Northern Lights

NORTHERN LIGHTS

  • From Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Formed in 1975.
  • Founding members: Taylor Armerding (mandolin), Bill Henry (guitar) and Bob Emery (bass).
  • Alison Brown was a member of the band in the early-1980’s while she attended Harvard University. Later replaced by Mike Kropp.
  • Armerding is also a reporter and assistant editor for North Shore Sunday, a weekly magazine based in Danvers, Mass. His father was a minister and the former president of Wheaton College.
  • 1984, released Before The Fire Comes Down album (Revonah).
  • 1990, released Take You to the Sky album (Flying Fish).
  • 1991, released Can’t Buy Your Way album (Flying Fish).
  • 1995, Taylor Armerding’s son Jake joined the band, playing fiddle.
  • 1999, made appearances with with Tom and Ray Magliozzi (AKA “Click and Clack), hosts of the PBS radio program Car Talk.
  • 2000, released a live album Three August Nights (no label) with guest Vassar Clements on fiddle.
  • 2002, Henry recorded a solo project Red Sky (OMS).
  • 2003, Armerding left the band after 28 years to pursue his own musical interests. Performs occasionally with The Bluegrass Gospel Project, Southern Rail and the Jonathan Edwards trio. He was replaced by Ben Demerath, formerly with Sugarbeat. Also joining the band: Dave Dick (banjo) and John Daniel (bass.)