John Ware (musician)

For other uses, see John Ware (disambiguation).
John Ware
Birth nameJohn A. Ware
Born (1944-05-02) May 2, 1944 (age 80)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
GenresCountry music, country rock
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums
Websitewww.johnaware.com

John A. Ware (born May 2, 1944 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session and live performance work.

Biography

Early years

Ware was born in Tulsa but grew up in Oklahoma City. As a child, he first had piano lessons and then drum lessons. By age 14, he was playing with local bands, and at age 16, he met Jesse Ed Davis.[1] In 1961, Ware and Davis attended every Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks gig they could get into, with Ware paying special attention to drummer Levon Helm.[2]

West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

In 1965, Ware was playing in the band Laughing Wind, along with Danny Harris (guitar), Shaun Harris (bass), and Michael Lloyd (guitar)[3] and they joined up with attorney Bob Markley, who renamed them the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band.[4] Ware was a member of the band from 1966 to 1968.[5]

The Corvettes and Linda Ronstadt

Ware was a member of the Corvettes, a band which also included Chris Darrow (guitar, vocals), Jeff Hanna (guitar, vocals), John London (bass), and Bernie Leadon (guitar, vocals).[6] They recorded only two 45 singles on the Dot label, both produced by Michael Nesmith.[7] Linda Ronstadt recruited the Corvettes to be the second version of her touring band Stone Poneys.[8]

Michael Nesmith and the First National Band

During his time with the Stone Poneys, Ware became friends with Michael Nesmith who wrote Ronstadt's hit single, "Different Drum". As Nesmith's contract with The Monkees came to an end, it was Ware's idea that they should form the First National Band, with Ware, London, Nesmith, and Red Rhodes (pedal steel guitar).[9][10] The First National Band recorded three albums in a year's span, but couldn't stay together after that. They did generate a radio hit record in that short time, "Joanne".[11]

Ware also participated in the 1977 concert that was recorded for Nesmith's Live at the Palais album, released in 1978.

Emmylou Harris and The Hot Band

After the First National Band broke up, Ware spent time as a session drummer in California and doing some touring with John Stewart, Hoyt Axton, and Ian Matthews. In 1973, after being contacted by Kenny Edwards from the original Stone Poneys, he once again drummed with Linda Ronstadt.[12]

In 1975, Ware was contacted by manager Eddie Tickner, and he became a member of Emmylou Harris' Hot Band, along with Glen D Hardin, James Burton, Hank Devito, Emory Gordy, Jr., and Rodney Crowell. Ware played with Harris until 1982.[11][13]

In 2004, the original Hot Band (including Ware) was reunited for one night in Nashville when ASCAP presented Harris with the Founders Award.[14]

In 2013, Harris and Rodney Crowell recorded an album of duets, Old Yellow Moon. Ware was one of the supporting musicians, as were other Hot Band alumni (DeVito, Burton, Hardin, and Gordy).[15][16]

Wild Mountain

For a few months in 2017 Ware was a member of Wild Mountain in Denver, an Irish music / bluegrass band. Other members include Dave Sweeney (bass), Renee Fine (violin), Mike Nile (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Sarah Jones (vocals, percussion), and David Potter (guitar, banjo, vocals).[17]

Discography

As a member of the First National Band

  • 1970: Loose Salute (RCA Victor)
  • 1970: Magnetic South (RCA Victor)
  • 1971: Nevada Fighter (RCA Victor)

With Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band

As a member of Wild Mountain

  • 2017: Wild Mountain - Greengrass (self-released)

As producer

Also appears on

References

  1. ^ Harris, Craig (2016). Heartbeat, Warble, and the Electric Powwow: American Indian Music (1 ed.). University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806151687. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  2. ^ Richard Selinkoff (March 26, 2016). "Preface & John Ware (to 1967)". Name Dropping. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  3. ^ Dave Stephens (15 May 2017). "The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band". Toppermost. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  4. ^ Bruno Ceriotti (December 3, 2010). "West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band Family Tree & Shows List". Rock Prosopography 102. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  5. ^ Mark Deming. "The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band: Biography". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  6. ^ Vaughan, Andrew (Dec 12, 2014). The Eagles FAQ: All That's Left to Know about Classic Rock's Superstars (1 ed.). Backbeat Books. ISBN 9781480385412. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  7. ^ "Early Country Rock". Office Naps. September 6, 2010. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  8. ^ uncredited (November 1, 1968). "Gypsy Eyes". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  9. ^ "Six Degrees of Monkees". monkeeTV. August 6, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  10. ^ Einarson, John (2001). Desperados: The Roots of Country Rock (1 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780815410652. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Brian T. Marchese (April 30, 2012). "Interview with John Ware (yes, THAT John Ware)". Where's That Sound Coming From. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  12. ^ Richard Selinkoff (March 26, 2016). "John Ware 1971-1975". Name Dropping. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  13. ^ Erlewine, Michael (1997). All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country (1 ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879304751. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  14. ^ Shelburne, Craig (November 9, 2004). "Harris' Original Hot Band Reunited at ASCAP Awards". CMT News. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  15. ^ Parrish, Randall (April 11, 2013). "Essentials: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell 'Old Yellow Moon'". Vivascene. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  16. ^ Minkin, Jay (February 13, 2013). "Richard Thompson , Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell are Record Magic". No Depression. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  17. ^ "Wild Mountain getting better and better". DenverCeltic Music. October 2, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  18. ^ "Steve Gillette: Vocals, Guitar". About The Man. July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  19. ^ Sanders, Ed (Dec 13, 2011). Fug You: An Informal History of the Peace Eye Bookstore, the Fuck You Press, the Fugs, and Counterculture in the Lower East Side (1 ed.). Hachette Books. ISBN 9780306818882. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  20. ^ Cash, Rosanne (Aug 10, 2010). Composed: A Memoir (1 ed.). Penguin. ISBN 9781101457696. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  21. ^ Watts, Derek (April 18, 2008). Country Boy: A Biography of Albert Lee (1 ed.). McFarland. ISBN 9780786482955. Retrieved July 13, 2017.