Swampwater

Swampwater earned its lasting reputation primarily through its role as Linda Ronstadt’s late-1960s support unit, the first ensemble she assembled after the Stone Poneys, even though the quartet attracted a stronger audience outside Europe. John Beland on guitar, dobro, and piano, Gib Gilbeau on fiddle and guitar, Stan Pratt on drums, and bassist Eric White—Clarence White’s sibling and a former Kentucky Colonels member—came together in 1969 and concentrated on a Louisiana-rooted strain of rock & roll that was uncommon at the time. After the initial national trek behind Ronstadt, White departed and was replaced by Thad Maxwell, who had already worked alongside Beland in One Man’s Family. In the opening months of 1970 the musicians entered the studio for Starday/King Records to record what began as a Gilbeau solo project yet quickly turned into a full-band statement whose texture sat apart from both the polished approach of Poco and Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band and the more expansive sound of the Flying Burrito Brothers. Gilbeau’s country and Cajun heritage combined with Beland’s affinity for harmony-driven groups such as the Byrds, the Beach Boys, and the Everly Brothers shaped the eleven tracks, which were completed in two days and remained unreleased for a quarter-century. The resulting music offered tightly executed Cajun rock that evoked the Louisiana bayou while its vocal blend echoed the Byrds, a combination without precedent in rock at that point. Because the harmonies struck listeners as so distinctive, the group received numerous calls to supply backing vocals for Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Country Joe McDonald, and Odetta. In 1971 Guthrie succeeded in drawing the musicians away from Ronstadt, whose subsequent backing band became the Eagles. Swampwater next issued another self-titled album on RCA that featured Herb Pedersen on guitar and vocals, after which the members went their separate directions. While the Eagles, Firefall, and similar country-rock outfits enjoyed repeated chart success and widespread recognition, Swampwater faded from view except among Los Angeles listeners and devoted early Ronstadt followers. Post-dissolution, Gilbeau joined the Burrito Brothers and Beland logged numerous session appearances before pursuing a solo career. Maxwell worked with Guthrie, later reunited with Gilbeau and Sneaky Pete Kleinow in Sierra, spent a period playing guitar for Mac Davis, and eventually became a teacher.