Providence (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 in Boise, Idaho, United States |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Providence was a six-member American rock ensemble active between 1971 and 1974, initially formed in Boise, Idaho before relocating to Portland, Oregon. They were signed to Threshold Records by The Moody Blues and issued a single album titled Ever Sense the Dawn in 1972.
Band members
- Bob Barriatua – electric bass, vocals
- Bart Bishop – lead vocals, piano, harpsichord, organ, autoharp
- Jim Cockey – violin, glockenspiel, vocals
- Andy Guzie – guitars, vocals
- Tim Tompkins – cello, vocals, recorders, percussion
- Tom Tompkins – viola, vocals, occasional violin
Musical style
Providence’s sound blended soft rock with classical elements, marked by intricate vocal harmonies and contrapuntal string passages. Their concerts highlighted the dynamic interplay between Barriatua’s bass and Tompkins’ cello, enriched by layered viola and violin parts. Guzie’s guitar work served as melodic accents rather than conventional rock solos. Bart Bishop’s keyboard contributions favored piano, organ, and harpsichord over the synthesizers prevalent during that era. Unlike peers who employed Mellotron textures popularized by The Moody Blues, Providence crafted a more natural tone driven by their string trio.
After breakup
Following the band's dissolution, members embarked on varied careers:
Cockey and the Tompkins brothers participated in the 1975 duet album Blue Jays by Justin Hayward and John Lodge of The Moody Blues and joined their subsequent tour. They also contributed to Hayward’s 1977 solo release Songwriter.
Barriatua pursued medical studies, earning an M.D., and established a practice in Portland.
Cockey obtained a composition degree from the University of Oregon and now composes as well as teaches music in McCall, Idaho.
Andy Guzie completed a classical guitar program at the University of Oregon and remains active as a performer in Portland.
Tim Tompkins has collaborated musically with his wife Frances for over four decades; he appeared on the 1995 album Freelight alongside ex-Moody Blues keyboardist Michael Pinder. Tom Tompkins served as principal violist for the Boise Symphony, expanded his instrumental repertoire to include flute and mandolin, and recorded with numerous artists. He and his wife Jill held principal string roles in the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra until 2015.
Rand Bishop—Bart’s brother and original producer of Providence’s demo that secured their Threshold contract—now works on Music Row in Nashville writing hit songs for artists such as Tim McGraw and Toby Keith.
Bart Bishop remained active as a session vocalist throughout the 1970s on projects including Ted Nugent (Nugent), Allan Clarke (The Hollies), Billy Thorpe (Children of the Sun), Carmine Appice/Rick Derringer (Doctors of the Universe), Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits), The Orchids, The Runaways, as well as contributing to the platinum-selling Staying Alive soundtrack. He also collaborated with Rand Bishop’s group Underdogs.
In 1981, Bart produced and performed on The Roulettes released by Takoma Records. Later reverting to his original stage name "Bartholomew," he worked on a folk-classical album called Three Cornered Hat, produced by his brother Theo Bishop at Native Language Studios in Los Angeles with additional contributions from brothers Jayson (cello/string bass) and Theo (keyboards). Plans included European distribution aligned with a 2009 tour featuring Bart’s son Graham’s band "Senors of Marseille."
Theo and Greg Bishop co-produced Greg’s 1998 album Fly Brother Fly, which fused contemporary jazz, new age, and vocal pop styles. Greg attributes Providence rehearsals as a significant influence on his musical journey.
Theo Bishop has composed for television and film while producing jazz records such as One Man's Dream, Newport Nights, and 2013’s Time to Think. His collaborations include notable smooth jazz musicians like Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Oliver, Dave Hooper (The Rippingtons), Tony Guerrero, Rob Mullins, Juan Carlos Quintero, Brian Hughes, Jimmie Haslip, and Will Kennedy (Yellow Jackets).
In 2007 Providence reunited briefly to sign rare copies of Ever Sense the Dawn for European fans.
Bart Bishop died on 19 October 2009.