Biography
Singer/songwriter Duane Jarvis spent much of his existence traveling from one location to another. His birth took place in the Pacific Northwest, and because his father served in the Coast Guard the family relocated repeatedly along the West Coast during his early years, interrupted only by a short interval in Florida. As a working musician he performed across Europe and participated in the local scenes of Portland, OR, and Los Angeles before settling in Nashville, where he appreciates the possibilities available in Tune Town. Fellow artists including Lucinda Williams, Buddy Miller, Rosie Flores, and John Prine have frequently commended both his songwriting and his distinctive guitar style.
Jarvis’s musical development drew from a wide range of sources. He began his professional training with the John Burroz Blues Band in Portland, later joining the power pop group the Odds and touring the I-5 corridor. Although those experiences followed an initial period in blues and rock, he has pointed out that his father’s country records shaped his earliest tastes; he has also credited the varied playlists of commercial radio during its more eclectic era as a formative influence. The relocation to Los Angeles marked a decisive turn. Jarvis observed: "I was sort of starving in Portland in the mid-'80s, so I figured I might as well go starve in L.A. where it's warm. And there were so many great bands down there at the time. The Blasters were happening, as well as Rank & File, los Lobos, the Plimsoles, Peter Case, Lone Justice. My first year in L.A. sucked, but I did okay after that. It's difficult to move from a very comfortable place to one of the biggest cities in the world, especially without any friends, but it worked out great. I eventually got to play with a lot of my heroes."
Founding Lone Justice member Marvin Etzioni supplied crucial guidance and encouragement. Through Etzioni, Jarvis connected with Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Dwight Yoakam, and Rosie Flores, and he performed with Etzioni’s band Long Tall Marvin from 1986 to 1988. During his Los Angeles period Jarvis refined his compositional approach under the additional sway of George Jones, Ray Davies, and Dave Alvin. After eleven years there he decided to leave, initially intending to settle in Austin, TX; a conversation with Lucinda Williams, already based in Nashville, prompted him to visit first. “I spent three weeks in Nashville, went home and packed my bags,” Jarvis said. “I was sold on it.” He moved to Nashville in 1994, coinciding with the release of his debut solo album, D.J.’s Front Porch, on Medium Cool Records. His follow-up, Far From Perfect, appeared in 1998 on the now-defunct Watermelon label. Slewfoot issued his next U.S. album, Certified Miracle, in 2001. He also put out Combo Platter on the German imprint Glitterhouse in 1999. Since 1998 Jarvis has additionally served as a staff writer for Lieber and Stoller.
Jarvis’s musical development drew from a wide range of sources. He began his professional training with the John Burroz Blues Band in Portland, later joining the power pop group the Odds and touring the I-5 corridor. Although those experiences followed an initial period in blues and rock, he has pointed out that his father’s country records shaped his earliest tastes; he has also credited the varied playlists of commercial radio during its more eclectic era as a formative influence. The relocation to Los Angeles marked a decisive turn. Jarvis observed: "I was sort of starving in Portland in the mid-'80s, so I figured I might as well go starve in L.A. where it's warm. And there were so many great bands down there at the time. The Blasters were happening, as well as Rank & File, los Lobos, the Plimsoles, Peter Case, Lone Justice. My first year in L.A. sucked, but I did okay after that. It's difficult to move from a very comfortable place to one of the biggest cities in the world, especially without any friends, but it worked out great. I eventually got to play with a lot of my heroes."
Founding Lone Justice member Marvin Etzioni supplied crucial guidance and encouragement. Through Etzioni, Jarvis connected with Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Dwight Yoakam, and Rosie Flores, and he performed with Etzioni’s band Long Tall Marvin from 1986 to 1988. During his Los Angeles period Jarvis refined his compositional approach under the additional sway of George Jones, Ray Davies, and Dave Alvin. After eleven years there he decided to leave, initially intending to settle in Austin, TX; a conversation with Lucinda Williams, already based in Nashville, prompted him to visit first. “I spent three weeks in Nashville, went home and packed my bags,” Jarvis said. “I was sold on it.” He moved to Nashville in 1994, coinciding with the release of his debut solo album, D.J.’s Front Porch, on Medium Cool Records. His follow-up, Far From Perfect, appeared in 1998 on the now-defunct Watermelon label. Slewfoot issued his next U.S. album, Certified Miracle, in 2001. He also put out Combo Platter on the German imprint Glitterhouse in 1999. Since 1998 Jarvis has additionally served as a staff writer for Lieber and Stoller.
Albums
