Cuff the Duke is a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

alt-country Alternative country, or alternative country rock (sometimes alt-country, insurgent country, Americana, or y'allternative), is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that differ significantly in style ...

band from Oshawa,

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

. They play a blend of traditional

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...

and

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Folk Plus or Fo ...

music with

indie rock Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the music they produc ...

influences.

History

Cuff the Duke formed in Oshawa, drawing their name from a shirt purchased by front-man Wayne Petti at a secondhand shop. Starting as a duo consisting of Petti and Jeff Peers, the band later expanded to include bass player Paul Lowman and drummer Brad Fudge. In 2002 they released their first album, '' Life Stories for Minimum Wage'' on

Three Gut Records Three Gut Records was a Guelph, Ontario, Canada based independent record label. It was founded in 1999 by Lisa Moran and Tyler Clark Burke as a vehicle for releasing albums by their friends; it became an influential player in Canadian music with ...

. They spent the next few years touring with Hayden, acting as his backing band. In 2005 they released their second album, '' Cuff the Duke'' on

Hardwood Records Hardwood Records is a Canadian independent record label, owned and operated by singer-songwriter Hayden.

. The line-up for Cuff the Duke has evolved, with the consistent members thus far being Wayne Petti and Paul Lowman. With Dale Murray now in Cuff the Duke, the band has taken on a more polished tone, due to his pedal steel and guitar playing. Patrick Conan (who temporarily filled in for Matt Faris who has been side-lined from playing live due to wrist surgery) has been a steady drummer and has filled Matt Faris' shoes well. Paul Aucoin of the Hylozoists also occasionally performs live with Cuff the Duke playing vibraphone, glockenspiel and percussion. Paul also produced Cuff the Duke's self-titled album in 2005. Since June 2007, Corey Wood has taken on the role of Cuff the Duke's drummer, and is now an official member of the band. Cuff the Duke utilizes a wide range of instruments, of these the more notable instruments are bells, Moog synthesizers, wind organs, Hammond organs and

lap steel The lap steel guitar, also known as a Hawaiian guitar, is a type of steel guitar without pedals that is typically played with the instrument in a horizontal position across the performer's lap. Unlike the usual manner of playing a traditional a ...

. On March 16, 2007 a Cuff the Duke recording was released on '' The Secret Sessions'', a tribute album to the

Rheostatics Rheostatics are a Canadian indie rock band. They were formed in 1978, and actively performed from 1980 until disbanding in 2007. After a number of reunion performances at special events, Rheostatics reformed in late 2016, introducing new songs a ...

. The band recorded a version of "Claire", which was originally released on the Rheostatics' ''

Introducing Happiness ''Introducing Happiness'' is the fifth studio album by Rheostatics, released in 1994 on Sire Records. Produced by Michael Phillip Wojewoda, the album was recorded at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas.Tom Harrison, "A musical banquet moves on ...

''. ''The Secret Sessions'' is available from Canadian digital indie label Zunior. On October 23, 2007 Cuff the Duke's album '' Sidelines of the City'' was released. Following the tour to support their 2012 album ''

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

'', the band effectively took a hiatus for several years. They returned in 2018 with a vinyl reissue of their debut album, supported by select concert dates, and announced in early 2019 that they had begun work on a new album."Cuff the Duke reunites, ready to crank it up at the Rivoli"
''

Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and pa ...

'', January 8, 2019. Petti and Murray have also released solo albums. On April 22, 2008 Cuff the Duke performed with

Greg Keelor James Gregory Keelor, (born Francis McIntyre, August 29, 1954) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the band Blue Rodeo, where he shares song writing and vocal duties with Jim Cuddy. Keelor has also rel ...

of Blue Rodeo at a taping of the

CBC Radio CBC Radio is the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which (regardless of language) are outlined below ...

show '' Fuse'' at CBC's Studio 40 in Ottawa. On September 8, 2009 they released the album ''Way Down Here'', which was produced by Keelor.

Band members

Current members

* Wayne Petti – vocals, guitars, keyboards, harmonica, bass (2001–present) * Paul Lowman – bass, fiddle, keyboards, backing vocals, mandolin, guitars, lap steel (2001–present) *François Turenne - guitars, keyboards, backing vocals (2009–present) *AJ Johnson - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2011–present) *Thom Hammerton - keyboards (2011–present)

Past members

*Jeff Peers – guitar, keyboards, percussion (2001–2005) *Brad Fudge – drums, percussion (2001–2003) *Steve Krecklo – lead guitar, lap steel, keyboards, organ, percussion, backing vocals (2002, for ''Life Stories for Minimum Wage'') *Matt Faris – drums, percussion (2003–2006) *Dale Murray – guitar, pedal steel, backing vocals (2005–2011) *Patrick Conan – live drums, percussion (2006) *Paul Aucoin – live keyboards, percussion (2005–2006) *Christopher Sandes – live keyboards (2007–2008) *Corey Wood – drums, percussion (2006-2010) *Jordan Howard - lead guitar (live) (2012)

Discography

Albums

*'' Life Stories for Minimum Wage'' (2002 on

, re-released 2007 on Outside Music) *'' Cuff the Duke'' (2005 on Hardwood Records) *'' Sidelines of the City'' (2007 on Hardwood Records) *'' Way Down Here'' (September 8, 2009 on Noble Recording Co.) *'' Morning Comes'' (October 4, 2011 on

Paper Bag Records Paper Bag Records is a Canadian independent record label, artist-management company, and music publisher founded in 2002 and based in Toronto. History The label was created to focus on the Toronto-area indie rock music scene. Initial signing ...

) *''

'' (October 2, 2012 on

)

EPs

*'' In Our Time'' (April 12, 2012 on

) *''In Our Time, Part II'' (2013)

Non-album tracks

*"Deciding on Luther" (''Life Stories for Minimum Wage'' outtake) *" Words (between the lines of age)" ('' Borrowed Tunes II: A Tribute to Neil Young'', 2007) *"Claire" ('' The Secret Sessions'', 2007) *"North Window" ('' Have Not Been the Same, Vol. 1: Too Cool to Live, Too Smart to Die'', 2011) *" Star" (''Paper Bag Records vs. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'', 2012)

References

External links

Cuff the Duke
{{Authority control Musical groups established in 2001 Canadian indie rock groups Canadian alternative country groups Musical groups from Oshawa Paper Bag Records artists 2001 establishments in Ontario Canadian country rock groups