The Jayhawks

The Jayhawks
Gary Louris of the Jayhawks in May 2009
Background information
Origin	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Genres	Alternative country, country rock, alternative rock
Years active	1985–2005, 2009–2012, 2014–present
Labels	Bunkhouse Records Twin Tone Def American Rounder Records Thirty Tigers/Sham
Associated acts	Golden Smog Au Pair
Website	www.jayhawksofficial.com
Members	Gary Louris Marc Perlman Karen Grotberg Tim O'Reagan
Past members	Caleb Palmiter Norm Rogers Thad Spencer Ken Callahan Jessy Greene Jen Gunderman Stephen McCarthy Mark Olson Kraig Johnson

The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene during the mid-1980s. Their country rock sound was influential on many bands who played the Twin Cities circuit during the 1980s and 1990s like Uncle Tupelo, the Gear Daddies and the Honeydogs. They have released several studio albums, including five on the American Recordings label. On hiatus from 2005 to 2009, the band has since reunited, releasing an album, Mockingbird Time, in September 2011. After the tour, Mark Olson again left the band. It was later revealed that he left because of a strained relationship with band member Gary Louris. After another brief hiatus, the 1997 touring lineup reunited to play shows in 2014 to support the reissue of three albums released between 1997 and 2003. In September 2015 the band announced that they were recording a new album, Paging Mr. Proust, produced by Peter Buck, which was released in 2016.

The Jayhawks were formed in 1985 by Mark Olson (acoustic guitar and vocals), Gary Louris (electric guitar and vocals), Marc Perlman (bass) and Norm Rogers (drums).

Their first album, The Jayhawks, was released by Bunkhouse Records, a small independent label, in 1986. Their music at the time, mostly written by Olson, showed a strong roots/country rock influence. Rogers left and was replaced by Thad Spencer, and the band worked for the next years on demo tapes in search of a major label recording contract. During this period, Louris left the band briefly (following a car accident) and Dan Gaarder replaced him. Louris returned, and the collected demos from 1986 to 1989 were brought together to create Blue Earth, released on the Minneapolis label Twin Tone in 1989. On this album Louris shared more of the songwriting with Olson. After touring the U.S. in support of Blue Earth, Spencer left the band and was replaced in 1988 by Ken Callahan, who stayed with the band until 1993.