humility and innocence of Woody Guthrie." - Poughkeepsie Journal
David Kraai (pronounced cry, meaning crow) is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and bandleader who has been traveling and performing his melting pot of country, folk and rock for over two decades. His roots stem from the famed Woodstock area of New York's Hudson Valley, yet his music has taken him all over the United States and abroad, gaining him an ever-growing fan base.
Carrying on the tradition of Cosmic American Music, David's influences include Gram Parsons, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and The Band. These influences along with his unique sense of melody and lyric help create a sound that is truly his own. Kraai has been fortunate enough to release several albums and share stages and bills with some of his heroes: Pete Seeger, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Dickey Betts, Leon Russell, Charlie Louvin, Dr. Ralph Stanley and many more.
David Kraai's new album, Back To When, features a stellar group of musicians, several of whom played with the legendary Gram Parsons - who is at long last being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. The album also features the very guitar on which Gram wrote his signature song, the classic "Hickory Wind," and which was used to record his groundbreaking International Submarine Band's album Safe at Home.
Back To When reunites this guitar for very first time with the only surviving musicians from that album: JayDee Maness (Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, Buck Owens), Earl Poole Ball (Johnny Cash, The Byrds) and Jon Corneal (The Flying Burrito Brothers, Gene Clark).
Along for the cosmic ride with this core band are such lauded musicians as Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful), Tony Garnier (Bob Dylan, Asleep at the Wheel), Andy Hess (The Black Crowes, Gov't Mule), Phil Jones (Tom Petty, Roy Orbison), Larry Packer (The Last Waltz, The Band), Teresa Williams (Levon Helm, Phil Lesh) and Herb Pedersen (The Dillards, Mudcrutch), who has performed on albums by both Gram Parsons and his iconic singing partner Emmylou Harris.
Besides two carefully chosen Parsons-related covers, the other seven tracks on Back To When are David Kraai's engaging originals - including a co-write with Grateful Dead lyricist Gerrit Graham. The album was mixed by Justin Guip, three-time Grammy winner for his work with Levon Helm, and mastered by the legendary Rob Fraboni, who was called a "genius" by Keith Richards in his autobiography. Accompanying the album are insightful liner notes by award-winning author Holly George-Warren.
Now is the time to go on a journey back to when music is still made by real musicians playing original songs of the heart. Songs that examine our current times while celebrating the timeless connection between friends, here and gone, who continue to influence and enrich the tapestry of all our lives.
| David has performed onstage with: Pete Seeger Garth Hudson, Randy Ciarlante (The Band) John Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful) Danny Louis (Gov't Mule) John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) Jim Lauderdale Victoria Williams Red Simpson Cindy Cashdollar (Bob Dylan, Asleep at the Wheel) Floyd Domino (Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel) Jerry Marotta (Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Indigo Girls) Eric Weissberg (Dueling Banjos, Bob Dylan) Bill Keith (Bill Monroe s Bluegrass Boys) John Platania (Van Morrison) John Simon (The Band, Janis Joplin, Taj Mahal) David Amram Terrapin Family Band Larry Packer (The Last Waltz) David Bennett Cohen (Country Joe and the Fish) Tim Easton Professor Louie & The Crowmatix Members of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue Members of Jimi Hendrix's Gypsy Sun and Rainbows Members of Lynyrd Skynyrd Members of Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris' Fallen Angels Members of The Flying Burrito Brothers Members of Hot Tuna Members of Shaver/Billy Joe Shaver Members of Mountain Members of The David Grisman Sextet Members of Doug Sahm & The Texas Tornados Members of Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band Members of The New Christy Minstrels Members of The International Submarine Band Career and performance highlights: Named number 2 current protest song by Neil Young's website Release named 79th album of year by WNCW Live on National Public Radio (NPR) National Rock Convention performance & appearance Interviews for Howard Stern and John Sinclair radio shows Co-write with Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) lyricist Gerrit Graham Garage Band Tribute to The Beatles & The Rolling Stones CDs Levon Helm Studios, Bethel Woods, Carter Family Fold, CBGB's Antone's, Eddie's Attic, Bearsville Theater, The Knitting Factory Gregg Allman Album Release Party performance Gram Parsons Tribute Festivals & Concerts Gene Clark & Sneaky Pete Kleinow Tribute Concerts Daniel Pearl Memorial Concerts Tour |
Opened for and on bills with: Levon Helm, Jim Weider (The Band) Dickey Betts & Great Southern Leon Russell Charlie Louvin Dr. Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys Al Jardine (The Beach Boys) Mary Wilson (The Supremes) Joan Osborne Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives David Bromberg Jay Farrar (Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt) Firefall Tommy James Little Anthony & The Imperials Sonny Landreth Dar Williams Denny Laine (Paul McCartney's Wings, The Moody Blues) Tony Levin (John Lennon, Peter Gabriel) Blondie Chaplin (The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys) The Kentucky Headhunters Elizabeth Cook Tracy Bonham Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams Steve Kimock & Friends Jim Kweskin Happy Traum Burrito Deluxe Walter Egan Rosie Flores Donna The Buffalo Rory Block Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion Members of the Grateful Dead Members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Band Members of Jefferson Airplane Members of Traffic Members of Little Feat Members of Gregg Allman Band Members of The Black Crowes Members of Poco Members of The Yardbirds Members of The Hollies Members of Blackberry Smoke Members of moe. Members of BR549 Members of Spirit Members of The Merry Pranksters |