The Bruce Hornsby timeline documents as much as we could find since Bruce’s high school days – open each link and who knows what you’ll find… maybe videos, downloads or pictures. If you add anything to add, please contact us!
As always, BruceHornsby.com charts the present day.
Octane Kids
January 1, 1974
Bruce is part of the Octane Kids with brother Bobby, primarily a Grateful Dead tribute band based in Virginia.
Read moreSenior recital
February 24, 1977
Senior recital at University of Miami, FL. Listen to a clip here.
Read moreSheena Easton
January 1, 1983
Between 1983 and 1985, Bruce toured as Sheena Easton’s piano player, playing with bassist Joe Puerta from Ambrosia and later The Range. Here they are in the background of Sheena Easton’s…
Read moreThe Range is formed
January 1, 1985
The Range forms, comprising: Bruce Hornsby John Molo (drums) George Marinelli (guitar) David Mansfield (guitar, mandolin, violin) Joe Puerta (bass)
Read moreThe Way It Is release
June 2, 1986
The debut album is released, producing three top twenty hits – Mandolin Rain (#4), Every Little Kiss (#14) and the worldwide hit The Way It Is (#1). the record remained…
Read moreFirst Grammy win
February 24, 1987
First Grammy win for Best New Artist. Ron Herbert has put together some YouTube videos documenting the local coverage:
Read moreJacob’s Ladder – Huey Lewis
March 14, 1987
Bruce’s “Jacob’s Ladder”, performed by Huey Lewis and the News, reaches number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Read moreScenes from the Southside release
May 3, 1988
The second record produces another top five hit with The Valley Road. “The Show Goes On” also brings notable success as the title track for Ron Howard’s movie Backdraft. The…
Read moreGrateful Dead tenure
June 25, 1988
After earlier opening for the Grateful Dead with the Range, Bruce makes the first of over one hundred appearances with the Grateful Dead, sitting in on accordion for Sugaree and Memphis…
Read moreTelluride debut
June 24, 1989
First appearance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, playing with Mark O’Connor, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Paul Brady and the New Grass Revival. Listen to some of that right here.
Read moreEnd of the Innocence
June 27, 1989
Another collaboration, this time with Don Henley, gives us “End of the Innocence”, a timeless classic still synonymous with both artists thirty years later. The song made number 8 in…
Read moreSecond Grammy
February 21, 1990
Bruce and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band pick up a Grammy for their bluegrass version of Valley Road, beating out Alison Krauss and Bill Monroe.
Read moreA Night on the Town release
June 8, 1990
Peter Harris leaves, with the Range remaining as four. By this time, though, Shaun Murphy (now of Little Feat) and Laura Creamer were providing background vocals. This was the final album with the Range features…
Read moreMadison Square Garden
September 15, 1990
Madison Square Garden hosts Bruce’s first show as a regular member of the Grateful Dead, as part of a run of shows at the Garden.
Read moreNBA All-Star Game
February 10, 1991
Bruce Hornsby and Branford Marsalis combined to perform a moving version of the Star-Spangled Banner for the 1991 NBA All Star Game in Charlotte, NC.
Read moreDeadicated
April 9, 1991
Bruce and the Range record “Jack Straw” for the “Deadicated” Grateful Dead tribute album. Bruce was part of the Octane Kids with brother Bobby in 1974, primarily a Grateful Dead tribute band based…
Read moreTwo Rooms
October 22, 1991
“Madman Across the Water” was released on the Elton John tribute “Two Rooms”, making it the last recorded work by Bruce Hornsby and the Range.
Read moreFinal Grateful Dead show
March 24, 1992
Bruce’s final listed show as a regular member of the Grateful Dead at the Palace in Auburn Hills, MI. You can listen to it at archive.org.
Read moreHarbor Lights release
April 6, 1993
Bruce employs a jazzier feel and extended instrumentals on his latest record. Newly sons Russell and Keith influence “Fields of Gray” (and feature in the video). Several songs, including the…
Read moreThird Grammy
March 1, 1994
Teaming up with Branford Marsalis again nets a third Grammy, this time for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for “Barcelona Mona”.
Read moreMiami Student Orchestra
March 31, 1994
Bruce and co perform a memorable set with the Miami Student Orchestra. You can download the whole performance here.
Read moreHot House release
July 18, 1995
Bruce’s fifth record, Hot House, features Jerry Garcia’s last ever recorded work, as he closes the record with a solo on Cruise Control. Also Jimmy Haslip’s last recorded work with…
Read moreCal Ripken national anthem
September 6, 1995
Bruce and Branford Marsalis gave a moving rendition of the national anthem on the 20th Anniversary of Cal Ripken’s 2,131st Consecutive Game. Thanks to Aaron Pritchett for sharing!
