KC Craine

Return to rock 'n' roll roots

A guitarist who once opened for Huey Lewis is releasing his second CD

Thursday, October 20, 2005
DANA TIMS - The Oregonian

K C Craine, by his own admission, never attained the pinnacle of success in the music business. But by the time his career as a rock n' roller ended in 1989, he could see it from there.

Now, sparked by influences much softer and more personal than the riffs he played as an opening act for Huey Lewis and other rock stars many years ago, he has again emerged as a musician with a following.

Craine, who lives in Portland near the border of Tigard and Lake Oswego, is about to release his second CD, titled "Daddy's Old Guitar." It features chords strummed on the Martin D-28 guitar he learned to play as a teenager growing up in Medford, interwoven with storytelling that he hopes compare favorably with American folk legend Arlo Guthrie.

In a recent interview, Craine, 46, talked about how he rediscovered his love of music and where he hopes to take it from here.

You used to play with some very well known rock musicians. How did your career take off?

After leaving Oregon, I wound up playing with some cover bands in San Francisco and Los Angeles. I started my own band, KC and the Conditions. We ended up opening for acts like Huey Lewis and the News, Eddie Money and others. We did some recording there as well.

And then?

After being turned down by the best record companies in Los Angeles, I decided it was time to do something different, start a family. My wife was very pregnant when we came back to Oregon, and I was still playing gigs. Then it hit me that I might be out playing when she went into labor. That made me refocus on raising a family. I hung up my guitar, sold my gear and said, that's enough.

What rekindled the spark?

I was going through a closet one day and found a box of old master tapes and music videos we had done. I played the videos for my kids, who were laughing because daddy had all that hair. It occurred to me that my wife and kids didn't know that side of me. I'd spent a good 20 years of my youth pursuing music, writing songs, recording, all with a modest degree of success. I felt sad that I hadn't done a better job of passing down my love of music.

The reason I got into music in the first place was that I loved playing the guitar. So one day I grabbed my old guitar from under the bed, the beat-up Martin I got when I was 15. That inspired me to start playing again.

How did things evolve from there?

A couple of things happened. I saw the Acoustic Guitar Summit in Portland. They are three awesome players, about my age, playing the heck out of their guitars. I contacted them and ended up taking lessons from two of them, Mark Hanson and Doug Smith. I got my chops back on the guitar and started playing for the kids at night when they went to sleep.

The other thing occurred when a friend asked me to play with his garage band at an open mike session. I did it on a lark but enjoyed it a lot. Afterward, the host came up and told me he booked some clubs locally. He asked if I'd be interested in performing a show of my own. Without thinking, I said sure.

I had to figure out how to come up with two hours of music, but I just sat down on my couch, assembled the songs I knew and tapped into the music I loved growing up, people like Bob Dylan and Arlo Guthrie.

Not long after that, another friend invited me to jam at his house. It turned out he had a whole recording studio. He really liked my finger style I used, and what we recorded turned out to be my first CD, "Second Wind." I released it for Christmas 2003 and have been selling it ever since on CD Baby.

I know your second CD is about to come out, but are you playing music full time now or do you have a day job?

I do have a day job. I have a writing and consulting business, Craine Communications Group. My music name is KC, but my business name is Kevin. I have two books out as Kevin, which have done very well. One instructs large corporations how to design strategies about using documents. It's pretty straight business stuff.

Any lasting memories from your years as an emerging rock star?

One of the best was the night we opened for Huey Lewis in 1984 at the Keystone Club in Palo Alto. Huey was right on the verge of becoming a national star, and he had this huge dressing room there. The dressing room for the four of us in our band was basically a bathroom. We were sitting in there on our guitar cases waiting to go on when Huey walked in. He was just the nicest guy and still remembered what it was like to be a struggling opening act. He pulled out a harmonica and we just jammed for about 20 minutes. He basically was thanking us for being there, for opening for him. I'll never forget that.

What's the title of your new CD?

It's called "Daddy's Old Guitar." The title song tells about someone finding their father's old guitar in a closet. It's a person remembering those days kindly, with love, and learning to play like dad used to. It's something I'd hope my own kids would do someday. My daughter, in fact, has started to play guitar herself. I can't think of a better legacy to leave than that.

Dana Tims: 503-294-5973; danatims@news.oregonian.com - The Oregonian Newspaper

REVIEWS

I just saw your concert last night and enjoyed your music very much. I found myself moved and led to introspection several times. I especially liked how you placed yourself in your community and family lineage. "Daddy's Old Guitar" was the title I remember, but there were others. How interesting to hear how you've taken your life as it is and made music from it.

- Robert Spencer
Nampa, Idaho

"McKenzie Pass" is a delight, reminds me a bit of Windham Hill guitarists I have heard.

- Bill Warmoth
Artisan Guitars, Nashville

Your playing sounds beautiful. "Second Wind" should do VERY well, the CD sounds fantastic!

- Sandin Wilson
Internationally known bass player (with Quarterflash and others)

If you are anywhere close, make the time to see KC. It will be well worth the time! Nice vocals and guitar work.

- Steve Anderson
Former National Sales Director, Breedlove Guitars

"Second Wind" is like a breath of fresh air. The album encircles the listener with passion and inspiration. KC's compositions are beautiful. He has created an wonderful experience for his listeners with the warmth and power of his guitar. Second Wind takes me to a place I always want to be.

- Eric Schultheis
Guitarist with Key of Dreams

"Second Wind" is a wonderfully composed collection of fingerstyle acoustic guitar tunes. KC and his music has truely been an inspiration to me! I keep a copy in the car at all times for those drives to and from work and another copy at home for entertaining friends and family. Everyone who has met KC and heard the music are so amazed with his talent and ability to entertain through song and story telling.

- Alex Mielnik
Portland, Oregon - Various