The Don Harrison Band
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1970s |
| Founder | Don Harrison, Stu Cook, Doug Clifford |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Don Harrison Band was an American roots rock ensemble active during the 1970s, comprising Don Harrison (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Stu Cook (bass, piano), and Doug Clifford (drums, percussion). Cook and Clifford had previously been part of Creedence Clearwater Revival. The group also featured Russell DaShiell on guitar, piano, and vocals. Their musical style fused elements of folk, country, rhythm & blues, and rock & roll, drawing clear inspiration from CCR's sound.
History
Born around 1944 in Louisville, Kentucky, Don Harrison relocated to Los Angeles in 1962 to pursue work as a studio musician. Following the dissolution of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Cook and Clifford launched a recording facility known as The Factory. While their initial plan was to produce Harrison's music, the collaboration evolved into forming a band together. They secured a contract with Atlantic Records and introduced themselves with a rendition of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s 1955 classic "Sixteen Tons", which featured harmonica contributions from Hugh Cregg (later recognized as Huey Lewis).
The band issued two albums under Atlantic: their self-titled debut The Don Harrison Band in April 1976, which included performances by the Memphis Horns, and Red Hot released in January 1977, which saw the addition of keyboardist John Tanner. The first album attained position number 159 on the Billboard 200 chart and garnered favorable critical reception. Their single "Sixteen Tons" achieved a peak ranking of number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although Red Hot received positive reviews, it did not match the commercial success of their debut. During this timeframe, Harrison maintained a modest lifestyle residing in Bell Gardens, California.
One notable moment in their career was serving as an opening act for the Rolling Stones at the 1976 Knebworth Festival.
Following the band's disbandment, Harrison produced a solo album entitled Not Far From Free before largely stepping away from the music industry. Meanwhile, DaShiell released his solo project Elevator, collaborating with Cook and Clifford, and secured a deal with Epic Records. By 2012, Harrison remained active in recording within Los Angeles; Cook performed with Southern Pacific and toured alongside Clifford in Creedence Clearwater Revisited. As of December 2019, Don Harrison lives in Utah with his family.
Albums
- The Don Harrison Band (1976), Atlantic
- Red Hot (1977), Atlantic
- Don Harrison solo
- Not Far From Free (1977), Mercury
Singles
- "Sixteen Tons" (1976), Atlantic. Charted at #47 on Billboard Hot 100, #75 on Cashbox Top 100, and #53 in Australia.
- "Rock 'N' Roll Records" (1976), Atlantic
- Don Harrison solo
- "Helter Skelter"/"Funky Monkey" (1977), Mercury – promotional 12-inch release