In late 1991, expatriate New Orleanean musicians Carlo Nuccio and Ray Ganucheau were living in Los Angeles. Carlo had been playing with Mark Walton, ex-Dream Syndicate bass player, and they had discussed the possiblity of starting their own band. Ray was working for a computer company and playing on the side. Along with Gary Eaton, former songwriter/guitarist for the Ringling Sisters, and Danny McGough of the Seven Deadly Five, Carlo, Ray and Mark began playing music as the Continental Drifters. The name had come from a band which Carlo had played in back in New Orleans (featuring future members of the subdudes).
Several months went by and the Continental Drifters found themselves playing every Tuesday night in 1992 at a club in Hollywood called Raji's. The songwriting and playing and singing were getting a lot of local notice already, and the shows were attracting new fans and friends. The Continental Drifters also found themselves with a large group of auxiliary players who would fill in for other members who had other shows. Among these were Susan Cowsill (of the Cowsills) and Vicki Peterson (former Bangle) who were playing together as the Psycho Sisters.
Peter Holsapple, ex-leader of The dB's and former REM sideman, sat in one night (substituting for the absent Ray Ganucheau) and had such a great time that he was asked to join the band on keyboards since Dan McGough's commitments to other projects were taking his time. This line-up recorded and released a 7" 45 rpm single on S.O.L that contained "The Mississippi" and "Johnny Oops". Shortly thereafter, Susan and Vicki were asked to join the Continental Drifters, and the ranks swelled to seven singer/songwriters! The band opened a show for Bob Dylan at the Pantages Theatre in and played around the Los Angeles area. They also took a fateful trip to New Orleans which changed destiny...
Carlo and Ray decided to move back to New Orleans. The plan was to keep the band together by flying people to gigs, which became a costly and difficult task. Peter and Susan had married one another and were expecting a baby by then. Moving the band to New Orleans became a reality and within a year, Mark, Susan and Peter had all relocated to the Big Easy. Vicki and Gary were still commuting, and after Gary left the Continental Drifters, Vicki took up residence in New Orleans too. At one point, Ray Ganucheau was hospitalized for an aneurysm in his shoulder and decided that he too would leave the band. From the ranks of the auxiliary forces came Robert Maché, former guitarist for the Steve Wynn band.
This lineup cut an album for Monkey Hill Records in 1994 simply titled "Continental Drifters", which consisted of covers and originals. The record received universal acclaim, especially in Germany where it was released on Blue Rose Records. Rolling Stone magazine named the band one of the two best unsigned groups in the US in their Critics' Poll. After a successful European tour, drummer Carlo Nuccio left the band, and the remaining members decided to continue using session drummers. Eventually, Russ Broussard (former Bluerunners and member of Terrence Simien's zydeco band) became the newest member of the Continental Drifters.
By 1997, the band had grown impatient with lack of sincere interest from any major American record labels, so they took it upon themselves to record a vinyl 7" 45 rpm single for Black Dog Records in Mississippi. Then they hit the road for an extensive tour of America. With only the single to support, they recruited more loyal fans as they went throughout the country. More great reviews and gigs opening for Hootie and the Blowfish continued for the Continental Drifters. They finally decided it was time to make the record they always wanted to make, and found themselves having to do it on their own. Blue Rose in Germany came to the band's assistance once again to license for Germany, the Benelux, Austria and Switzerland.
The band started recording March 2, 1998 creating their long-awaited second album, Vermilion. In fifteen days, the Continental Drifters sculpted a masterpiece--fourteen original and striking songs from the pens of Cowsill, Holsapple, Peterson and Maché.
Soon after its release in Germany on May 28, 1998, Vermilion went to #1 on Blue Rose Records best seller chart, and has stayed there. The January, 1999 issue of the German Rolling Stone, printed the Readers Poll which ranked Vermilion - #13 for Album of the year, #19 for Band of the year and #8 for Live act of the year.
Here, in the States, Vermilion wasn't getting the American record companies attentions. Frustrated and yet dedicated, they were determined to find a home for what they believed to be a record that deserved to have a life on it's own shores. The band finally decided to play a showcase March 19 in Austin, TX at the Austin Music Hall during a SXSW music conference. This is the night that would soon change the history of the Continental Drifters. Within a week of the show, the band was actually starting to receive concrete offers from recording companies!
June 17, 1999, a year and three months after the recording of Vermilion, the band signed with Razor & Tie.
Tuesday October 12, 1999 AD (Columbus Day) - Heralded by a sky-tracker searchlight parked in front of the Howlin' Wolf on Peters St. in New Orleans, the Continental Drifters record release party was the place to be; hundreds of friends, fans and fellow bands followed the beams to a gala soiree, hosted by Tuesday night residents of the Wolf, the Continental Drifters. They were launching the second chapter of the life of Vermilion, its US release by Razor & Tie.
