Red Clay Ramblers
North Carolina band active since 1972, known for theatrical and film work.
The Red Clay Ramblers got their start in Durham, North Carolina, in 1972 and have been playing ever since. The current touring lineup—trumpeter and bassist Jack Herrick, pianist Bland Simpson, fiddler Clay Buckner, and guitarist Chris Frank—has been stable since 1987. The founding members were guitarist Mike Craver, banjo player Tommy Thompson, fiddler Bill Hicks, and mandolinist and bassist Jim Watson.
Craver joined the band in 1973 and appeared on its first record, *The Red Clay Ramblers with Fiddlin' Al McCanless*, released by Folkways. The quartet followed with *Stolen Love* on Flying Fish, recorded in 1974 and released in 1975 during their successful run in the theatrical production *Diamond Studs*. Herrick came aboard in 1976 on bass and trumpet. The band recorded, toured, and performed in stage shows, most notably the off-Broadway *Diamond Studs* (by Bland Simpson and Jim Wann) in 1975. Their 1977 album *Merchants Lunch* told the story of a trucker’s disastrous stop at a Nashville diner, which still stands at the same spot but is now called Merchant’s Restaurant.
The Ramblers’ first decade yielded the Flying Fish albums *Stolen Love*, *Twisted Laurel*, *Merchants Lunch*, *Meeting in the Air*, *Chuckin' the Frizz*, and *Hard Times*, all reissued on CD by Rounder Records. They also collaborated on albums with Debby McClatchy (1976) and Si Kahn (1981). *Chuckin' the Frizz* is a live album, while *Meeting* collects Carter Family songs sung by Thompson, Craver, and Watson. Early songwriting partnerships between Craver and Thompson produced well-known tunes like “Merchants Lunch” and “The Ace.” Debby McClatchy recorded Bill Hicks’ most notorious original, “You Were Only F**king, While I Was Making Love.”
When Bill Hicks left the band in 1981, fiddler Clay Buckner joined. The group kept a steady performance schedule, including an off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard’s *A Lie of the Mind* in 1985–86. After that show, the lineup shifted: Shawn Colvin and Bland Simpson replaced Watson and Craver. Colvin departed in August 1987, and Chris Frank took over on guitar, accordion, and tuba.
From 1987 to 1993, the lineup of Thompson, Herrick, Buckner, Simpson, and Frank toured internationally and scored two Sam Shepard films—*Far North* (1988) and *Silent Tongue* (1994). They also acted in *Silent Tongue* as an 1870s medicine show band, where they met clowns Bil
- formed
- 1972
- origin
- Durham, North Carolina
- field
- Music
- genre
- Folk, bluegrass, Americana
- notable_for
- Theatrical productions, film scores, and long-running Broadway show Fool Moon
Lore & Background
The Red Clay Ramblers formed in Durham, North Carolina, in 1972. Mike Craver joined in 1973 and recorded with them on their first record, released by Folkways under the title The Red Clay Ramblers with Fiddlin' Al McCanless. The quartet continued their recording career with Stolen Love on the Flying Fish label, recorded in 1974 and released in 1975 during their successful run in Diamond Studs. Jack Herrick joined the band in 1976 as a bass and trumpet player. The band recorded, concertized and performed in theatrical productions, most notably Diamond Studs off-Broadway in 1975. Their 1977 recording, Merchants Lunch, described a trucker's disastrous visit to a Nashville diner. Fiddler Clay Buckner joined the band when fiddler Bill Hicks left in 1981. The Red Clay Ramblers continued to perform steadily, including an Off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard's Lie of the Mind in 1985–86. Following that production the personnel changed, with Shawn Colvin and Bland Simpson replacing Watson and Craver. Colvin left the band in August 1987, replaced by Chris Frank on guitar-accordion-tuba.
Reader's Guide
The Red Clay Ramblers' significance lies in their sustained output across recordings, theater, and film over decades. Their first decade produced albums on Flying Fish, including Stolen Love, Twisted Laurel, Merchants Lunch, Meeting in the Air, Chuckin' the Frizz, and Hard Times, all available as CDs through Rounder Records. They collaborated with Debby McClatchy in 1976 and Si Kahn in 1981. The lineup of Thompson, Herrick, Buckner, Simpson and Frank toured internationally from 1987 through 1993, scoring two Sam Shepard movies (Far North, 1988 and Silent Tongue, 1994). They acted in Silent Tongue, appearing as an 1870s medicine show band, where they met clowns Bill Irwin and David Shiner and spawned Fool Moon, which they first performed on Broadway between February and September 1993. Fool Moon returned to Broadway twice more (1995, 1998) and won a Special Tony Award in June 1999. Cartoonist Doug Marlette collaborated with Bland Simpson and Jack Herrick on a musical comedy adaptation of his Kudzu comic strip, produced in North Carolina and Washington, D.C., in 1998. Founder Tommy Thompson retired at the end of 1993, suffering from Alzheimer's, and died on January 24, 2003. The band continues as a quartet with banjoist Rick Good and drummer Rob Ladd, including composed works for the Atlanta Ballet (2003) and the Carolina Ballet (2005), and the musical Lone Star Love, which played off-Broadway in 2004–2005.
Did You Know?
- The Red Clay Ramblers' 1977 recording Merchants Lunch described a trucker's disastrous visit to a Nashville diner, which still exists but has been renamed Merchant's Restaurant.
- Fiddler Bill Hicks' most infamous original composition, 'You Were Only F**king, While I Was Making Love,' was recorded by Debby McClatchy.
- The band acted in Sam Shepard's 1994 film Silent Tongue as an 1870s medicine show band.
- Founder Tommy Thompson retired from the band at the end of 1993 due to Alzheimer's and died on January 24, 2003.
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