26-06-2019, 19:55
Rindy Ross was born on this day in 1951 in Portland, Oregon. She and Marv Ross met while studying at university, started playing gigs together, got married and formed a mysteriously little known band named Quarterflash. They sold over a million copies of their self-titled debut album in 1981 and then just disappeared off the radar, despite the fact that they seem to have been continuously touring and releasing albums when possible – 6 altogether, in 22 years. I guess that IS somewhat staggered! Lol!
Mrs Ross was the lead vocalist as well as (most unusually), the saxophonist, while Mr was the guitarist and songwriter/composer/arranger. I have that debut album, and listening to their stuff again now, wonder why they weren’t more popular?! Hmmm. Maybe the second album sunk them, or perhaps it didn't follow hot enough on the heels of the first – sure there are plenty others like this, who just never got their heads above water. Yep – that’s what it was – in 1985, their third album (not second) sat stagnant at 150 in Billboard and the record company dropped them like a hot potato, after which they disbanded until reuniting in 1990. Their time had passed, however, and they never regained their original traction (as Quarterflash, at any rate). Kinda sad - Rindy Ross has a more than decent voice and she can certainly wield a sax, and hubby isn’t too shabby on guitars.
They did, however, found The Trail Band at the behest of the Oregon Trail Advisory Council to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Oregon Trail; something of a departure from the pop/rock arena, and it obviously worked for them. This is from the Ross’s Quarterflash website - http://quarterflash.net/about.html - In 1991 they formed Ross Productions to create music for NW audiences. Their first project was a commission from the state of Oregon to produce a musical based on diaries of immigrants on the Oregon Trail. From that project came The Trail Band and nine CDs of traditional Americana music. Also, the Rosses gained a deep interest in Native American music and Marv began to write his second play, "The Ghosts of Celilo" - a Broadway-styled musical featuring Native American music and culture. "Ghosts" was presented in October 2007 by Artists Repertory Theatre at The Portland Center for the Performing Arts to rave reviews and 13 sold-out performances.
Seems as though they’ve fairly recently played their final live concerts as both Quarterflash and The Trail Band … they have had long careers performing music that they obviously love – how could a working lifetime be any more fulfilling?
The big one – “Harden My Heart” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeKV2UYq1Q
An example of The Trail Band’s output – haven’t heard enough of them to make an educated choice so this is random … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I_MqinYs2c
“Williams Avenue” which is my preferred choice, from the Quarterflash debut …
Mrs Ross was the lead vocalist as well as (most unusually), the saxophonist, while Mr was the guitarist and songwriter/composer/arranger. I have that debut album, and listening to their stuff again now, wonder why they weren’t more popular?! Hmmm. Maybe the second album sunk them, or perhaps it didn't follow hot enough on the heels of the first – sure there are plenty others like this, who just never got their heads above water. Yep – that’s what it was – in 1985, their third album (not second) sat stagnant at 150 in Billboard and the record company dropped them like a hot potato, after which they disbanded until reuniting in 1990. Their time had passed, however, and they never regained their original traction (as Quarterflash, at any rate). Kinda sad - Rindy Ross has a more than decent voice and she can certainly wield a sax, and hubby isn’t too shabby on guitars.
They did, however, found The Trail Band at the behest of the Oregon Trail Advisory Council to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Oregon Trail; something of a departure from the pop/rock arena, and it obviously worked for them. This is from the Ross’s Quarterflash website - http://quarterflash.net/about.html - In 1991 they formed Ross Productions to create music for NW audiences. Their first project was a commission from the state of Oregon to produce a musical based on diaries of immigrants on the Oregon Trail. From that project came The Trail Band and nine CDs of traditional Americana music. Also, the Rosses gained a deep interest in Native American music and Marv began to write his second play, "The Ghosts of Celilo" - a Broadway-styled musical featuring Native American music and culture. "Ghosts" was presented in October 2007 by Artists Repertory Theatre at The Portland Center for the Performing Arts to rave reviews and 13 sold-out performances.
Seems as though they’ve fairly recently played their final live concerts as both Quarterflash and The Trail Band … they have had long careers performing music that they obviously love – how could a working lifetime be any more fulfilling?
The big one – “Harden My Heart” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeKV2UYq1Q
An example of The Trail Band’s output – haven’t heard enough of them to make an educated choice so this is random … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I_MqinYs2c
“Williams Avenue” which is my preferred choice, from the Quarterflash debut …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson