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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = The Flatlanders| image = Flatlanders.gif| caption = The Flatlanders playing a concert in Lubbock on June 3rd, 2009.| image_size =| background = group_or_band| origin = Lubbock, Texas | genre = Country rock , Alternative country | years_active = 1972–1973, 1998–present| label = New West Records|New West | associated_acts =| website =| current_members = Jimmie Dale Gilmore Joe Ely Butch Hancock The Flatlanders are a country music|country band with considerable country rock influence from Lubbock, Texas founded by singers/songwriters/guitarists Jimmie Dale Gilmore , Joe Ely , and Butch Hancock . Allmusic|class=artist|id=p1606/biography
They garnered little attention during their brief original incarnation (1972–73), but when the band's three core members later found success in solo careers, interest in The Flatlanders was rekindled, and the band has reformed a few times since.
History
The Flatlanders formed in 1972 in Lubbock, Texas . Gilmore, Ely and Hancock formed the group, with Gilmore as the main songwriter and singer, with several other collaborators: their friends Steve Wesson, previously a non-musician, on autoharp and musical saw and Tony Pearson on mandolin and backup harmony, as well as Tommy Hancock (no relation) on fiddle and string bassist Syl Rice.
One of the band's first appearance was at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 1972, where they were named one of the winners of the inaugural Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Singer/Songwriter Competition.
The band's first recording project was produced in 1972 by Shelby Singleton, the then-owner of Memphis, Tennessee 's famed Sun Studios . A promotional single, Gilmore's "Dallas", was a commercial failure, and the planned album, All American Music , was all but scrapped, being released only in a small run on Stereo 8|8 track tape in order to fulfill contractual obligations.
The Flatlanders performed through 1973 before disbanding. By the end of the decade, however, Gilmore, Ely and Hancock had all found success as solo performers, and rumors of their earlier obscure collaboration began to circulate. In 1991, Rounder Records issued the 1972 sessions as More a Legend Than a Band .
The three musicians continued to reunite for occasional Flatlanders performances. In 1998 they contributed to the soundtrack of The Horse Whisperer (film)|The Horse Whisperer , and then in 2002 released their follow-up album, Now Again, on New West Records . In 2004 this was followed with Wheels of Fortune , again on New West. In 2004, New West released ''Live '72 a live recording of the then-unknown country band performing at the One Knite honky-tonk in Austin, Texas .
The Flatlanders' new album, Hills & Valleys , was released by New West on March 31, 2009. The Flatlanders appeared as musical guests on The Late Show with Dave Letterman on July 21, 2009.
Discography
Year
Album
Chart Positions
Label
US Country
US
US Heat
US Indie
1980
One More Road
Plantation
1990
More a Legend Than a Band
Rounder
2002
Now Again
19
168
3
12
New West
2004
''Live '72
Wheels of Fortune
35
17
17
2009
Hills and Valleys
38
14
47
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.theflatlanders.com The Flatlanders official website
http://www.lubbock-lights.com Lubbock Lights , a 2005 film starring The Flatlanders
http://www.happenstance-music.com/KFF_History.asp Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Finalist History from Happenstance and Doug Coppock
cite news |first=Jon |last=Garelick |work= The Boston Phoenix |title=The three troubadours: Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock keep the Flatlanders alive |url= http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/music/other_stories/documents/03604723.asp |date=February 20, 2004
cite news |first=Carolyn Pennypacker |last=Riggs |work= L.A. Record |title=The Flatlanders: Knocks Your Brain Out Of Your Skull |url= http://larecord.com/interviews/2009/05/30/interview-the-flatlanders-joe-ely-knocks-your-brain-out-of-your-skull |date=May 30, 2009
DEFAULTSORT:Flatlanders Category:American country music groups|Flatlanders, The Category:Musical groups from Texas Category:New West Records artists
