Hornsby still ridin' the range.Byline: Lewis Taylor The Register-Guard If the mere mention of the name Bruce Hornsby triggers that catchy piano melody from "The Way It Is" in your head, you're probably not alone. Hornsby's 1986 hit still is and probably will always be his crowning achievement - and with good reason. That song, with its signature piano runs and heartfelt chorus, remained on the music charts for 22 weeks after it was released. It earned Hornsby and his former band, the Range, a Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards) are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the record industry. The current President of the Academy is Neil Portnow. and helped the group sell 3 million copies of its debut album. It also overshadowed many of Hornsby's other achievements, which continue into the present day. Even if you can't name another song he's written, Hornsby is no one-hit wonder. He's put out nine albums and done stints with the Grateful Dead, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band For other uses, see Nitty (disambiguation). The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California in 1966. , Pat Metheny Patrick Bruce Metheny (born August 12, 1954 in Lee's Summit, Missouri) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. One of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to prominence in the 1970s and '80s, he is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is and Branford Marsalis Branford Marsalis (August 26, 1960, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana) is an American jazz and classical saxophonist. He was born the oldest of six sons to Delores Ferdinand Marsalis and famed pianist Ellis Marsalis, Jr.. . He's written songs for everyone from Huey Lewis Huey Lewis (born Hugh Anthony Cregg, III on July 5, 1950) is an American musician and occasional actor. He sings lead vocals and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis & The News. & the News to Don Henley. And his latest album "Halcyon hal·cy·on n. 1. A kingfisher, especially one of the genus Halcyon. 2. A fabled bird, identified with the kingfisher, that was supposed to have had the power to calm the wind and the waves while it nested on the sea Days," features guest appearances by Sting and Eric Clapton. On tour to promote the new record, Hornsby comes to the McDonald Theatre on Monday for a performance with the Hornsby Band. It promises to be anything but a tribute to the past. "Too often, songwriters approach their songs like museum pieces," Hornsby said in a news release. "I think of my songs as living beings that evolve and change and grow through the years." Hornsby said his latest album is about looking to the future through the prism of the past. The first single, "Gonna Be Some Changes Made," features Clapton on guitar and Sting on vocals. Elsewhere on the CD, Hornsby tries out some stride piano stride piano n. A style of jazz piano playing in which the right hand plays the melody and the left hand alternates between the bass notes on the strong beats and chords on the weak ones. on "What the Hell Happened" and "Heir Gordon." His wife was the inspiration for the title track and "Dreamland dream·land n. 1. An ideal or imaginary land. 2. A state of sleep. Noun 1. dreamland - a pleasing country existing only in dreams or imagination dreamworld, never-never land ," a modern soother that features Elton John and gospel singer Lloyd Jones on vocals that was intended as a lullaby for one of his twin sons. "Most of this record is really influenced by me being a parent," Hornsby said. "So much of it was written based on my experiences as a parent, worrying about my kids. It's inspired by trying to put myself in their shoes. `It's tough to be a kid." Lewis Taylor can be reached at 338-2512 or ltaylor@guardnet .com. CONCERT PREVIEW Bruce Hornsby and the Hornsby Band When: 8 p.m. Monday Where: McDonald Theatre, 1010 Willamette St. Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 day of show CAPTION(S): Bruce Hornsby continues to write songs and play the piano, and that's just the way it is. |
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