Souther Hillman Furay Band

The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band was a country rock supergroup led by singer-songwriters Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco), Chris Hillman (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas), and J.D. Souther (Longbranch Pennywhistle). The band was formed in 1973 upon the request of David Geffen, then head of Asylum Records. Hillman brought three other ex-members of Manassas to the group: pianist Paul Harris, percussionist Joe Lala (both of who had also worked with Barnstorm) and pedal steel guitarist Al Perkins (who had also played with the Flying Burrito Brothers). The septet was rounded out by superstar drummer Jim Gordon. They released two albums and had a substantial hit with the 1974 self-titled first album and the single "Fallin' in Love" (US #27). However, after the first album, Perkins, who was an evangelical fundamentalist Christian, converted Furay to fundamentalism. Tensions between the members increased, Gordon left the band and was replaced by Ron Grinel, and Souther and Hillman formed the satiric "Heathen Defense League" in reaction to the efforts by Furay and Perkins to save them. In the midst of this chaos, 1975's Trouble in Paradise was not well received among critics. Soon after, the group disbanded and its namesake members continued on their solo careers.