New Riders of the Purple Sage
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Country rock music |
New Riders of the Purple Sage is a country rock ensemble from the United States that emerged from San Francisco's psychedelic rock environment in 1969, featuring musicians associated with the Grateful Dead. The group is frequently referred to simply as the New Riders or NRPS.
Beginnings: early 1960s–1969
The origins of the New Riders can be traced to the early 1960s folk and beatnik community surrounding Perry Lane housing near Stanford University in Menlo Park, California. Here, future Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia collaborated with guitarist David Nelson. John Dawson, known as "Marmaduke," also joined them during his visits. Drawing inspiration from Bakersfield-style country music, Dawson introduced his peers to artists such as Merle Haggard and Buck Owens, thereby connecting the Menlo Park bohemian scene with Timothy Leary’s International Federation for Internal Freedom.
While Garcia went on to establish the Grateful Dead, Nelson became part of the New Delhi River Band alongside bassist Dave Torbert. Although less renowned than the Grateful Dead, this band held a significant presence at venues like The Barn in Scotts Valley until their dissolution in early 1968.
Nelson contributed to the Grateful Dead's Aoxomoxoa sessions in 1969 and had a brief stint with Big Brother and the Holding Company during a transitional phase. After spending time in Los Angeles, Dawson returned to Los Altos Hills by 1969, participated in Aoxomoxoa, and began crafting songs that fused traditional country influences with psychedelic elements.
In 1969, amid the burgeoning country rock movement alongside artists like Bob Dylan, The Band, and The Flying Burrito Brothers, Garcia started playing pedal steel guitar. An informal group featuring Dawson, Garcia, and banjo player Peter Grant began performing covers of country and bluegrass tunes. By summer of that year, David Nelson joined on lead guitar, completing the lineup.
The initial New Riders roster comprised Dawson (acoustic guitar), Garcia (pedal steel), Nelson (lead guitar), Bob Matthews (electric bass), and Mickey Hart (drums). Bassist Phil Lesh also contributed occasionally. Lyricist Robert Hunter briefly rehearsed on bass before Dave Torbert took over permanently in April 1970. The lineup that achieved the greatest commercial acclaim included Dawson, Nelson, Torbert, Spencer Dryden, and Buddy Cage.
Classic NRPS Era: 1969–1982
Following their initial performances around the Bay Area in 1969, Dawson, Nelson, and Torbert commenced touring in May 1970 under the banner "An Evening with the Grateful Dead," which combined acoustic sets by the Dead with performances by New Riders and electric Dead sets—eliminating the need for separate opening acts.
Personnel changes occurred by their debut album recording. Mickey Hart briefly left the Grateful Dead in February 1971; although he played on two tracks for NRPS’s debut, former Jefferson Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden replaced him before leaving the Dead. Dryden remained with New Riders for a decade and later took on management duties.
Their first album, New Riders of the Purple Sage, was released late in 1971 on Columbia Records as part of Clive Davis’s initiative to sign acts related to the Grateful Dead. It attained moderate success, reaching number 39 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was entirely composed by Dawson and prominently featured Garcia’s pedal steel guitar work, differing from later albums that involved more collaborative songwriting.
As Garcia shifted focus to other projects, he departed from NRPS in November 1971; Buddy Cage of Great Speckled Bird succeeded him. The second album, Powerglide (1972), marked this new lineup’s first recording and showcased distinctive cover art by Lore Shoberg.
The 1973 release The Adventures of Panama Red featured Nelson’s rendition of Peter Rowan’s "Panama Red," which became a staple on FM radio stations. The album peaked at number 55 on Billboard charts and received gold certification from RIAA in 1979—representing NRPS’s commercial zenith.
During the mid-1970s, Radio Caroline adopted "On My Way Back Home" from Gypsy Cowboy as its theme song, aligning with its focus on album-oriented programming.
Throughout the late 1970s into the early 1980s, NRPS continued touring and producing albums but experienced diminishing commercial returns; none of their releases after 1976’s New Riders entered the Billboard 200 chart. This decline contrasted with the mainstream success enjoyed by outlaw country figures like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings as well as second-generation country rock bands such as The Eagles and Pure Prairie League. During this period, NRPS also served as opening act for various Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band concerts—including Winterland Ballroom’s final show on December 31, 1978.
In 1974, Torbert left to co-found Kingfish alongside Matthew Kelly. He was succeeded by Skip Battin (formerly with The Byrds), who became an influential creative contributor through collaborations with Kim Fowley. Battin was replaced by Stephen A. Love in 1976 following his involvement with a reformed Flying Burrito Brothers lineup. Spencer Dryden ceased performing in 1977 to manage NRPS; Patrick Shanahan then assumed drumming duties. Allen Kemp joined as bassist in 1978 and emerged as co-frontman handling guitar and vocals; he played a major role in songwriting for their last significant label release, 1981’s Feelin' All Right.
