John York Foley (born August 3, 1946)[1] is an American bassist and guitarist. He is best known for his work with the Byrds.

John York
Birth nameJohn York Foley
Born (1946-08-03) August 3, 1946 (age 78)
White Plains, New York, U.S.
GenresRock, country rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, guitar, oud, vocals
Years active1965–present
LabelsTribe, Columbia, Debris, Taxim
Websitewww.johnyorkmusic.com

History

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Prior to joining the Byrds, John York was a member of the Bees and the Sir Douglas Quintet, and also worked as a session musician for the Mamas & the Papas and Johnny Rivers.[2] He was also the bassist in ex-Byrd Gene Clark's touring band.[2]

York joined The Byrds in September 1968, as a replacement for the band's original bass player Chris Hillman.[3] He remained with the group until September 1969, when he was replaced by Skip Battin.[4]

Despite only being with the Byrds for a year, his bass playing and singing appear on two of the group's studio albums, Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde and Ballad of Easy Rider, as well as on the non-album single "Lay Lady Lay".[1] He wrote "Fido", which appears on Ballad of Easy Rider, and co-wrote "Candy", which is included on Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde.[4][5] He also appears on the Columbia/Legacy Byrds' live album Live at the Fillmore - February 1969.[6]

Following his departure from the Byrds, York worked with Clark during the mid-1980s, along with Pat Robinson, in the group CRY.[7] He served as an integral member of the Tribute to the Byrds band along with Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, Rick Roberts and others in the mid to late 1980s.[citation needed]

York has maintained a lengthy career as a guitarist and bass player, and since the 1980s has worked with artists including Chris Darrow, Katie Trickett, Steven T., Nick Binkley, and Carla Olson, among others.[8]

In 1988, he recorded a number of songs with fellow ex-Byrds bass player Skip Battin, and these recordings were issued as the Family Tree album in 2001.[8] He released three solo albums, Sacred Path Songs (1991), Claremont Dragon (1998), and Arigatou Baby (2006),[8] and recorded the albums Clan Mother Songs with Jamie Sams, and Koto with Yukiko Matsuyama.[9] In 2008, York teamed-up with singer-songwriter Barry McGuire for a live tour entitled Trippin' the 60's.

Selected discography

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The Bees

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Sir Douglas Quintet

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  • "She Digs My Love"/"When I Sing the Blues" (7" single – 1966)

The Byrds

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The Museuns

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  • "Train in the Desert"/"Sweet Names of Spanish Ladies" (7" single – circa 1974–1976)

John York

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  • Sacred Path Songs (1991)
  • Clan Mother Songs [with Jamie Sams] (1992)
  • Claremont Dragon (1998)
  • Koto [with Yukiko Matsuyama] (2003)
  • Arigatou Baby (2006)
  • West Coast Revelation [with Kim Fowley] (2007)
  • Trippin' the 60's: The Show Songs Live [with Barry McGuire] (2009)
  • West Coast Revelation [with Kim Fowley] (GRA Records; 2011)[10]
  • After the Storm (2000)

Family Tree

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Selected album guest appearances

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  • The Mamas & the PapasThe Papas & The Mamas (1968)
  • Jack Street Band – Jack Street Band (1982)
  • Katie Trickett – The Next Time (1994)
  • Mojave – Tumbleweed Circuit (1995)
  • Peter LewisPeter Lewis (1995)
  • Nick Binkley – Pin Stripe Brain (1996)
  • Chris Darrow – Coyote + Straight from the Heart (1997)
  • Chris Darrow and Max Buda – Harem Girl (1998)
  • Anita Kruse – Creation Flight (1998)
  • Toulouse Engelhardt and Remi Kabaka – A Child's Guide to Einstein (2004)
  • Steven T. – Damage (2004)
  • Carla OlsonHave Harmony, Will Travel (2013) ~ John sings lead on 2 songs: "First In Line" (written by Paul Kennerley) and "Upon A Painted Ocean" (written by P. F. Sloan). He also plays guitar on the album including on the Richie Furay/Carla Olson version of Gene Clark's "She Don't Care About Time".

References

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  1. ^ a b "John York Biography". Taxim Records. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Rogan, Johnny (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. p. 279. ISBN 0-9529540-1-X.
  3. ^ Hjort, Christopher (2008). So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star: The Byrds Day-By-Day (1965–1973). Jawbone Press. pp. 190–191. ISBN 978-1-906002-15-2.
  4. ^ a b Rogan, Johnny (1998). The Byrds: Timeless Flight Revisited (2nd ed.). Rogan House. pp. 295–299. ISBN 0-9529540-1-X.
  5. ^ Rogan, Johnny (1997). Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde (CD booklet). The Byrds. Columbia/Legacy.
  6. ^ Fricke, David (2000). "Knights on the Road". Live at the Fillmore – February 1969 (CD booklet). The Byrds. Columbia/Legacy.
  7. ^ Einarson, John (2005). Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life and Legacy of The Byrds' Gene Clark. Backbeat Books. pp. 264–265. ISBN 0-87930-793-5.
  8. ^ a b c "John York Discography". Byrds Flyght. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  9. ^ "John York Bio". johnyorkmusic.com. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  10. ^ "John York on Outsight Radio Hours". Retrieved July 19, 2015.
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