Read moreBruce Hornsby & Friends
October 27, 1995
PBS TV special with special guests at the Manhattan Center, New York on October 27, 1995. Bob Weir joins the group for Jack Straw, and they’re also joined by Pat Metheny,…
Read moreThe Other Ones
June 4, 1998
As a part of the Furthur festivals, Bruce starts a two year stint as a part of the Other Ones with Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, John Molo, Steve…
Read moreSpirit Trail release
October 13, 1998
Bruce’s sixth record is his first double release. Weighing in at over ninety minutes, it is considered by many to be his finest work to date. It makes a sampled,…
Read moreYoshi’s run
October 27, 1998
Bruce commences a twenty-show run of solo and band shows at the Oakland, CA-based Yoshi’s jazz club, playing afternoons and evenings, and featuring guests such as Phil Lesh, Huey Lewis…
Read moreThe Strange Remain
February 9, 1999
The Other Ones release a live album “The Strange Remain”, featuring Bruce with Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Steve Kimock, along with former Range-r John Molo. Included are reworked…
Read moreSensitive Ones
August 26, 1999
Along with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, David Lindley and Wally Ingram, some of the world’s finest songwriters take to the road for two months as a touring band…
Read moreHere Come the Noisemakers release
October 25, 1999
Bruce’s band are named, coinciding with the first live release… a double CD entitled “Here Come the Noisemakers”. The record title (and subsequent band name) is derived from a disgruntled…
Read moreMillennium Bash
December 31, 1999
In his hometown of Williamsburg, VA Bruce and his band present a concert to see in the new millennium. A three hour show runs past midnight and in true rock…
Read moreTwo Bruces
July 31, 2001
Bruce is joined on stage in Red Bank, NJ by the “other” Bruce for “Cadillac Ranch” as an encore. You can here it here:
Read moreBig Swing Face release
June 25, 2002
The seventh studio record, the final RCA release, and a complete departure from previous ventures. Almost no piano at all, it relies on electronics and loops for a totally different…
Read moreGreatest Radio Hits release
September 8, 2003
The final release on RCA is a chronological look at the first seventeen year, including some live unreleased material and a song co-written with Robbie Robertson: “Go Back To Your…
Read moreGrateful Dead Hall of Fame induction
January 19, 2004
Bruce inducts the Grateful Dead into the 1994 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Read moreHalcyon Days release
August 14, 2004
After nineteen years with RCA, Bruce releases his first on Columbia Records . It features the invasion of the Brits: Eric Clapton, Sting and Sir Elton John. The middle section…
Read moreCopenhagen bar
September 22, 2004
Bruce’s solo tour of Europe includes a surprise as he gatecrashes his own tribute band’s act in Copenhagen and storms the stage mid-Cruise Control. He also sits in for Preacher…
Read moreThree Nights on the Town release
July 25, 2005
Bruce and the Noisemakers performed a trio of concerts at New York City’s Town Hall, The Blue Note and the Zankel at Carnegie Hall (solo show) in 2004. The Town…
Read moreIntersections
July 25, 2006
A challenge to document an incredible body of work is met as “Intersections” is released – four CDs and a DVD of studio and live tracks and unreleased material. A…
Read moreRicky Skaggs record
March 20, 2007
After being discussed for years, a bluegrass record with Ricky Skaggs tops the bluegrass charts and kickstarts yet another collaborative tour, this time with Kentucky Thunder. The great crowd favourite…
Read moreCamp Meeting release
August 7, 2007
A second release in five months, and Bruce’s tenth studio album. Recorded with Jack Dejohnette and Christian McBride as “The Bruce Hornsby Trio”, they toured jazz festivals and met with…
Read moreCreative Music Program
April 1, 2008
Bruce returns to the University of Miami, this time to start his own creative music program. He, J.V.Collier and Sonny Emory all perform master classes to inspire our singer-songwriters of…
Read moreKobe Doin’ Work
April 25, 2009
Spike Lee stops Bruce in the bathroom at an NBA game and persuades him to write the score for a documentary that he’s directing about Kobe Bryant. It charts Kobe’s…
Read moreWorld’s Greatest Dad
August 21, 2009
Several of Bruce’s songs are used in an independent movie starring Robin Williams. It causes Bruce to make a cameo appearance playing Mandolin Rain. Bruce’s wife Kathy and sons Russell…
Read moreLevitate release
September 15, 2009
A switch to Verve Records gives us several highlights: an extended solo from R.S.Hornsby (who the record is dedicated to), more from Eric Clapton, a collaboration with Grateful Dead lyricist…
Read moreSCKBSTD musical
January 21, 2011
World premiere of the musical co-written with childhood friend Chip Dematteo. Running until February 6, it was hosted by the Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk, VA. Several of the songs…
Read moreBride of the Noisemakers live CDs
June 7, 2011
Eleven years after the first live double CD comes the second one. “Bride” showcases 25 songs recorded over three years and featuring songs as far back as the first record.
Read moreRed Hook Summer movie
August 7, 2012
Bruce writes and performs several tracks for the Spike Lee movie “Red Hook Summer”.
Read moreCluck Ol’ Hen release
August 20, 2013
Following up 2007’s collaborative CD, Bruce and Ricky Skaggs team up again for this live CD, delving into traditional bluegrass songs throughout. Here’s Uncle Pen. The original by Bill Monroe…
Read moreSolo Concerts release
August 25, 2014
Bruce’s first outing with Vanguard Record was this highly-acclaimed double-CD release of solo concert piano performances. The 21 tracks are taken from solo concerts performed in the U.S. over 2012 and…
Read moreFare Thee Well shows
June 27, 2015
Bruce joins Try Anastasio, Jeff Chimenti and most of the remaining Grateful Dead members for their official farewell, coinciding with their 50th anniversary. Over 360,000 people paid $52 million to…
Read moreRehab Reunion release
June 17, 2016
The sixth record credited to the Noisemakers, this one features no piano and plenty of dulcimer. Mavis Staples and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon contribute vocals to “Celestial Railroad” and “Over…
Read moreFunhouse Festival
June 24, 2016
Bruce curates the first Funhouse Festival in Williamsburg, hosting friends and artists who have collaborated over the years. Guests include Ricky Skaggs, Shawn Colvin, Steve Earle, Taj Majal, Railroad Earth,…
Read moreAbsolute Zero release
April 12, 2019
Absolute Zero was released on April 12 2019. The reception was hugely positive from the media and Bruce Hornsby fans alike. Here’s a video of Voyager One, issued before the…
Read moreNon-Secure Connection release
August 14, 2020
August 14 2020 saw the second release in as many years, the first time that’s happened. Guests included Rob Moose, Jamila Woods, Leon Russell posthumously and James Mercer on this…
Read more