Pousette-Dart Band

Jon Pousette-Dart captained the Pousette-Dart Band through four albums of well-received countrified folk/pop for Capitol Records between 1976 and 1980, a run that acquainted a generation with his formidable gifts as a singer, songwriter, arranger, guitarist and all-around musical adventurer. During that time, The Pousette-Dart Band became one of the busiest touring groups in the US, working alongside fellow travelers like The Byrds, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, James Taylor, Yes, The J. Geils Band, Eddie Money, Peter Frampton, Journey and Billy Joel.

In 1973, he formed The Pousette-Dart Band with John Troy, his friend from the University of the Pacific, and a new recruit, John Curtis. Initially conceived as a string band, the trio played college gigs and the Northeastern coffeehouse circuit initially, but they moved towards commercially oriented folk rock in 1975 and caught the ear of legendary label exec Al Coury, who signed them to Capitol. The back half of the ‘70s saw the band record the studio albums Pousette-Dart Band (1976), Amnesia (1977), Pousette-Dart Band 3 (1978) and Never Enough (1979).

After the group closed up shop in 1980, Pousette-Dart moved returned to his hometown, New York City, where he firmly established himself as a leading songwriter, slide guitarist and singer for recording sessions and advertising jingles. The Pousette-Dart Band reunited in 1991 for a series of dates and a best-of collection dropped in 1994.

(by Stephen Haag)