Bruce Hornsby timeline

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

Octane Kids

Bruce is part of the Octane Kids with brother Bobby, primarily a Grateful Dead tribute band based in Virginia.

Read more

Senior recital

February 24, 1977

Senior recital

Senior recital at University of Miami, FL. Listen to a clip here.

Read more

The Range is formed

January 1, 1985

The Range is formed

The Range forms, comprising: Bruce Hornsby John Molo (drums) George Marinelli (guitar) David Mansfield (guitar, mandolin, violin) Joe Puerta (bass)

Read more

The Way It Is release

June 2, 1986

The Way It Is release

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 more

First Grammy win

February 24, 1987

First Grammy win

First Grammy win for Best New Artist. Ron Herbert has put together some YouTube videos documenting the local coverage:  

Read more

Jacob’s Ladder – Huey Lewis

March 14, 1987

Jacob’s Ladder – Huey Lewis

Bruce’s “Jacob’s Ladder”, performed by Huey Lewis and the News, reaches number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Read more

Scenes from the Southside release

May 3, 1988

Scenes from the Southside release

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 more

Grateful Dead tenure

June 25, 1988

Grateful Dead tenure

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 more

Telluride debut

June 24, 1989

Telluride debut

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 more

End of the Innocence

June 27, 1989

End of the Innocence

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 more

Second Grammy

February 21, 1990

Second Grammy

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 more

A Night on the Town release

June 8, 1990

A Night on the Town release

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 more

Madison Square Garden

September 15, 1990

Madison Square Garden

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 more

NBA All-Star Game

February 10, 1991

NBA All-Star Game

The Other Ones release a live album featuring Bruce with Weir, Lesh, Hart and Steve Kimock, and former Range-r John Molo. Included are reworked versions of White-Wheeled Limousine and Rainbow’s…

Read more

Deadicated

April 9, 1991

Deadicated

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 more

Two Rooms

October 22, 1991

Two Rooms

“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 more

Final Grateful Dead show

March 24, 1992

Final Grateful Dead show

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 more

Harbor Lights release

April 6, 1993

Harbor Lights release

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 more

Third Grammy

March 1, 1994

Third Grammy

Teaming up with Branford Marsalis again nets a third Grammy, this time for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for “Barcelona Mona”.

Read more

Miami Student Orchestra

March 31, 1994

Miami Student Orchestra

Bruce and co perform a memorable set with the Miami Student Orchestra. You can download the whole performance here.

Read more

Hot House release

July 18, 1995

Hot House release

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 more

Cal Ripken national anthem

September 6, 1995

Cal Ripken national anthem

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 more

Bruce Hornsby & Friends

October 27, 1995

Bruce Hornsby & Friends

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 more

The Other Ones

June 4, 1998

The Other Ones

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 more

Spirit Trail release

October 13, 1998

Spirit Trail release

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 more

Yoshi’s run

October 27, 1998

Yoshi’s run

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 more

The Strange Remain

February 9, 1999

The Strange Remain

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 more

Sensitive Ones

August 26, 1999

Sensitive Ones

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 more

Here Come the Noisemakers release

October 25, 1999

Here Come the Noisemakers release

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 more

Millennium Bash

December 31, 1999

Millennium Bash

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 more

Two Bruces

July 31, 2001

Two Bruces

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 more

Big Swing Face release

June 25, 2002

Big Swing Face release

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 more

Greatest Radio Hits release

September 8, 2003

Greatest Radio Hits release

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 more

Grateful Dead Hall of Fame induction

January 19, 2004

Grateful Dead Hall of Fame induction

Bruce inducts the Grateful Dead into the 1994 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Read more

Halcyon Days release

August 14, 2004

Halcyon Days release

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 more

Copenhagen bar

September 22, 2004

Copenhagen bar

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 more

Three Nights on the Town release

July 25, 2005

Three Nights on the Town release

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 more

Intersections

July 25, 2006

Intersections

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 more

Ricky Skaggs record

March 20, 2007

Ricky Skaggs record

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 more

Camp Meeting release

August 7, 2007

Camp Meeting release

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 more

Creative Music Program

April 1, 2008

Creative Music Program

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 more

Kobe Doin’ Work

April 25, 2009

Kobe Doin’ Work

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 more

World’s Greatest Dad

August 21, 2009

World’s Greatest Dad

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 more

Levitate release

September 15, 2009

Levitate release

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 more

SCKBSTD musical

January 21, 2011

SCKBSTD musical

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 more

Bride of the Noisemakers live CDs

June 7, 2011

Bride of the Noisemakers live CDs

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 more

Red Hook Summer movie

August 7, 2012

Red Hook Summer movie

Bruce writes and performs several tracks for the Spike Lee movie “Red Hook Summer”. 

Read more

Cluck Ol’ Hen release

August 20, 2013

Cluck Ol’ Hen release

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 more

Solo Concerts release

August 25, 2014

Solo Concerts release

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 more

Fare Thee Well shows

June 27, 2015

Fare Thee Well shows

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 more

Rehab Reunion release

June 17, 2016

Rehab Reunion release

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 more

Funhouse Festival

June 24, 2016

Funhouse Festival

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 more

Absolute Zero release

April 12, 2019

Absolute Zero release

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 more

Non-Secure Connection release

August 14, 2020

Non-Secure Connection release

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

Related content