Warriors Path

Warriors Path formed around the vision of singer and songwriter Mark Protus, who gathered a roster of veteran players to support his previously little-known Seattle presence. The lineup incorporated ex-Chicago guitarist Chris Pinnick, ex-Doobie Brother percussionist Chet McCracken, session drummer Gary Ferguson, ex-Tori Amos bassist Will MacGregor, and avant-garde composer Chas Smith, while newcomer Carole Beren joined Protus on vocals to complete the ensemble. After stepping away from the Northwest music scene in the late ’80s, Protus took a key role in the emerging technology division at Seattle-based Microsoft. He departed that position at the close of the ’90s, initially resurfacing as a solo performer before convening the full group at the turn of the century. The resulting sound centered on bluesy hard rock, with Protus’s delicate voice serving as an ideal focal point for the band’s relaxed, shuffling style.