By 1982 both Nelson and Cage had exited the band, leaving Dawson as the only original member remaining from their classic era lineup.
New New Riders: 1982–1997
Between the early 1980s and the late 1990s, John Dawson continued to lead the New Riders of the Purple Sage, accompanied by Rusty Gauthier, a versatile bluegrass multi-instrumentalist who provided vocals and played acoustic and slide guitars, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle. Throughout this fifteen-year period, the band underwent several lineup changes, featuring guitarists such as Allen Kemp, Gary Vogensen, and Evan Morgan; bass players including Fred Campbell, Bill Laymon, and Michael White; as well as drummers Val Fuentes and Greg Lagardo.
Their repertoire alternated between fresh compositions and revamped versions of earlier hits. Albums like Midnight Moonlight marked a transition from their traditional electric country rock toward a predominantly acoustic bluegrass style.
Retirement: 1997–2005
The New Riders disbanded in 1997, prompting Dawson to retire from performing and move to Mexico where he taught English. Concurrently, David Nelson established the David Nelson Band. The New Riders briefly reunited in 2001 and were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by High Times magazine in 2002. At this ceremony, Dawson—who was then afflicted with emphysema—alongside Nelson, Cage, Dryden, and the widow of Torbert, Patti, were present. The band performed "Panama Red" and "Lonesome LA Cowboy" alongside Peter Rowan. In 2004, Buddy Cage joined several performances with the David Nelson Band.
NRPS revival: 2005–present
After Spencer Dryden's passing, a revitalized version of the New Riders began touring in late 2005. This lineup included David Nelson, Buddy Cage, guitarist Michael Falzarano, bassist Ronnie Penque, and drummer Johnny Markowski. Their releases comprised a live album titled Wanted: Live at Turkey Trot along with two studio albums: Where I Come From and 17 Pine Avenue.
Allen Kemp passed away on June 25, 2009. John "Marmaduke" Dawson died in Mexico on July 21, 2009, at age 64. Pedal steel guitarist Buddy Cage passed on February 5, 2020, aged 73.
Studio and live albums
Compilation albums
| Release year | Album title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | The Best of New Riders of the Purple Sage | Columbia |
| 1987 | Take a Red | MCA |
| 1991 | L.A. Lady | Sony |
| 1992 | The Relix Bay Rock Shop, No. 1 | Relix |
| 1994 | Wasted Tasters | Raven |
| 1995 | Relix's Best of the Early New Riders of the Purple Sage | Relix |
| 1997 | Relix's Best of the New New Riders of the Purple Sage | Relix |
| 2000 | Ridin' with Panama Red | Sony |
| 2006 | Cactus Juice | Arcadia |
| 2009 | Very Best of the Relix Years | Retro World |
| 2011 | Setlist: The Very Best of New Riders of the Purple Sage Live | Legacy |
| 2011 | Instant Armadillo Blues | Raven |
| 2017 | Original Album Classics | Sony |
Singles
The New Riders of the Purple Sage released several seven-inch singles, as listed below:
| Release year | Single title | Associated album | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | "Louisiana Lady" / "Last Lonely Eagle" | New Riders of the Purple Sage | Columbia |
| 1971 | "I Don't Know You" / "Garden of Eden" | New Riders of the Purple Sage | Columbia |
| 1972 | "I Don't Need No Doctor" / "Runnin' Back to You" | Powerglide | Columbia |
| 1972 | "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)" / "Rainbow" | Powerglide | Columbia |
| 1973 | "Groupie" / "She's No Angel" | Gypsy Cowboy | Columbia |
| 1973 | "Panama Red" / "Cement, Clay and Glass" | The Adventures of Panama Red | Columbia |
| 1974 | "You Angel You" / "Parson Brown" | Brujo | Columbia |
| 1976 | "Fifteen Days Under the Hood" / "Don't Put Her Down" | New Riders | MCA |
| 1976 | "Dead Flowers" / "She's Looking Better Every Beer" | New Riders | MCA |
Lineups
Throughout its history, New Riders of the Purple Sage has undergone numerous personnel shifts. The following summary highlights principal lineup transformations, focusing on key members and their instrumental roles:
| 1969–1970 |
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|---|---|
| 1970–1971 |
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| 1971–1974 |
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| 1974–1977 |
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| 1977–1980 |
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| 1980–1984 |
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| 1985–1994 |
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| 1997; 2005–present |
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Further information
- American country rock bands
- San Francisco musical ensembles
- Grateful Dead
- Bands formed in 1969
- Groups disbanded in 1997
- Bands reunited in 2005
- Progressive country artists
- California rock bands
- Columbia Records musicians
- MCA Records musicians
- A&M Records musicians
- Jerry Garcia
- 1969 California establishments
- Relix Records musicians
- Musical groups disestablished in 1997