The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers were an

Americana Americana may refer to: *Americana (music), a genre or style of American music *Americana (culture), artifacts of the culture of the United States Film, radio and television * ''Americana'' (1992 TV series), a documentary series presented by J ...

group formed by songwriter Mark Olson and his wife,

Victoria Williams Victoria Williams (born December 23, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, United States, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. Diagnosed with multi ...

, after Olson left his previous band, the Jayhawks. The group has also been called Rolling Creekdippers as well as just Creekdippers.Mark Olson: The goods on the creekdippin' Jayhawk
, Nude as the News, retrieved 2007-10-06. For their first three albums, the band consisted mostly of Olson, Williams and multi-instrumentalist Mike "Razz" Russell, with drummers

Don Heffington Don Heffington (December 20, 1950March 24, 2021) was an American drummer, percussionist, and songwriter. He was a founding member of the Los Angeles alternative country band Lone Justice, which he performed with from 1982 to 1985. Heffington was ...

and

John Convertino Calexico is a Tucson, Arizona-based Americana, Tex-Mex, indie rock band. The band's two main members, Joey Burns and John Convertino, first played together in Los Angeles as part of the group Giant Sand. They have recorded a number of albums on Q ...

. These were all recorded at the couple's home in

Joshua Tree, California Joshua Tree is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Bernardino County, California, San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2010 census. At approximately above sea level, Joshua Tree and its surrounding c ...

, and were distributed by mail order, with little touring to support them. In 2000 the group picked up touring multi-instrumentalists Joshua Grange and David Wolfenberger as well as long-time Creekdipper "Razz" Russell, dropped "Original Harmony Ridge" from the name and began a two-continent touring schedule in support of three full band recordings: '' My Own Jo Ellen'', ''

December's Child ''December's Child'' is the fifth album from The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers released in 2002. Reception Writing for Allmusic, music critic Steve Kurutz praised the album's "minimalist approach" and wrote "Whether singing about around-th ...

'' and '' Mystic Theatre'', which featured the touring quintet along with

Greg Leisz Gregory Brian Leisz ( ; born September 18, 1949) is an American musician. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. He plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, lap steel and pedal steel guitar. Biography Leisz grew up in the garage band cu ...

, Danny Frankel,

, and Jon Birdsong. ''

'' included a duet by Olson and former Jayhawks bandmate

Gary Louris Gary Louris (born March 10, 1955) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter of alternative country and pop music. He was a founding member of the Minneapolis-based band the Jayhawks and their principal songwriter and vocalist after the ...

. Olson and the Creekdippers have toured in several different combinations without Williams, Grange and Wolfenberger but with drummer

Ray Woods Ray James Woods (February 2, 1895 – October 1965) was an American college basketball standout for Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball, Illinois in the 1910s. A guard (basketball), guard, Woods helped lead the Fighting Illini to two Big Ten ...

and Russell. In 2004 Olson and Louris reunited for a tour with Woods and Russell. The Creekdippers issued their final recording in 2004. Olson and Williams divorced in 2006 which also led to the dissolution of their musical partnership.NOW Magazine. August 10-15, 2006.
Accessed June 28, 2011.

Discography

Albums

*'' The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers'' (1997) *'' Pacific Coast Rambler'' (1998) *'' Zola and the Tulip Tree'' (1999) *'' My Own Jo Ellen'' (2000) *''

'' (2002) *'' Mystic Theatre'' (2004) *'' Political Manifest'' (2004)

Other contributions

*"In My Hour of Darkness" on '' Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons'' (1999)

References

External links

* American alternative country groups Musical groups established in 1995 {{US-country-band-stub