David Perry Lindley(March 21, 1944 – March 3, 2023) was an American musician who founded the rock bandEl Rayo-Xand worked with many other performers includingJackson Browne,Linda Ronstadt,Ry Cooder,Bonnie Raitt,Warren Zevon,Curtis MayfieldandDolly Parton.He mastered such a wide variety of instruments thatAcoustic Guitarmagazine referred to him not as a multi-instrumentalist but instead as a "maxi-instrumentalist."[1]On stage, Lindley was known for wearing garishly coloredpolyestershirts with clashing pants, gaining the nickname the Prince of Polyester.[2]
David Lindley | |
|---|---|
 Lindley in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Perry Lindley |
| Also known as | De Paris Letante, Mr. Dave |
| Born | March 21, 1944 San Marino, California,U.S. |
| Died | March 3, 2023(aged 78) Pomona, California,U.S. |
| Genres | Rock,country,world |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1962–2020 |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | |
| Website | davidlindley |
The majority of the instruments that Lindley played arestring instruments,includingviolin,acousticandelectric guitar,uprightandelectric bass,banjo,mandolin,dobro,hardingfele,bouzouki,cittern,bağlama,gumbus,charango,cümbüş,oudandzither.He was described as "the unparalleled master of thelap steel guitar"in therock musicsphere,[3][4]and an expert in Hawaiian-styleslide guitarblues.[5][6]
Lindley was a founding member of the 1960spsychedelicbandKaleidoscopeand worked as musical director for several touring artists.[1]He occasionallyscoredandcomposedmusic for film.[7]
Early life and career
editDavid Perry Lindley was born inSan Marino, California,to Margaret (néeWells) and John Royal Young Lindley (brother of actressLoretta Young) on March 21, 1944.[8][3]When Lindley was growing up in Los Angeles, his father had an extensive collection of 78 rpm records that included Korean folk and Indian sitar music, as well as Spanish classical guitaristsAndrés SegoviaandCarlos Montoya.[9][10]Lindley took up the violin at age three, and kept at it despite breaking the fragile bridge. He then moved on to the baritoneukulelein his early teens.[9]Next he learned the banjo. By his late teens, he had won theTopanga Banjo•Fiddle Contestfive times.[8][11]
He played banjo with the Dry City Scat Band which included multi-instrumentalistChris Darrow,andRichard Greeneon fiddle.[12]Lindley and his bandmates aspired to emulate multi-talented folk singerMike Seeger.[13]
Lindley began to frequent the Los Angeles–area folk music scene of the 1960s, primarily going to theAsh Groveclub, but also attending theTroubadorin West Hollywood, encountering an eclectic assortment of music including flamenco, Russian folk music, and Indian sitar music.[9]At Ash Grove, Lindley shared ideas with local musicians such asRy CooderandChris Hillman.[14]Lindley formed an especially close relationship with Cooder; the two shared a love of "exotic music", and they both turned away from corporate mainstream music to focus on less popular idioms such asfolkandworld music.[15][16]At Ash Grove, Lindley learned from traveling blues and folk musicians the "right" way to play certain styles, and he learned violin methods from local starDon "Sugarcane" Harris.[10][17]
From 1966 to 1970, Lindley was a founding member of thepsychedelicbandKaleidoscopewhich released four albums onEpic Recordsduring that period.[13]After Kaleidoscope broke up, Lindley went to England and played inTerry Reid's band for a couple of years. In 1972, he teamed withJackson Browne,playing in his band through 1980 and occasionally afterward. During the 1970s he also toured as a member of the bands ofCrosby-Nash,Linda RonstadtandJames Taylor.
In 1981, Lindley formed his own band,El Rayo-X.Jackson Browne produced their first album. The band's final show was December 31, 1989. After that, Lindley toured as a solo artist, first withHani Naseraccompanying on hand drums, then withreggaepercussionistWally Ingram.He also played on a multitude of studio sessions. Between his work in the studio as asession musicianor on tour as asidemanor bandleader, Lindley learned new instruments. He was famous for having written the only song glorifying a brand of condoms, "Ram-a-Lamb-a-Man," from his albumWin This Record![18][19]The media often commented on his colorful polyester clothing,[20]with jarring contrasts between pants and shirt, earning him the nickname Prince of Polyester.[2]
Work with other artists
edit
Lindley was known for his work as a session musician. He contributed to years of recordings and live performances byJackson Browne,and also supportedWarren Zevon,Linda Ronstadt,Curtis Mayfield,James Taylor,David Crosby,Graham Nash,Terry Reid,Dolly Parton,Bob Dylan,Bruce Springsteen,Toto,Rod Stewart,Joe WalshandDan Fogelberg.He collaborated with fellow guitaristsRy Cooder,Henry KaiserandG. E. Smith.[21]ArtistBen Harpercredited Lindley's distinctiveslide guitarstyle as a major influence on his own playing, and, in 2006, Lindley sat in on Harper's albumBoth Sides of the Gun.
