Rawlins Cross is a Celtic band that formed in 1988 in Atlantic Canada. With members from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Ontario, the band took its name from an intersection in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Formation and early history Rawlins Cross was formed in St. John's in the late 1980s by songwriting brothers Dave Panting (guitar and mandolin), Geoff Panting (keyboards and accordion), and Ian McKinnon (highland pipes and tin whistle). They then added drummer Pamela Paton and bassist Lorne Taylor to the band.
The band started in the East Coast recording scene in late 1989 with its first independently released recording, A Turn of the Wheel; a video for the single "Colleen" was released the same year. After its release, "Colleen" had a top ten radio slot on Toronto's CFNY station. In 1991, Lorne Taylor left the band, with Derek Pelley briefly replacing Taylor on bass. Prior to the recording of their sophomore album, Crossing The Border, Pamela Paton left in late 1991, to be replaced by Tom Roach. Bassist Derek Pelley left in early 1992, and was replaced by Brian Bourne.
Popularity and mainstream success In 1992, the band released Crossing The Border, which further developed the fusion of highland bagpipes, mandolin and accordion with a rhythm section. A year later, after Rawlins Cross brought in drummer Howie Southwood, the band recorded Reel 'n' Roll, which would be its best-selling album and launch a national radio hit with the title track. Prior to the recording of Reel 'n' Roll, Prince Edward Island singer, Joey Kitson, joined the band as the new lead singer. Prior to Kitson joining the band, guitarist Dave Panting sang lead vocals for the band on the albums, A Turn of the Wheel and Crossing The Border.
Rawlins Cross released Living River in 1996, which garnered two Juno Award nominations. The band toured Canada three times that year and signed a licensing deal for its music in Europe.
Rawlins Cross performed live on the nationally televised East Coast Music Awards and performed at the ninth annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration Festival in Germany and also represented Canada at the Expo Cumbre de las Americas in Santiago, Chile.
Two more albums followed: Celtic Instrumentals in 1997, a retrospective collection, and the 1998 studio album Make It On Time, which would prove to be the band's last album for more than a decade.
Following a six-year hiatus, Rawlins Cross reunited in the fall of 2008 and released its seventh recording, Anthology. In November 2010, they released their eighth album, Heart Head Hands. Their next recording, Rock Steady, was recorded at Codapop Studios (in Halifax, Nova Scotia) and released in December 2017 with the single, "Hold You Tonight".
Style Rawlins Cross mixed Scottish, Irish, Celtic, and rock 'n' roll elements. Their style ranged from Celtic-instrumental to blues to folk, always with a strong rhythmic feeling, and combined contemporary song stylings with traditional instrumentation and story elements. The principal songwriters were brothers Dave and Geoff Panting.
After vocalist Joey Kitson joined the band in 1993, a number of songs on the first two CDs, including "Turn Of the Wheel", "MacPherson's Lament", "Colleen", and "Open Road" were recorded again with Kitson singing lead, and released on subsequent recordings.
Band members Current band members Joey Kitson — lead vocals, harmonica (1993–present) Dave Panting — mandolin, guitar, banjo, harmonica, bouzouki, background vocals, songwriting (1988–present), lead vocals (1988–1993) Geoff Panting — accordion, keyboards, background vocals, songwriting (1988–present) Ian McKinnon — bagpipes, tin whistle, bodhran, trumpet, percussion, jaw harp (1988–present) Brian Bourne — Chapman Stick, bass, background vocals (1992–present) Howie Southwood — drums (1993–present)
Former band members Pamela Paton — drums (1988–1991) Lorne Taylor —bass (1988–1991) Derek Pelley — bass (1991–1992) Tom Roach — drums (1991–1993)
Discography
Albums Year Album 1989 A Turn of the Wheel 1992 Crossing the Border 1993 Reel 'N' Roll 1996 Living River 1997 Celtic Instrumentals 1998 Make It on Time 2008 Anthology 2010 Heart-Head-Hands2017Rock Steady2019Flying Colours2022Sunrise
Singles Year Single Chart Positions Album CAN AC CAN 1994 "Reel 'N' Roll" Reel 'N' Roll "Long Night" 60 1996 "When My Ship Comes In" Living River "The Long Way Home" 49 58 1998 "You Will Always Be My Love" Make It on Time "Where Would I Be" 56
Awards and nominations 1997 Juno Awards Nominations Best Roots/Traditional Album - Living River Best Album Design - Living River 1999 East Coast Music Awards Winner Best Roots/Traditional Nominations Entertainer of the Year Best Group of the Year
References
External links Rawlins Cross Official Website