Marley's Ghost (band)

Marley's Ghost is a band based in Washington and Northern California which has existed since the mid-1980s and has recorded 12 albums. While their music has a strong bluegrass emphasis, their musical style is diverse. Paste magazine has described them as "a decidedly unusual band, as capable of reanimating Appalachian folk songs as they are traditional Celtic fare, honky tonk and reggae."[1]

Marley's Ghost
GenresFolk music, gospel music, country music, bluegrass music
Years active1986 (1986)–present
LabelsSage Arts
Websitewww.marleysghost.com
MembersMike Phelan
Ed Littlefield Jr.
Dan Wheetman
Jon Wilcox
Jerry Fletcher
Bob Nichols

History

Dan Wheetman, Jon Wilcox, and Mike Phelan met in March 1986 in the San Fernando Valley during Saint Patrick's Day shows. That winter, Wheetman went to Littlefield's studio to record a solo album, bringing Wilcox and Phelan. They ended up recording the first three Marley’s Ghost albums before completing Wheetman's solo album.[2]

In 2006, Van Dyke Parks produced Spooked, and artist Robert Crumb illustrated the album cover. (Crumb and Wheetman knew each other from an earlier musical venture, R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders, of which Wheetman was a member for a short time in the mid-1970s.)[3] Guests on the recording included Bill Frisell (guitar), Buell Neidlinger (bass), and Don Heffington (drums).[4]

Released in 2012, Jubilee was produced by Cowboy Jack Clement, and includes performances by Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Marty Stuart, and Old Crow Medicine Show.[5]

2017's The Woodstock Sessions was recorded at Levon Helm’s studio in Woodstock, New York. Larry Campbell produced this album of mostly traditional music.[6]

2019's Travelin' Shoes was also produced by Larry Campbell and features a host of gone-world gospel gems.

Personnel
  • Mike Phelan: Guitars, Dobro, bass, fiddle, lead & harmony vocals, writer.
  • Ed Littlefield Jr.: Pedal steel, guitars, bass, fiddle, Highland bagpipes lead & bass vocals
  • Dan Wheetman: Bass, National Steel, Fiddle, Guitar, lead & harmony vocals, writer.
  • Jon Wilcox: Mandolin, guitar, Irish bouzouki lead & harmony vocals, writer
  • Jerry Fletcher: Keyboards, harmony vocals
  • Bob Nichols: Drums, percussion

Discography
  • 1987: Haunting Melodies (Sage Arts)
  • 1989: Let De Groove Rise Up (Sage Arts) - remixed and remastered in 2005
  • 1991: Ghost Country (Sage Arts)
  • 1992: How Can I Keep From Singing: Gospel (Sage Arts)
  • 1996: Four Spacious Guys (Sage Arts)
  • 1998: Across the River (Sage Arts)
  • 2001: Live at the Freight (Sage Arts)
  • 2006: Spooked (Sage Arts)
  • 2010: Ghost Town (Sage Arts)
  • 2012: Jubilee (Sage Arts)
  • 2016: The Woodstock Sessions (Sage Arts)
  • 2019: Travelin' Shoes (Sage Arts)

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2009-11-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Joel Selvin. "Marley's Ghost". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  3. Lynch, Megan. "The Cheap Suit Serenaders," AllMusic.com. Accessed Nov. 17, 2019.
  4. "Marley's Ghost Taps Van Dyke Parks". antiMUSIC. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  5. Spoerl, Steven (12 August 2012). "Marley's Ghost: Jubilee". Popmatters. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  6. Rhodes, Mick (August 17, 2016). "Marley's Ghost brings eclectic mix to Claremont". Claremont Courier. Retrieved June 13, 2017.


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