He was known in the guitar community for his use of "cheap" instruments sold atSears department storesand intended for amateurs. He used these for the unique sounds they produce, especially with a slide. In the early 1990s, he toured and recorded withHani Naseraddingpercussive instrumentsto his solo performances, and his instrumental repertoire which he used in his session work. Lindley also toured extensively and recorded withreggaepercussionistWally Ingram.
Lindley's voice may be heard in the version of "Stay"performed byJackson Browne.Browne's version is a continuation of "The Load Out", and its refrain is sung in progressively higher vocal ranges. The refrain of "Oh won't you stay, just a little bit longer" is sung first by Browne, then byRosemary Butler,then by Lindley in falsetto.[22]
Lindley joined Jackson Browne for a tour of Spain in 2006.Love Is Strange: En Vivo Con Tino,a 2-CD set of recordings from that tour, was releasedMay 11,2010, with Browne and Lindley touring together starting in June of that year.[23]They played together atGlastonbury Festivalin 2010,[24]and they won an Independent Music Award for Best Live Performance Album in 2011.[25]
Instruments
edit
Lindley had a large collection of rare and unusual guitars and other instruments from theMiddle Eastand various parts of the world. He listed and categorized many of them on his website[26]but admitted that he had "absolutely no idea" how many instruments he owned and played, having gathered them since the 1960s.[1]A journalist described his home in 1994 as containing a "tidal flood of instruments strewn all over the house. In every room. On the floor, balanced against the wall, lying atop cabinets and just literally occupying virtually every inch of available floor space."[15]
Personal life
editLindley married Joan Darrow, the sister of his musical colleagueChris Darrowfrom the band Kaleidoscope.[27]In 1970, Joan and David Lindley had a daughter named Rosanne who became a folk singer with the Bright Mountain Choir in the 1990s, collaborating withthe Mountain Goats.[citation needed]In 1995, Rosanne joined Lindley in a series of concerts with Ry Cooder and his son Joachim Cooder, billed as the Cooder–Lindley Family.[28]The Lindleys lived in a quiet neighborhood ofClaremont, California.[15]
Lindley died after a long illness on March 3, 2023, at the age of 78.[29][27]He hadCOVID-19in 2020, which his family said developed intolong COVID,with chronic kidney damage.[30]
Selected discography
edit- Solo
Albums
edit| Year | Title | US Billboard 200 | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | El Rayo-X | 83 | Asylum | |
| 1982 | Win This Record! | — | Elektra | |
| 1983 | El Rayo Live | — | Elektra / Rhino | |
| 1985 | Mr. Dave | — | Wounded Bird | |
| 1988 | Very Greasy | 174 | Elektra | |
| 1991 | The Indian Runner | — | original soundtrack withJack Nitzsche | |
| A World Out of Time | — | Shanachie Records | withHenry Kaiserin Madagascar | |
| 1992 | In the Running | — | Elektra/East West Records | withHoward Jones |
| 1994 | The Sweet Sunny North | — | Shanachie Records | |
| Wheels of the Sun | — | Hermans Records | by Kazu Matsui withHani Naser | |
| Official Bootleg #1: Live in Tokyo Playing Real Good | — | Ulftone | with Hani Naser | |
| 1995 | Song of Sacajawea | — | Rabbit Ears | |
| Official Bootleg #2: Live All Over the Place Playing Even Better | — | Ulftone | with Hani Naser | |
| 2000 | Twango Bango Deluxe | — | withWally Ingram | |
| 2001 | Twango Bango II | — | with Wally Ingram | |
| 2003 | Twango Bango III | — | with Wally Ingram | |
| 2004 | Live in Europe | — | with Wally Ingram | |
| 2007 | David Lindley—Big Twang | — |
With other musicians
edit- withKaleidoscope
| Year | Title | US Billboard 200 | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Side Trips | - | Epic |
| 1967 | A Beacon from Mars | — | Epic |
| 1969 | Incredible! Kaleidoscope | 139 | Epic |
| 1970 | Bernice | — | Epic |
- withTerry Reid
| Year | Title | US Billboard 200 | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | River | 172 | Atlantic |
| 1976 | Seed of Memory | — | ABC |
- withJackson Browne
- 1973:For Everyman(Asylum)
- 1974:Late for the Sky(Asylum)
- 1976:The Pretender(Asylum)
- 1977:Running on Empty(Asylum)
- 1980:Hold Out(Asylum)
- 1986:Lives in the Balance(Asylum)
- 1989:World in Motion(Elektra)
- 1993:I'm Alive(Elektra)
- 1996:Looking East(Elektra)
- 2010:Love Is Strange: En Vivo Con Tino(Inside Recordings)
- withCrosby & Nash
- 1975:Wind on the Water(ABC)
- 1976:Whistling Down the Wire(ABC)[3]
- withRod Stewart
- 1975:Atlantic Crossing(Warner Bros.)[3]
- 1976:A Night on the Town(Warner Bros.)
- withWarren Zevon
- 1976:Warren Zevon
- 1987:Sentimental Hygiene(Virgin)
- 1989:Transverse City(Virgin)
- 1994:Mutineer(Giant)
- 2003:The Wind(Artemis)
- withRy Cooder
- 1978:Jazz(Warner Bros.)
- 1979:Bop Till You Drop(Warner Bros.)
- 1995:Cooder-Lindley Family Live at the Vienna Opera House
- with Other Artists
- 1967:Songs of Leonard Cohen(Columbia) withLeonard Cohen
- 1969:Elephant Mountain(RCA) withthe Youngbloods
- 1971:America(Warner Bros.)America[3]
- 1973:Maria Muldaur(Reprise Records)Maria Muldaur[3]
- 1974:Some Days You Eat the Bear(Elektra)Iain Matthews[3]
- 1976:In the Pocket(Warner Bros)James Taylor[3]
- 1977:Lonnie Mack and Pismo(Capitol)Lonnie Mack[3]
- 1977:Here You Come Again(RCA) withDolly Parton
- 1978:Leo Sayer(Warner Bros.) withLeo Sayer[31]
- 1979:Restless Nights (Karla Bonoff album)(Columbia) withKarla Bonoff
- 1981:There Goes the Neighborhood(Asylum) withJoe Walsh
- 1987:Freight Train HeartwithJimmy Barnes
- 1987:Trio(Warner Bros.) withEmmylou Harris,Linda Ronstadtand Dolly Parton
- 1988:Ancient Heart(Reprise Records) withTanita Tikaram
- 1989:Good Evening(Warner Bros.) withMarshall Crenshaw
- 1990:Under the Red Sky(Columbia) withBob Dylan
- 1992:Fat City(Columbia) withShawn Colvin
- 1997:Cool & Unusual (Martin Simpson album)(Red House Records) withMartin Simpson
- 2003:Oil(Cosmo Sex School Records) withJerry Josephand Dzuiks Küche
- 2006:Both Sides of the Gun(Virgin) withBen Harper
- 2008:Insides Out(New West Records) withJordan Zevon
- 2012:The Devil You Know(Fantasy Records) withRickie Lee Jones
- 2015:Slide Guitar SummitwithArlen Roth(Aquinnah Records)
- 2017:The Bucket List(Rocker Chick Media) with the Sound Field[32]
Other Appearances
edit| Year | Title | Artist | Album | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | "Simple Man" | Graham Nash | Songs for Beginners | plays fiddle |
| 1974 | "Wild Tales" | Graham Nash | Wild Tales | plays electric slide guitar |
| "Grave Concern" | plays electric slide guitar | |||
| "Prison Song" | plays mandolin | |||
| "Heart Like a Wheel" | Linda Ronstadt | Heart Like a Wheel | plays fiddle | |
| I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You) | plays fiddle | |||
| 1975 | Love Is a Rose | Prisoner in Disguise | plays fiddle | |
| "The Sweetest Gift" | plays fiddle | |||
| "You Tell Me That I'm Falling Down" | plays fiddle | |||
| 1980 | "Earth & Sky" | Graham Nash | Earth & Sky | plays rhythm guitar |
| "Out on the Island" | playsHawaiian guitar | |||
| "Skychild" | plays lead guitar | |||
| "Barrel of Pain" | played lead guitar | |||
| "In the 80's" | plays guitar | |||
| 1988 | "Lost in You" | Rod Stewart | Out of Order | plays mandolin |
| "The Wild Horse" | plays mandolin | |||
| "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" | plays slide guitar | |||
| "Almost Illegal" | plays fiddle | |||
| 2010 | Racing in the Street ('78) | Bruce Springsteen& theE Street Band | The Promise | plays violin |
| "Come On (Let's Go Tonight)" | plays violin |
References
edit- ^abcKotapish, Paul (2005)."BIG little MUSIC: The Weird and Wonderful World of String Wizard David Lindley".Acoustic Guitar Magazine. pp. Cover Story. Archived fromthe originalon June 14, 2009.RetrievedMay 31,2009.
