The Continental Drifters are an American

rock band ''Rock Band'' is a series of rhythm games first released in 2007 and developed by Harmonix. Based on their previous development work from the Guitar Hero, ''Guitar Hero'' series, the main ''Rock Band'' games have players use game controllers mod ...

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, in 1991 and dissolved in

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, about a decade later, before reuniting in the years since. Though the line-up changed several times, at one point the band could be described as a

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supergroup, including as it did

Peter Holsapple Peter Livingston Holsapple (born February 19, 1956) is an American musician who, along with Chris Stamey, formed the dB's, a jangle-pop band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, ...

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and

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History

The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1991, initially consisting of Carlo Nuccio (drums, vocals), Ray Ganucheau (guitars, banjo, vocals), Mark Walton (bass), Gary Eaton (guitars, vocals) and Danny McGough (keyboards). The group gigged regularly at Raji's in LA, and were often joined by Susan Cowsill and Vicki Peterson on backing vocals and guitars, and Peter Holsapple (keyboards, guitars), though these three players were not yet official members. Holsapple was asked to join the band, but initially declined, offering instead to produce the group's debut album. The resulting disc was not released at the time; after it was completed, Holsapple, Cowsill and Peterson all joined the band officially, while McGough dropped out. Led by New Orleans natives Nuccio and Ganucheau, most of the band moved to New Orleans over a span of several months during 1993/94. Eaton was the only member who didn't make the move, and who consequently left the band. However, shortly after the move Ganucheau dropped out, being replaced by Robert Maché. This line up (Nuccio/Walton/Cowsill/Peterson/Holsapple/Maché) recorded the band's first issued album, ''Continental Drifters'', in 1994. Nuccio left the band after the tour for the first album. He was replaced by Russ Broussard, and this line up issued two albums: ''

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'' (1998) and ''Better Day'' (2001). Cowsill and Broussard left the group in early 2002. The remaining players drafted drummer John Maloney and the returning Ganucheau to continue for several gigs. In 2003, the band's unissued debut album was finally released, and a line-up of Eaton, Ganucheau, Nuccio, Holsapple, and Walton played a gig to celebrate. On April 28, 2009, the group reunited for the fifth annual Threadhead Patry in New Orleans, and a show on May 1 at Carrollton Station, playing to a sold-out crowd. In 2015,

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issued a double album retrospective called ''Continental Drifters — Drifted: In The Beginning & Beyond'' which was focused on unreleased and live tracks from the band's long history. In September 2015, the band, including all members from both the Los Angeles era and the later New Orleans manifestations, came together for fundraising concerts in New Orleans and Los Angeles. Founding member Carlo Nuccio died on August 24, 2022. A book about the band and a tribute album ''We Are All Drifters: A Tribute to the Continental Drifters'' were released in September 2024 on the Cool Dog Sound label. The book was written by Sean Kelly, a musician, author, and frequent collaborator of the band. Kelly and Los Angeles-based musician David Jenkins co-produced the tribute album, which features contributions from

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, George Porter, Jr., and Don Dixon, among others.https://cooldogsound.square.site/product/white-noise-lightning-we-are-all-drifters-bundle/49?cs=true&cst=custom

Discography

;Singles *"The Mississippi" b/w "Johnny Oops" (7"/45rpm, 1992, SOL) *"Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway" b/w "Meet On The Ledge" (7"/45rpm, 1997, Black Dog) ;10" *''Listen, Listen'' (CDEP/10", 2001, Blue Rose) ;LPs *''Continental Drifters'' (1994, Monkey Hill/2001,

Razor & Tie Razor & Tie was an American entertainment company that consisted of a record label and a music publishing company. It was established in 1990 by Craig Balsam and Cliff Chenfeld. Based in New York City (with additional offices in Los Angeles and ...

) *''

'' (CD, 1998, Blue Rose/1999,

) *''Better Day'' (CD, 2001,

/Blue Rose) *''Nineteen Ninety-Three'' (CD, recorded 1993/released 2003, Blue Rose) ;Compilations and appearances *"When You Dance, I Can Really Love" (CD, 1995, This Note's for You, Too: A Tribute to Neil Young, Inbetweens) *"I Can't Let Go" (CD, 1995, ''

Sing Hollies in Reverse ''Sing Hollies in Reverse'' is a tribute album of various artists performing songs by British rock group The Hollies. It was released on Eggbert Records in 1995. According to AllMusic reviewer Roch Parisien, the 21 artists represented 1995's then ...

'', Eggbert) *''Drifted: In The Beginning & Beyond ''(CD, released 2015,

) *''White Noise & Lightning: The Best of the Continental Drifters ''(CD, released 2024,

) *''We Are All Drifters: A Tribute to the Continental Drifters ''(CD, released 2024,

Cool Dog Sound Cool commonly refers to: * Cool, a moderately low temperature * Cool (aesthetic), an aesthetic of attitude, behavior, and style Cool or COOL may also refer to: Economics * Country of origin labelling * mCOOL - US consumer legislation to enfor ...

)

Band members

* Mark Walton - Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals * Carlo Nuccio (died 2022) - Drums, Guitar, Vocals * Gary Eaton - Guitar, Vocals * Ray Ganucheau - Guitar, Banjo, Vocals * Dan McGough - Organ, Piano *

- Guitar, Keyboards, Accordion, Mandolin, Vocals *

- Acoustic Guitar, Vocals *

- Guitars, Vocals * Robert Maché - Guitars, Mandolin, Vocals * Russ Broussard - Drums

References

External links

Official site
* {{Authority control Rock music groups from California Rock music groups from Louisiana Musical groups established in 1991 1991 establishments in California