band doing George Jones and Hank Williams songs. Etzioni suggests that they might want to perform more original music. After working, writing and performing together they add Dave Harrington on bass and Don Willens from Bedrock on drums to complete the band. This was the original line-up for Lone Justice. It is also during this period that the band records a number of demo tapes that Etzioni produces. One notable tape they record in 1983 is later remastered and released in 2018 as, Lone Justice, the Western Tapes. In the summer of 1983 Etzioni joins the band replacing Harrington on bass and was with the band when they tour with Rank and File. In the fall of 1983 Don Heffington replaces Willens on drums. In the winter of that year Lone Justice signs a recording contract with Geffen Records. Jimmy Iovine signs on as Producer. Amidst a steadily growing press [1][2] the band continues to perform live gigs and record their music throughout 1984, releasing their first album, Lone Justice, in April, 1985. The release is followed by tours with Tom Petty and with U2. After these tours they return to the studio to work on a second album - Shelter - which is released in November, 1986. Etzioni and Heffington have already left the band after the first album and Hedgecock leaves the band before the release of Shelter. After leaving Lone Justice, Ryan formed several all-original bands and released his debut solo album, Echo Park. In 1989 Hedgecock moves to New York City.
New York period[edit]
After arriving in New York, Hedgecock goes about making new musical connections. He worked with Joan Osborne in 1994, right before her signing with Mercury records and the release of her album Relish in 1995. During 1994 he meets Amy Allison at the Mercury Lounge. The two put together the band, Parlor James, a vocal harmony duo that revamped classic folk and country balladry with a dark edge. In 1996 they signed with Discovery Records. They release the EP Dreadful Sorry that year followed by a full-length album, Old Dreams, in 1998 on Sire Records. These two efforts are well received (citations). Despite the success of Parlor James, Hedgecock decides to return to LA in late 1999.
Return to LA[edit]
Upon returning to L.A., Ryan makes the record Midnight Swim, with Don Heffington as Producer. In 2010, taking a cue from the Trip Hop movement of the late 90’s, he adopted the persona of Rattlesnake Daddy to combine roots music elements with cutting edge technology: “It was my goal to take samplers, electric guitars and massive powered speakers and use them in a band setting that could break down the wall between artist and audience.
2020[edit]
Ryan is currently recording a country album with Lone Justice partner and longtime friend Marvin Etzioni. He is also delving into his archives to release unheard tunes from earlier projects. Live, Rattlesnake Daddy has recently re-emerged in the thriving South Central Blues scene.
“At heart, I’m a folk musician,” he says. “I’m not a purist, though – I use whatever is available and re-interpret the sounds the way I feel them". For Ryan Hedgecock, the hunt goes on wherever the music leads him.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Lone Justice press hype". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Phil Alvin talks about Lone Justice". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
This article "Ryan Hedgecock" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Ryan Hedgecock. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
