Catherine Popper (born December 28, 1973) is an American bass guitarist, singer and songwriter. She is best known for her work with Jesse Malin, Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Jack White. Popper is also a member of a trio called Puss n Boots with Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson.[1] She released her first single, “Maybe It’s All Right” on Velvet Elk Records in 2020.
Catherine Popper | |
|---|---|
 Popper performing in 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | December 28, 1973 Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Genres | Rock and roll, folk rock, blues rock, alternative country, country rock |
| Occupation | Session musician |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar |
| Years active | 2000–present |
Early life
editPopper was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. She started playing upright bass when she was 9 years old, and attended the North Carolina School of the Arts for high school where she studied classical string bass.[2] For college, she studied jazz bass at the Manhattan School of Music.[3]
Career
editFrom 2004 to 2006, Popper played bass, double bass, and sang back up vocals for Ryan Adams with his backing group, The Cardinals. She also shared songwriting credits for many songs on the band's albums. Starting in 2009, Popper joined Grace Potter and the Nocturnals on tour and for the band's self-titled fifth album Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, released on June 8, 2010. The album was produced by Mark Batson and debuted at #19 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums. On November 14, 2011, Popper announced her departure from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals for the "foreseeable future" on her Facebook page.
In January 2012, Popper appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, performing "Travel As Equals" with Joseph Arthur. In 2013, Popper appeared on four tracks on Joseph Arthur's tenth studio album, The Ballad of Boogie Christ.
In May 2012, she replaced Bryn Davies in Jack White's all-female band "The Peacocks".
In April 2013 Popper appeared on Mike Doughty's crowd funded album Circles Super Bon Bon....[4][5] She then toured with Mike Doughty and drummer Pete Wilhoit in support of the album between October 16, 2013, and November 23, 2013.[6]
In December 2013 and June 2014, Popper performed with Molly and the Zombies with Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem, Brian McGee of Plow United and Randy Schrager of the Scissor Sisters.[7] The group released five songs for free online. Since 2015, Popper has played bass and provided back up vocals for Jesse Malin's backing group and she has appeared on all of his releases since then. She also appeared on Nothing Is Anywhere, the 2016 album by Malin's band D Generation. In July 2016 she was again with Grace Potter & The Nocturnals in Guitar Center Sessions.
Discography
editwith Hem
- Rabbit Songs (2001)
- Eveningland (2004)
- No Word From Tom (2006)
with Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
- Cold Roses (2005)
- Jacksonville City Nights (2005)
- III/IV (2010)
with Willie Nelson
- Songbird (2006)
with Rachael Yamagata
with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
with Joseph Arthur
- The Ballad of Boogie Christ (2013)
with Mike Doughty
- Circles Super Bon Bon (2013)
with Jack White
- Lazaretto (2014)
with Puss n Boots
- No Fools, No Fun (2014)
- Dear Santa EP (2019)
- Sister (2020)
with Levon Helm
- The Midnight Ramble Sessions Vol 3 (2014)
with Jesse Malin
- New York Before The War (2015)
- Outsiders (2015)
- Meet Me At The End Of The World (2017)
- Sunset Kids (2019)
- Lust for Love (2020)
with Brian Fallon
- Painkillers (2016)
with D Generation
- Nothing Is Anywhere (2016)
with Bash And Pop
- Anything Could Happen (2016)
with She And Him
- Christmas Party (2016)
with Manolo Garcia
- Geometria del Rayo (2018)
Broadway Cast Recordings
- Head Over Heels Broadway cast recording (2018)
- Diana cast recording (2020)
Film and Television
- Short Bus (2006)
- Vinyl: Music From The HBO Original Series Vol 1 (2016)
- The Only Living Boy in New York (2017)
- The Irishman (2019)
- Marvelous Miss Maisel (2019)
- The Joker (2019)
References
edit- ^ "PUSS N BOOTS ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM "NO FOOLS, NO FUN" & TOUR DATES INCLUDING NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL". Blue Note Records. April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
- ^ Isle of Klezbos (2003). [Liner notes]. Greetings from the Isle of Klezbos [CD]. Rhythm Media Records.
- ^ Clements, Annie (May 1, 2011). "Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Catherine Popper on Guts & Ambition". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "Circles Super Bon Bon…". Mike Doughty Official Website. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Flavorwire Interview with Mike Doughty". Flavorwire. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Doughty tour: all Soul Coughing songs". Mike Doughty Official Website. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ Biese, Alex (May 30, 2014). "Brian Fallon talks Molly and the Zombies". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 11 March 2015.