{"id":84,"date":"2021-11-01T02:26:17","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T02:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/?page_id=84"},"modified":"2021-11-01T02:26:17","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T02:26:17","slug":"origins-the-evolving-band-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rufuskrisp.com\/index.php\/origins-the-evolving-band-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Origins: The evolving band story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Righteous Bluegrass Band to Rufus Krisp to Gone Johnson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RUFUS KRISP&nbsp;\u2014 THE ORIGINS!<\/strong><br>This is a story of a band in three parts, the centerpiece <em><strong>Rufus Krisp<\/strong><\/em>, bookended by its first iteration the <em><strong>Righteous Bluegrass Band<\/strong><\/em> and followed by <em><strong>Gone Johnson<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<br>Well this whole story actually commences in 1970 Boulder, Colorado at the <strong>Hungry Farmer<\/strong> Restaurant, a corny barn-motif eatery with free peanuts, sumptuous burgers, bottomless fries, \u201cfresh\u201d icy Coors on tap, haybales and poor wait staff in red-checkered hayseed flannels, bib overalls and red neck (redneck?) scarves \u2014 exactly out-of-touch with the 1970\u2019s rapidly hippying population. &nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nearly every Thursday night a Denver FM radio rock DJ <strong>Michael Aisner<\/strong> and buddy <strong>\u201cBud&#8221; Leonard<\/strong> made a weekly sojourn to the<strong> Hungry Farmer<\/strong> in a &#8217;31 Chevy to watch old silent films. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/hungry_farmer_restaurant-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-155\" width=\"1039\" height=\"577\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>And damnit<\/em><\/strong> if in the middle of the best part of a <strong>Buster Keaton<\/strong> tear-jerker they didn&#8217;t shut off the film projector and some guys with instruments started setting up. \u00a0WHAT, is nothing sacred? \u00a0Save for the fact that Mike and Bud were only a few bites in, they would have split in protest. But&#8230; only a few bars of Dixie Breakdown and they were tapping and clapping for the rest of the night \u2014 the <strong>Righteous Bluegrass Band<\/strong> \u2014 a studious banjo, pop starish mandolin, outlandish standup bass and first-chair looking fiddle. \u00a0These guys were AWESOME! \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/righteous_bluegrass_band_original_four-1024x764.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>So, this story starts with the <strong>RBB<\/strong>. &nbsp;<strong>Eric Holle<\/strong>, banjo; <strong>Robert Anderson<\/strong>, mando\/vocals; <strong>Scott Brownlee<\/strong>, bass\/vocals; Fiddlin\u2019 <strong>Dick Sparks<\/strong>, fiddle. &nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mike Aisner<\/strong> had become the boys manager and started booking them, and off they went to years of colleges and festivals, clubs, ski resorts, a movie appearance and two TV network soundtracks. They also wrote commercials, did a <strong>Disney World<\/strong> summer run, and TV Specials &#8230; and on and on. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You could track their progress criss-crossing America with the trail of Pennzoil 10W 30 from <em>Vincent<\/em>, their sometimes trusty heat-challenged VW van.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<strong>\u201cVincent van go!\u201d<\/strong> they\u2019d yell.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/yuma_pioneer-1024x152.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99\" width=\"691\" height=\"103\"\/><figcaption>Yuma Pioneer 1971<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>John Prine<\/strong> and <strong>Steve Goodman<\/strong> opened for them in Chicago where Goodman offered them his \u201c<strong>City of New Orleans<\/strong>\u201d months before Arlo. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<strong>Sorry Stevie, not our style.\u201d<\/strong>    <strong>Oh well.<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/RBB@Earls-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108\"\/><figcaption>RBB Earl&#8217;s Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later a stint as<strong> John Prine\u2019s<\/strong> backup band\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/righteous_bluegrass_band_John_prine-1024x748.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-110\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>The boys toured with<strong> Doc Watson<\/strong> and <strong>Earl Scruggs<\/strong> and made the hallowed cover of <strong>Bluegrass Unlimited<\/strong>. &nbsp;And then\u2026.(drumroll) this band bucked everything sacred in bluegrass and added\u2026&#8230;(wait for it)\u2026.even added DRUMS to punch-up their high-test bluegrass stage energy\u2026.oh the humanity! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<br><strong>Elton John\u2019s<\/strong> famed producer drove a hundred miles from the legendary <strong>Caribou Ranch studio <\/strong>to <strong>Vail<\/strong> to see them\u2026and most importantly the <strong>RBB <\/strong>added yet another member\u2026a street-smart pigeon they named Rufus who gigged with them on many a Tour, and in a <strong>John Astin<\/strong> feature-film western, eventually retiring in Des Moines after green-washing the iconic white jacket of another guest on a Chicago TV appearance\u2026 <strong>Col Sanders<\/strong>! &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/righteous_bluegrass_band_chicago-1024x520.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-116\"\/><figcaption>RBB Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/righteous_bluegrass_band_elephant.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-118\" width=\"787\" height=\"800\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/NGDB0002-copy-1-1024x779.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/NGDB0002-copy-4-642x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-122\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/scott_brownlee_eric_holle_righteous_bluegrass_band-793x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-123\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/righteous_bluegrass_band_tree-1024x661.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-124\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/righteous_bluegrass_band_tv_special-1024x793.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dressed appropriately for their untamed cover of a Jacques Offenbach classical can-can on their first TV Special.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><br>The long-hair Colorado bluegrassers (with drummer) miraculously morphed in the <strong>Disney World<\/strong> barber shop to conform to a summer of stage frivolity in front of zillions. &nbsp;Oh and <strong>Fiddlin&#8217; Dick<\/strong> said no thanks to <strong>Disney World<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/righteous_bluegrass_band_disney_world-1024x799.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-128\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/righteous_bluegrass_band_dan_middleton.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-131\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After Fiddlin\u2019 Dick, Fiddlin\u2019 <strong>Dan (Middleton) <\/strong>sawed with the boys for a few extended tours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Oklahoma Bluegrass Festival school visit with folk legend Mike Seeger, where the boys jammed with Earl Scruggs and Bill Monroe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/righteous_bluegrass_band_oklahoma_bluegrass_festival.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-133\" width=\"985\" height=\"592\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>But <\/em><\/strong>things evolved, and to not be pinned to the somewhat <strong>UN-RIGHTEOUS Bluegrass Band<\/strong> (now bearing evil forbidden drums) name, they stumbled on an old Folkways recording of this straw hat Kentucky hillbilly picker named <strong>Rufus Crisp<\/strong>. &nbsp;Crisp croaked in \u201955 and SOMEHOW the band thought it \u201ccool\u201d to pay homage to this relatively obscure clanky folk character\u2026avoiding infringement, <strong><em>Rufus Krisp<\/em><\/strong> was their new name. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/rufus_krisp.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-136\" width=\"843\" height=\"841\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/righteous_bluegrass_band_changes_name_to_rufus_krisp-742x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-138\" width=\"847\" height=\"1169\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.moonsmind.org\/rufuskrisp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG-0811.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-140\" width=\"587\" height=\"603\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Righteous Bluegrass Band to Rufus Krisp to Gone Johnson RUFUS KRISP&nbsp;\u2014 THE ORIGINS!This is a story of a band in three parts, the centerpiece Rufus Krisp, bookended by its first iteration the Righteous Bluegrass Band and followed by Gone Johnson. &nbsp;Well this whole story actually commences in 1970 Boulder, Colorado at the Hungry Farmer Restaurant, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-84","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rufuskrisp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/84","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rufuskrisp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rufuskrisp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rufuskrisp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rufuskrisp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rufuskrisp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/84\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rufuskrisp.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}