Too often overlooked in the country-rock category, Pure Prairie League was a mainstay in the genre during the 1970s and ’80s. Armed with breezy harmonies, glimmering hooks, and an untouchable early success like “Amie,” the band quickly made a name for themselves, a name that endures today.
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Behind the Name
The Columbus, Ohio-formed country-rock band came to be in the late 1960s with guitarist-vocalist Craig Fuller at the helm. In the beginning, he was joined by guitarist George Powell, bassist Jim Lanham, and drummer Tom McGrail, but Pure Prairie League quickly became accustomed to frequent personnel changes. The group welcomed an off-and-on cast of players that included Jim Caughlan, Billy Hinds, John David Call, and many more.
The one thing that hasn’t changed about the band, however, is their curious moniker. They borrowed their name from the fictional women’s temperance group that appears in the 1939 Errol Flynn-led western film, Dodge City. The teetotaling bunch can be seen in the below movie scene trying to hold a meeting while a barroom brawl is taking place next door.
Get a glimpse of the band’s namesake here.
When the band released their self-titled debut in 1972, the album cover featured a Norman Rockwell-painted cowboy, who became known as “Sad Luke.” The brow-beaten buckaroo has made an appearance on every one of the band’s studio albums since, becoming a kind of trademark of the group.
Sad Luke almost parallels the scenes that play throughout Dodge City, seeming to further cement the band’s enduring country-flecked style.
Pure Prairie League Today
Today, Pure Prairie League consists of early member and stringed virtuoso John David Call, newer members drummer Scott Thompson and guitarist-keyboardist Randy Harper, as well the most recent additions bassist Jared Camic and guitarist Jeff Zona.
Keeping the Pure Prairie League name alive, the outfit continues to tour, playing classic hits like “Amie,” “Falling In And Out of Love,” and “Let Me Love You Tonight.”
Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images
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Behind the Band Name: Pure Prairie League - American Songwriter
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