One of the most influential bluegrass acts of the '70s -- as well as one of that decade's most popular country artists in Europe --
blended bluegrass with country-rock and, in the process, sowed the seeds for the newgrass movement of the '80s. The Los Angeles-based band was originally formed in 1971 by fiddler
. The trio added guitarist
. Shortly after the band's formation,
album, which turned out to be the last album the group would release before breaking up; they would reunite later in the decade.
A Traitor in Our Midst was released on United Artists in 1972. During the summer of that year,
Country Gazette played gigs at Disneyland and soon landed opening spots for
Steve Miller,
Crosby & Nash, and
Don McLean, which indicated that the group was aiming for a more rock-oriented audience. Later that year, they recorded and released the
Live in Amsterdam album. Their second studio album,
Don't Give Up Your Day Job, appeared in 1973. Following its release, the band switched labels, signing with the European-based Ariola, which released
Bluegrass Special later in 1973. As the location of their record label indicated, the band was more popular in Europe than America.
In 1975,
Byron Berline left the band and formed
Sundance;
Roger Bush left that same year. The following year,
Country Gazette added guitarist/mandolinist/vocalist
Roland White to its lineup and released
Live. After its release, the band added fiddler
Dave Ferguson and released
Out to Lunch on the American independent label Flying Fish; in Europe, the album was called
Sunny Side of the Mountain. Following the recording of
Out to Lunch,
Wertz left the band. Two albums -- 1977's
What a Way to Earn a Living, which was recorded with
Berline, not
Ferguson, and 1979's
All This, and Money, Too! -- followed on Ridge Runner.
American and Clean and
America's Bluegrass Band appeared on Flying Fish in 1981 and 1982, respectively. The group disbanded after the release of
America's Bluegrass Band, but re-formed in 1983. The reunited lineup featured
Roland White, banjoist
Alan Munde, bassist
Mike Anderson, and dobroist
Gene Wooten. For the next five years, the band toured America and Europe.
Country Gazette broke up for a second and final time in 1988.
Roland White joined
the Nashville Bluegrass Band after the group's split.
–
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi