Biography
Operating briefly as a Santa Cruz, California bar band, the Ducks placed Neil Young on guitar and vocals without designating him leader. The democratic quartet rotated lead vocals among all four members and featured original material from each songwriter, their fusion of country rock, blues, folk-rock, and straight-ahead rock turning them into local celebrities during the three months they existed. No official recordings emerged from their short tenure, and only scattered bootlegs captured their performances until Young authorized the 2023 archival live album High Flyin'.
Jerry Miller, long associated with Moby Grape, began assembling the lineup in early 1977 and recruited former bandmate Bob Mosley on bass along with songwriter and guitarist Jeff Blackburn, whose earlier credits included the folk duo Blackburn & Snow. Young, acquainted with the Moby Grape musicians from Buffalo Springfield bills, joined one of Miller’s stage jams; once Miller pursued other work, Young connected with Mosley and Blackburn in Santa Cruz and found their interplay compelling. Adding drummer Johnny Craviotto, previously employed by Ry Cooder and Arlo Guthrie, the group christened themselves the Ducks and debuted at the Back Room club. Young sought an outlet for intimate performances where he would not dominate, so each member sang several numbers nightly while his distinctive guitar traded phrases with Blackburn’s direct, forceful style. Charging modest cover prices—typically three dollars or less—and prioritizing enjoyment over commerce, the Ducks built an enthusiastic audience through word of mouth that regularly filled Santa Cruz venues, prompting fans to bring duck calls for audible approval and leading Young to reside temporarily in the city. A local newspaper article ended their anonymity, after which they graduated to larger rooms yet retained the same admission policy and collective approach, with Young greeting patrons personally after each set.
Five Santa Cruz performances took place in July 1977 and thirteen more the following August. Mainstream press coverage soon drew crowds unfamiliar with the band’s egalitarian ethos and understated outlook, generating frequent calls for Young’s catalog while Mosley and Blackburn handled vocals. A burglary that stripped Young of prized equipment coincided with the group’s growing profile, and touring plans collapsed when Crazy Horse invoked a contract requiring them as Young’s road band, effectively confining the Ducks to Santa Cruz. After opening for a reunited Moby Grape at the Santa Monica Civic Center in September 1977, Young left the group. Mosley, Blackburn, and Craviotto continued performing and awaited his possible return, yet momentum faded; their final appearance supported Elvin Bishop. Mosley later pursued solo work and periodic Moby Grape reunions, Blackburn co-wrote the anthemic “My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” for Neil Young’s 1979 album Rust Never Sleeps, and Craviotto launched a company producing premium drum equipment. Young had arranged professional recordings of the August 1977 shows, culminating in the authorized 2023 release of High Flyin'.
Jerry Miller, long associated with Moby Grape, began assembling the lineup in early 1977 and recruited former bandmate Bob Mosley on bass along with songwriter and guitarist Jeff Blackburn, whose earlier credits included the folk duo Blackburn & Snow. Young, acquainted with the Moby Grape musicians from Buffalo Springfield bills, joined one of Miller’s stage jams; once Miller pursued other work, Young connected with Mosley and Blackburn in Santa Cruz and found their interplay compelling. Adding drummer Johnny Craviotto, previously employed by Ry Cooder and Arlo Guthrie, the group christened themselves the Ducks and debuted at the Back Room club. Young sought an outlet for intimate performances where he would not dominate, so each member sang several numbers nightly while his distinctive guitar traded phrases with Blackburn’s direct, forceful style. Charging modest cover prices—typically three dollars or less—and prioritizing enjoyment over commerce, the Ducks built an enthusiastic audience through word of mouth that regularly filled Santa Cruz venues, prompting fans to bring duck calls for audible approval and leading Young to reside temporarily in the city. A local newspaper article ended their anonymity, after which they graduated to larger rooms yet retained the same admission policy and collective approach, with Young greeting patrons personally after each set.
Five Santa Cruz performances took place in July 1977 and thirteen more the following August. Mainstream press coverage soon drew crowds unfamiliar with the band’s egalitarian ethos and understated outlook, generating frequent calls for Young’s catalog while Mosley and Blackburn handled vocals. A burglary that stripped Young of prized equipment coincided with the group’s growing profile, and touring plans collapsed when Crazy Horse invoked a contract requiring them as Young’s road band, effectively confining the Ducks to Santa Cruz. After opening for a reunited Moby Grape at the Santa Monica Civic Center in September 1977, Young left the group. Mosley, Blackburn, and Craviotto continued performing and awaited his possible return, yet momentum faded; their final appearance supported Elvin Bishop. Mosley later pursued solo work and periodic Moby Grape reunions, Blackburn co-wrote the anthemic “My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” for Neil Young’s 1979 album Rust Never Sleeps, and Craviotto launched a company producing premium drum equipment. Young had arranged professional recordings of the August 1977 shows, culminating in the authorized 2023 release of High Flyin'.
Albums
Singles
Live
