[3][4] Max Creek was founded in the spring of 1971 by Dave Reed and John Rider, students at Hartt College of Music in Hartford, Connecticut.
[5] Reed, a trumpet instructor, met Rider through teaching, discovering their shared interest in American folk music and original songwriting.
Initially focusing on folk, singer-songwriter, and country rock genres, they later adopted the name "Max Creek," inspired by a location in Virginia associated with Rider's relatives.
[8] In late spring 1972, Dave Reed invited his 15-year-old music student, Scott Murawski, to join them during a rehearsal, introducing an electric guitar element to their sound.
The psychedelic music experienced there heavily shaped Max Creek's sound and style, resembling that of the San Francisco Bay scene.
[12] Scott Murawski rejoined as lead guitarist, while Reed shifted to rhythm guitar before eventually leaving the band to pursue solo ventures in bluegrass, country rock, and acoustic ragtime music.
[13] Fazzano's addition infused Max Creek with new energy, inspiring the group to expand their repertoire with original compositions and covers featuring her distinct vocal style.
[14] During this period, Max Creek frequented venues affiliated with the University of Hartford and various smaller Hartford-area locations, steadily building their local following.
[16] This lineup change marked a turning point in Max Creek's musical evolution, propelling their popularity throughout the early 1980s, particularly during the winter months when touring acts like the Grateful Dead were on hiatus.
By 1983, Amy Fazzano departed from the band to prioritize her family life but would sit-in during performances often, while Bob Gosselin also stepped down in 1985 to focus on personal and professional commitments.
[27][28] Max Creek, Virginia is a small village nestled in the Appalachian Mountains within the Southwestern region of Virginia, near Pulaski, VA.[29] Max Creek's reputation as a quintessential representation of New England's musical identity stems from their blend of genres, including rock, country, funk, calypso, jazz, reggae, new wave, and blues.
Scott Murawski is acknowledged for his adept use of various guitar techniques, notably focusing on staccato notes and palm muting, which are fundamental aspects of his playing style.
He showcases a wide vocal range, particularly demonstrating his ability to transition between high and low notes, adding expressive complexity to his performances.
Mark Mercier's keyboard playing with Max Creek blends various styles, incorporating elements reminiscent of ragtime music infused with gospel tones, and integrating aspects of jazz, blues, calypso, Americana, and folk.
Although predominantly a keyboardist, Mercier's proficiency on the organ, piano, and synthesizer contributes to a diverse mix of instrumental tones during performances.
Mercier's vocal style with Max Creek, akin to his keyboard playing, features tones reminiscent of soul, gospel, and folk music.
Similar to Mark Mercier, John Rider's vocal style with Max Creek features tones of soul, gospel, country, doo wop, and folk music.
The rhythm section, anchored by drummers Bill Carbone and Jamemurrell Stanley, provides a dynamic foundation for their performances, creating percussive fluidity with tones from rock, funk, jazz, and world music.
Hunter, best known for his work with the Grateful Dead, provided the lyrics, while Murawski composed the music and performed the song with BK3 and Max Creek.
[33] Scott Murawski has received recognition with BK3 (aka Bill Kreutzmann Trio, KBM, Three) which also included drummer Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead and intermittent residencies on bass guitar from Mike Gordon, Bonnie Raitt bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson, and former bassist of the Allman Brothers Band, Oteil Burbridge.