Dobro whiz
Mike Auldridge, bassist
T. Michael Coleman, and lead vocalist and guitarist
Lawrence "Moondi" Klein started
Chesapeake to fill in their schedule between gigs with
the Seldom Scene. But, when they were joined by mandolinist
Jimmy Gaudreau, formerly of
the Tony Rice Unit, the result was so successful that they agreed to make it a more permanent unit. The decision proved to be one of the best they'd ever made. Taking a more serious approach than they did with
the Seldom Scene, they created one of the most innovative sounds in contemporary bluegrass. While the group's ties to the hill country tradition remained as solid as its past efforts,
Chesapeake took things a step further with well-conceived arrangements, pure-as-honey vocal harmonies, and masterful instrumentation.
Chesapeake represented a natural evolution for
Auldridge. A founding member of
the Seldom Scene, he had grown frustrated by the band's lackadaisical attitude toward rehearsing. Although banjo player
Ben Eldridge, who worked as a mathematician during the week, and mandolinist/vocalist
John Duffey, who worked as a guitar repairman, rarely played their instruments outside of performances,
Auldridge lived and breathed music.
Coleman, a former sideman for
Doc and
Merle Watson who joined
the Seldom Scene in 1988, was the same way. The two musicians had previously recorded a trio album with former
Seldom Scene lead singer
Lou Reid.
Their disenchantment with
the Seldom Scene's light touring schedule intensified when Reid left the band and the group's original lead singer,
John Starling, who worked as a medical doctor, returned.
Starling only remained for a little over a year. Although
Moondi Klein, formerly of Rock Creek, replaced him,
Auldridge and
Coleman continued to seek other outlets. When
Guadreau became equally frustrated with the schedule slowing down of
the Tony Rice Unit, the final pieces of
Chesapeake were assembled. After rehearsing for several months in
Auldridge's basement, the group gave its first performance. While
Auldridge,
Coleman, and
Klein worked with both
the Seldom Scene and
Chesapeake for a while, they gave their notice in 1995.
A wide range of material was incorporated into
Chesapeake's repertoire. While country songs by
the Carter Family,
Norman Blake, and
Bill Emerson were treated to modern interpretations, the band was as effective with its renditions of tunes by folk singer/songwriters, including
Tom Paxton and
Steve Gillette, and rock performers such as
Van Morrison and
Little Feat.
Chesapeake remained together for five years, and disbanded in 1999, with the bandmembers pursuing a variety of performing and recording endeavors.
Mike Auldridge released a number of solo albums during the following years, but died at age 73 in December 2012 after a decade-long battle with prostate cancer. ~ Craig Harris