Bruce Hornsby

Bruce Randall Hornsby (born November 23, 1954 in Williamsburg, Virginia) is an American singer, virtuoso pianist, accordion player, and songwriter, best known for his 1980s signature song "The Way It Is" and the top five hits "Mandolin Rain" and "The Valley Road". Later in his recording career he moved in a less commercial, more musically challenging direction. However, his live shows have long been marked by a more spontaneous, improvisational approach. In 1984 he formed Bruce Hornsby and the Range, who were signed to RCA Records in 1985. Besides Hornsby, Range members were David Mansfield (guitar, mandolin, violin), George Marinelli (guitars and backing vocals), Joe Puerta (bass guitar and backing vocals), and John Molo (drums). During the 1990s he toured with the Grateful Dead, and released four albums, including "A Night on the Town" (1990) after which he split from The Range. "Harbor Lights" (1993) was his first solo album and signaled Hornsby was moving in a new jazz-influenced direction, whilst retaining elements of rock and pop. Later releases include "Hot House" (1995) and "Spirit Trail" (1998). His experimental album "Big Swing Face" (2002) attracted much criticism as it veered away from his piano-based style. Despite these criticisms, he returned with his next studio album, shrugging off RCA and signing to Sony Music Entertainment. "Halcyon Days", released in 2004, saw a return to the piano as the key instrument; this album also became the premise for his world tour the same year. Hornsby continues to tour with his live band "The Noisemakers", in addition to solo shows and his progressive bluegrass performances with Ricky Skaggs. He has recently finished the recording of his new CD "Camp Meeting", his first total jazz album which involved jazz giants, Jack DeJohnette and Christian McBride, whom he is making live appearances with throughout 2007.