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Bruce Hornsby: From Jazz to Folk to Rock

Bruce Hornsby.
Bruce Hornsby.

Pianist, singer and songwriter Bruce Hornsby has sold more than 10 million records since releasing his multi-platinum debut, The Way It Is, in 1986. That album generated three Top 20 hits and helped Hornsby win the Best New Artist Grammy, and it laid the groundwork for a wildly diverse career encompassing jazz, pop, classical, bluegrass, folk, rock and Vaudeville.

A longtime touring member of The Grateful Dead, Hornsby has played on more than 100 albums — by artists including Bob Dylan, Don Henley, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt, Bela Fleck and Willie Nelson — and his songs have been recorded by a wide variety of artists.

Hornsby began his solo career in 1990, and he released the jazz-oriented Harbor Lights in 1993. After jumping around from jazz to folk to rock, he returned to his piano-based roots on 2004's Halcyon Days. His newest release, a box set titled Intersections [1985-2005], contains previously released songs, new compositions and live performances. Hornsby is currently working on a musical while wrapping up a solo piano tour.

Copyright 2007 XPN

David Dye
David Dye is a longtime Philadelphia radio personality whose music enthusiasm has captivated listeners of World Cafe® since 1991. World Cafe is produced by WXPN, the public radio service of the University of Pennsylvania.