- ^abDoran, Bob (August 25, 2005)."Preview: Organic Polyester".North Coast Journal.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
- ^abcdefghiPete Prown, Harvey P. Newquist,Legends of Rock Guitar,H. Leonard, 1997
- ^Marsh, Dave;Bernard, James (1994).New Book of Rock Lists.Simon and Schuster. p. 347.ISBN9780671787004.
- ^Helen Casabona, ed. (1989).Rock Guitar.Hal Leonard. p. 107.ISBN9780881889086.
- ^Madsen, Pete (2005).Slide Guitar: Know the Players, Play the Music.Hal Leonard. p. 55.ISBN9780879308520.
- ^"David Lindley".IMDb.com.RetrievedJanuary 22,2020.
- ^abCraig Harris."David Lindley | Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedJuly 13,2014.
- ^abcOksenhorn, Stewart (June 8, 2004)."World Pieces: For David Lindley, the world is still flats (sharps)".www.aspentimes.com.RetrievedOctober 3,2020.
- ^ab"David Lindley Interview".NAMM Oral History Library.2021.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
- ^"David Lindley".David Lindley. Archived fromthe originalon October 10, 2014.RetrievedJuly 13,2014.
- ^Harris, Craig."Dry City Scat Band".AllMusic.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
- ^ab"Chris Darrow Interview".Richie Unterberger.April 13, 1999.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
- ^Unterberger, Richie(2002).Turn! Turn! Turn!: The '60s Folk-rock Revolution.Hal Leonard. p. 76.ISBN9780879307035.
- ^abcRosen, Steve (December 9, 2016)."Behind the Curtain: David Lindley".Rock Cellar Magazine.RetrievedMarch 3,2023.
- ^Browning, Boo (May 15, 1981)."David Lindley And His 'El Rayo-X'".The Washington Post.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
- ^Roland, Terry (2007)."David Lindley: The Troubadour Jester of Reggae, Oud and Polyester".Folkworks.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
- ^"POP MUSIC REVIEW: Lindley Keeps on His Toes During New Year's Kickoff".Los Angeles Times.January 2, 1990.RetrievedMarch 18,2020.
- ^"David Lindley | Biography & History | AllMusic".AllMusic.March 18, 2020. Archived fromthe originalon March 18, 2020.RetrievedMarch 18,2020.
- ^Staff (October 21, 2008)."David Lindley On Mountain Stage".NPR.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.Reprinted on March 15, 2011.
- ^Snow, Mat (March 5, 1991). "Q&A".Q Magazine.55:34.
- ^Browne, Jackson (1978)."Jackson Browne The Load Out / Stay 1978".Jackson Browne in Concert Live at Shepherd's Bush Theatre, London 1978 distributed on YouTube, time mark 7:03.Archived fromthe originalon January 12, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 19,2009.
- ^"With David Lindley Tour Heads To U.S. And Europe This Summer".Jackson Browne. Archived fromthe originalon March 17, 2012.Retrieved2012-03-31.
- ^MacInnes, Paul (June 27, 2010)."Review: Jackson Browne with David Lindley at Glastonbury 2010".The Guardian.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
- ^"10th Annual Independent Music Awards Winners Announced.Independent Music Awards, March 29, 2011. Retrieved on September 9, 2013.
- ^Lindley, David (2005)."The Official David Lindley Web Page".Official Website.RetrievedMay 31,2009.
- ^abErlewine, Stephen Thomas (March 3, 2023)."David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78".RetrievedMarch 4,2023.
- ^Washburn, Jim (June 3, 1995)."Tour de Four: Ry Cooder and David Lindley team up with two of their kids".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
- ^"Iconic Claremont musician David Lindley dead at 78".March 3, 2023.
- ^Willman, Chris (March 4, 2023)."David Lindley, Instrumental Virtuoso Known for Guitar Work With Jackson Browne, Dies at 78".Variety.RetrievedMarch 6,2023.
- ^McCullaugh, Jim (September 9, 1978)."Closeup: Leo Sayer".Billboard.Vol. 90, no. 36. p. 68.ISSN0006-2510.
- ^"The Bucket List".Soundfieldband.com.RetrievedJanuary 22,2020.