Skip to main content

Bruce Kaphan Biography

bruce-kaphan
  • Born:
  • Years Active: 2000s
  • Member of: American Music Club
  • Genre: World & Reggae

Bruce Kaphan led the pedal steel guitar away from its traditional country music roots and into the land of alternative rock when he played with American Music Club. He has recorded as a solo artist, too, and released the instrumental album Slider: Ambient Excursions for Pedal Steel Guitar, in 2001, through Hearts of Space. His pedal steel guitar can be heard on John Lee Hooker's Chill Out, which garnered a Grammy Award, and Jealous, which was nominated for a Grammy. He also contributed to recordings by such artists as Jewel, Chris Isaak, the Black Crowes, R.E.M., Red House Painters, Love & Rockets, and Jellyfish. Later session work included recordings for Glasstown, Dakota Suite, and Sheryl Crow. Engineering credits include work for Crooked Jades and Cracker. He also toured with David Byrne during the late '90s. His time with American Music Club included tours across Europe and North America, as well as contributions as an engineer and producer on the group's Everclear album in 1992. Rolling Stone placed the release among the year's Top Five. Kaphan also is involved in sound design, and producing and composing music for documentaries, industrial films, and movies. In 2000, one of his scores took top prize in its category at the Northern California Film & Video Festival. In addition to the pedal steel guitar, Kaphan plays numerous other instruments, among them the mandolin, viola, bass, fiddle, keyboards, dobro, and drums. He also is a writer and has been published in Recording and EQ magazines. ~ Linda Seida, Rovi

Advertisement