Mark Olson (of The Jayhawks)

Mark Olson formed The Jayhawks in 1985 with singer/guitarist Gary Louris and was the principal singer/songwriter in the group; they released their eponymous debut album in 1986 through independent label Bunkhouse Records. The band were signed by Minneapolis label Twin Tone in 1987 and released Blue Earth, It was this album that led the band to be signed by major label Def American - A&R representative and producer George Drakoulias is said to have heard Blue Earth playing in the background while on a phone call to Twin Tone in 1991 and signed the band later that year.

Olson left The Jayhawks at the height of their career in 1995 to return to his folk and country roots, and with the help of his then wife Victoria Williams and multi-instrumentalist Mike "Razz" Russell, formed a new band called The Creekdippers and self-released the well-received albums The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers in 1997, Pacific Coast Rambler in 1998 and 1999's Zola And The Tulip Tree.

In 2000 Olson recorded an album his own name, releasing the semi-autobiographical My Own Jo Ellen under Mark Olson and The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers on Hightone Records. Three more albums recorded as Mark Olson and The Creekdippers followed, December's Child in 2002 (which saw him reunited with former bandmate Gary Louris for the first time in seven years on the track "Say You'll Be Mine") released by Dualtone Records and Mystic Theatre (which also featured Victoria Williams) in 2004, and was released in Europe only. The same year saw the release of another Mark Olson and The Creekdippers album, Political Manifest, a politically charged and emotional album railing against former US president George Bush and his administration

Olson next released his stunning and critically acclaimed solo album, The Salvation Blues, on Hacktone Records in June 2007. The album, written while staying with Cardiff-based folk singer and writer Charlotte Greig and her novelist husband John Williams, chronicled the demise of Olsons marriage to Victoria Williams and was voted on dozens of top albums of 2007 lists throughout the world. After the release of The Salvation Blues, Mark Olson toured all over the States and Europe with Italian violin player Michele Gazich and Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Ingunn Ringvold (Sailorine), playing djembe / percussion, piano and singing harmony vocals playing more than 300 shows together.

Another critically acclaimed album, this time his first duo record with Gary Louris, was released in January 2009 on New West Records, produced by Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, called Ready For The Flood.

Olson's next album, the brilliant and exuberant neo folk record, Many Colored Kite, will be released worldwide by Rykodisc in the fall of 2010.

MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/markolsonmusic

LAST.FM: http://www.last.fm/music/Mark+Olson

FANSITE: http://www.markolsonmusic.com/

Discography

The Jayhawks

The Jayhawks (1986)Blue Earth (1989)Hollywood Town Hall (1992)Tomorrow the Green Grass (1995)

The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers

The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers (1997)Pacific Coast Rambler (1998)Zola And The Tulip Tree (1999)My Own Jo Ellen (2000)December's Child (2002)Mystic Theatre (2004)Political Manifest (2004)

Solo

The Salvation Blues (2007)Many Colored Kite (2010)With Gary LourisReady For The Flood (2009)

http://www.myspace.com/treecreepermusic