Biography
Riley Downing, a vocalist and tunesmith, merges insights earned from roaming the roads of existence with a rugged, gravelly baritone evoking a mountain patriarch. His resonant, weathered delivery suits material steeped in Southern lore, both musically and in its words, while the accompanying tunes reveal his affinity for blues, country, rock, soul, and gospel. An unhurried, relaxed quality pervades his work, yet it conveys unwavering commitment irrespective of pace. Listeners first encountered this approach through his guitar work and songwriting contributions to the Deslondes, the New Orleans roots-rock outfit, on their self-titled 2015 debut, before he claimed the spotlight with his inaugural solo effort, 2021's Start It Over.
Born in Holt, Missouri, Downing was raised amid country and bluegrass enthusiasts, his grandmother's uncles having performed old-time music. Though he later embraced roots traditions, high school drew him toward punk and direct rock & roll; a guitar arrived at age 14, leading swiftly to performances with local groups. He maintains that one such teenage band produced his debut recording at 15, though specifics remain undisclosed. At 18 he journeyed to Kansas for the Winfield Bluegrass Festival, an experience that converted him to acoustic sounds. Immersing himself in bluegrass, folk, and blues, he attended the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Oklahoma, where he encountered kindred spirits Sam Doores and Cameron Snyder of the Broken Wing Routine. Following that group's dissolution, Doores and Snyder moved to New Orleans and asked Downing to join their emerging Americana project. Initially named the Tumbleweeds, the ensemble soon became the Deslondes and recorded their acclaimed 2015 debut.
After the road schedule supporting the Deslondes' second album, 2017's Hurry Home, Downing returned to Missouri for rest and family time. A handful of solo dates followed, and during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown he began sketching a solo single with Deslondes colleague John James Tourville, then based in North Carolina. Nashville producer and engineer Andrija Tokic, previously involved with the Deslondes, joined the effort; as ideas and files circulated among the trio, Downing's collection of fresh songs expanded. Once Downing and Tourville convened at Tokic's studio, sufficient material existed for a full album, prompting Tokic to assemble session players who had backed Vince Gill, George Strait, Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, John Prine, and other country and roots luminaries. Those sessions yielded Start It Over, issued by New West Records in 2021.
Born in Holt, Missouri, Downing was raised amid country and bluegrass enthusiasts, his grandmother's uncles having performed old-time music. Though he later embraced roots traditions, high school drew him toward punk and direct rock & roll; a guitar arrived at age 14, leading swiftly to performances with local groups. He maintains that one such teenage band produced his debut recording at 15, though specifics remain undisclosed. At 18 he journeyed to Kansas for the Winfield Bluegrass Festival, an experience that converted him to acoustic sounds. Immersing himself in bluegrass, folk, and blues, he attended the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Oklahoma, where he encountered kindred spirits Sam Doores and Cameron Snyder of the Broken Wing Routine. Following that group's dissolution, Doores and Snyder moved to New Orleans and asked Downing to join their emerging Americana project. Initially named the Tumbleweeds, the ensemble soon became the Deslondes and recorded their acclaimed 2015 debut.
After the road schedule supporting the Deslondes' second album, 2017's Hurry Home, Downing returned to Missouri for rest and family time. A handful of solo dates followed, and during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown he began sketching a solo single with Deslondes colleague John James Tourville, then based in North Carolina. Nashville producer and engineer Andrija Tokic, previously involved with the Deslondes, joined the effort; as ideas and files circulated among the trio, Downing's collection of fresh songs expanded. Once Downing and Tourville convened at Tokic's studio, sufficient material existed for a full album, prompting Tokic to assemble session players who had backed Vince Gill, George Strait, Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, John Prine, and other country and roots luminaries. Those sessions yielded Start It Over, issued by New West Records in 2021.
Albums
Singles
