7 Walkers
Encyclopedia
7 Walkers are an American rock band featuring former Grateful Dead
drummer Bill Kreutzmann
and guitarist Papa Mali
, best known for his work with Willie Nelson
, and Reed Mathis
, of Tea Leaf Green
to the band to round out the lineup.
Their name might be an adaptation of the lyrics of the Grateful Dead song "The Eleven
", "Six proud walkers on the jingle bell rainbow." They have also written and perform a song called "7 Walkers."
The band commenced a tour in late 2009 and another on in the spring of 2010. Due to touring commitments with Tea Leaf Green, Reed Mathis was replaced by George Porter Jr., of The Meters
in spring 2010. They released their debut album, 7 Walkers
, on November 2, 2010. It features new songs written by Robert Hunter
. Reed Mathis and George Porter Jr. played bass on the album.
On at least one occasion in 2010, New Bohemians bassist Brad Houser
filled in for George Porter Jr.
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
drummer Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
and guitarist Papa Mali
Papa Mali
Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne is an American slide guitarist, singer, and songwriter who grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States, and is based in Austin, Texas....
History
The band formed in 2009 out of informal collaborations between Bill Kreutzmann and Papa Mali. Kreutzmann had been featured as a special guest at several of Mali's concerts since 2008 and the two decided to form an official band together and begin touring. They added multi-instrumentalist Matt HubbardMatt Hubbard (musician)
Matthew Hubbard is an American musician best known for his work with Willie Nelson and with the band 7 Walkers.-Career:Matt Hubbard began his career by studying electronic music at Oberlin Conservatory. He began working with Willie Nelson in 1998 and has been running Nelson's home studio in Luck,...
, best known for his work with Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, and Reed Mathis
Reed Mathis
Reed Mathis is an American composer, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is highly regarded for his innovative use of effected bass as well as his stylistic versatility...
, of Tea Leaf Green
Tea Leaf Green
Tea Leaf Green is a five-piece jam band from San Francisco Bay Area, comprising Josh Clark , Trevor Garrod , Reed Mathis , Scott Rager , and Cochrane McMillan .-History:Tea Leaf Green began in the fall of 1996, when Scott Rager met Ben Chambers on the...
to the band to round out the lineup.
Their name might be an adaptation of the lyrics of the Grateful Dead song "The Eleven
The Eleven
"The Eleven" is a song by American rock band The Grateful Dead. It was written by long-time lyricist Robert Hunter and bassist Phil Lesh. The title of the song is a direct reference to its time signature, 11/8....
", "Six proud walkers on the jingle bell rainbow." They have also written and perform a song called "7 Walkers."
The band commenced a tour in late 2009 and another on in the spring of 2010. Due to touring commitments with Tea Leaf Green, Reed Mathis was replaced by George Porter Jr., of The Meters
The Meters
The Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977...
in spring 2010. They released their debut album, 7 Walkers
7 Walkers (album)
7 Walkers is an album by the rock band 7 Walkers. The group's first album, it was released on CD and LP on November 2, 2010.The band 7 Walkers was formed in 2009 by former Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann and guitarist and singer Malcolm Welbourne, better known as Papa Mali, along with...
, on November 2, 2010. It features new songs written by Robert Hunter
Robert Hunter (lyricist)
Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
. Reed Mathis and George Porter Jr. played bass on the album.
On at least one occasion in 2010, New Bohemians bassist Brad Houser
Brad Houser
John Bradley Houser is an American bass guitar, baritone saxophone and bass clarinet player, originally from Dallas, Texas. He was a co-founding member of the New Bohemians, later to become known as Edie Brickell & New Bohemians...
filled in for George Porter Jr.
Members
| (2009–2010) |
|
|---|---|
| (2010–present) |
Bill Kreutzmann Bill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career... – drums Papa Mali Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne is an American slide guitarist, singer, and songwriter who grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States, and is based in Austin, Texas.... – guitar, vocals Matt Hubbard (musician) Matthew Hubbard is an American musician best known for his work with Willie Nelson and with the band 7 Walkers.-Career:Matt Hubbard began his career by studying electronic music at Oberlin Conservatory. He began working with Willie Nelson in 1998 and has been running Nelson's home studio in Luck,... - keyboards, horns, harmonica, vocals |