Artist description Acoustic guitar, two lead guitars, bass and drums. Bruce Henderson, Paul Ossola, Shawn Pelton, G.E. Smith and Andy York were all members of the band.

Music Style Roots rock, country, honky-tonk, folk, singer/songwriter, rock

Musical Influences Anything good with a twang: Hank Williams, Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, The Band, Neil Young, honky tonk tunes.

Similar Artists Bruce Henderson, Hearts and Minds, G.E. Smith, Saturday Night Live Band, John Mellencamp, Wallflowers, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Band, Steve Earle, Kelly Willis, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris.

Artist History High Plains Drifters frontman and singer/songwriter/guitarist/author Bruce Henderson was born and raised in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Henderson honed his playing in the fertile music scene of Austin, Texas before relocating to New York City to form Hearts and Minds, a roots-rock band with guitarist Andy York and drummer Mark Feldman. Hearts and Minds released one album for A&M Records. After the band's breakup, Bruce Henderson wrote a nonfiction book (Waiting on Plume/Penguin) and formed the New York club band "High Plains Drifters," with Andy York, as well as Saturday Night Live Band members G.E. Smith on guitar, and Paul Ossola on bass and Shawn Pelton on drums. Pelton was later replaced with McCartney drummer Steve Holley when Pelton made a commitment to playing with Shawn Colvin's band. Sadly, High Plains Drifters never released a record under that name. Henderson then decided to also step out on his own as a recording artist. Bruce Henderson's 1997 solo debut on "The Wheels Roll," made quite a splash, hitting #11 on the national Gavin Americana chart and receiving high praise from press across the country, including Rolling Stine, USA Today, and No Depression. His live shows (with the members of the High Plains Drifters) in support of The Wheels Roll, both solo acoustic and with his full band, earned rave reviews, as did his appearances on Public Radio's national "The World Cafe," and the roots-rock "Western Beat Roots Revival" radio shows. For the new "Beyond The Pale CD," Bruce Henderson is again teamed with several longtime collaborators: noted Australian producer/guitarist Kerryn Tolhurst (Paul Kelly, The Dingoes), bassist Paul Ossola (Saturday Night Live, The Roches), drummer Steve Holley (Paul McCartney, Junior Brown) and keyboardist/accordionist Charlie Giordano (Joe Cocker, Pat Benatar). A fellow Hearts and Minds alum, lead guitarist Andy York (John Mellencamp, Marshall Crenshaw), joins them for several cuts. While the focus is on Henderson's songwriting, "Beyond the Pale" also features Henderson songs cowritten and sung with collaborators Matthew Grimm of New York's Hangdogs and rocker Curtis Stigers. All of these accomplished musicians join Bruce Henderson on a dark-but-hopeful tour of the Americas which parallels his own personal journey. From the flatlands of Oklahoma to the hills of Austin, Texas from the sands of Mexico to the canyons of New York City, from lust to love to heartbreak to hope, Henderson's songwriting and singing provide powerful images worthy of real thought. Henderson, was honored by his fellow musicians including Jules Shear, Marshall Crenshaw, Freedy Johnston, Curtis Stigers, Amy Rigby, and rock legend Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople) at a fundraising concert, "The Bruce Henderson Charity Ball" in January, 1999. With "The Wheels Roll," Henderson became a literate ambassador for the wave of singer/songwriters celebrating the American experience. The journey begins again. Now, Bruce Henderson is ready to take you "Beyond the Pale."

Group Members Bruce Henderson, lead vocals, guitar, songwriting; Paul Ossola, bass and vocals; Shawn Pelton, drums and percussion; G.E. Smith, lead guitar and vocals; Andy York, lead guitar and vocals.

Instruments Three guitars, bass and drums, plus pedal steel guitar, fiddle, Hammond B-3 organ.

Albums See Bruce Henderson "The Wheels Roll" and "Beyond the Pale"

Press Reviews "High Plains Drifters have a knack for traditional rock n' roll that he pulls off with disarming style and warmth."- New York Press "Bruce Henderson and his High Plains Drifters deliver some of the strongest country-flavored rock you're likely to hear this days. The tracks are tight, the production is sterling and the songwriting is top-shelf."- Musician's Exchange "Bruce Henderson's trick is that, by surrounding himself with musicians like G.E. Smith, he makes his sad, folk-country songs pop. It's the kind of music that makes you feel alone even when you're in the middle of a crowd at his show, music that makes you feel okay about your loneliness."- Time Out

Additional Info Band members went on to form the Bruce Henderson band.

Location New York, NY - USA

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