Solid Air Bio - Background & Info

Solid Air is a music group based north of San Francisco, led by co-founders Allegra Broughton (vocals, guitar), and Sam Page (vocals, bass, baritone slide guitar), native Californians who have been performing for over thirty years at fairs, festivals, clubs, concert stages, wineries, coffeehouses and private events. Solid Air performs as a duo, trio and full band with high energy vocals, stellar musicianship, top-notch original songs and eclectic covers from jug band to cajun to classic rock ‘n’ roll for both listening and dancing, with references available. They have nine albums and one EP, including 2017's Beautiful World and the 2019 EP undertow  (Jackalope Records), a song on Nina Gerber’s 2007 CD, “Good Music with Good People”, and the opening track (Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky) on “Sonoma County Covers Project” double CD, (Jackalope 2015). Sam played bass on Lowell Levinger/Banana’s 2015 CD “Get Together - Youngbloods Classics” and Elvin Bishop's "Gettin' My Groove Back" (2005).  Highlights: 2005/2010 Kate Wolf Music Festival, 2010 Norton Buffalo Memorial Festival, 2011 Sausalito Arts Festival, 2012 Woody Guthrie Centennial, radio shows 2008 West Coast Live & 2011 KRSH-FM 501 Blues, KWMR’s 2007 “Sweethearts of the Radio”, opening for Suzanne Vega and Al Stewart at City Winery Napa (2015), for Loudon Wainwright III (2010) at Petaluma’s Mystic Theater and sharing the bill with Dan Hicks at the 2012 Armstrong Woods Old Grove Festival. Featured in Acoustic Guitar Magazine (Jan.’95 & Nov. ‘07); NORBAY Award nominees (2007-2009); international radio airplay and rave reviews.

Reviews:  "It’s nice to know that a seasoned group like Solid Air hasn’t forgotten the sense of purpose of progressive forebears like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, singing songs that fight back against cynicism and darkness with good humor and good will.", Paul Liberatore, Marin Independent Journal, May 2017, CA.  

One of the North Bay’s Brightest Gems”, Larry Kelp, KPFA-FM, Berkeley, CA.  

Allegra has an extraordinary voice that is at once achingly sweet and remarkably powerful”, Michele Anna Jordan, Dec. 2011, Press Democrat, CA.  

Great Alterna-Country rockin’ band from northern California...Broughton warbles like a bird in one breath and rocks hard when the material demands it”, Bob Cianci, River Reporter, NY.  

Soulfully incandescent vocals; an enormously gifted band”, Chris Garcia, Press Democrat

Sam Page - vocals, fretted & fretless electric bass, EUB, acoustic bass, baritone slide guitar

He co-writes many of the songs, and plays both fretless & fretted electric bass, as well as both stand-up acoustic and electric upright bass. Born in Bishop, California and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and Oklahoma, Sam has been playing bass and guitar since he was a child, recording and performing in a wide variety of musical styles. SOLID AIR - folk-rock/Americana. ELVIN BISHOP - blues. 2004 Tour and "album "Gettin' My Groove Back" RANCHO ALL-STARS - classic R'n'B. Featuring Angela Strehli, Mike Duke (Wet WIllie, Huey Lewis), with guests David Jenkins (Pablo Cruise), Earl Thomas, Annie Sampson, Carlos Guitarlos, Henry Butler, more. JOE NEW - Americana. "West of the West" album. (Del McCoury) BARRY MELTON BAND - psychedelic rock. (Country Joe & the Fish) LOWELL LEVINGER (BANANA) - bluegrass. (Youngbloods) NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE - psychedelic country-rock. CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR - eclectic bluegrass/folk. NINA GERBER - contemporary acoustic/guitarist/producer. WILD CATAHOULAS - cajun/zydeco dance band. CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR - country/folk/rock/world NORTON BUFFALO - country boogie rock. SARAH ELIZABETH CAMPBELL - original country folk. LAUGHING GRAVY - acoustic rock/Americana.

Allegra Broughton - songwriter, vocals, acoustic and electric guitars

Fourth generation Californian born in San Francisco, she had the good fortune to see the Beatles at the S.F. Cow Palace, which left a lifelong impression. She studied recorder, piano, and cello only to chuck it all for singing and playing guitar after Joni Mitchell appeared on the scene. She graduated from the School of Expressive Arts at Sonoma State University in 1982, studied voice with Bobby McFerrin, and has performed in a variety of ensembles as well as having an enduring commitment to writing songs. She is equally at home yodeling her way through Patsy Montana's "Cowboy's Sweetheart", belting out a Gospel song, crooning a sweet waltz in cajun French, or singing a heartfelt ballad of her own. She was a DJ on KRCB-FM 91.1 Santa Rosa Public Radio, hosting the "Connections" Show on alternate Wednesday evenings, where she shared her love of all kinds of music, with a special fondness for great singers in all genres, world music, R&B, and good old rock and roll for 4-1/2 years. SOLID AIR - singer/songwriter - folk-rock/Americana. WILD CATAHOULAS - cajun/zydeco dance band. SOULJOY - Gospel R'n'B Revue. LAUGHING GRAVY - acoustic rock, Americana. THE COUNTRY ALL-STARS - vintage country & western. Back-Up Vocals on many albums, including: DOUG JAYNE (singer/songwriter) DETROIT DISCIPLES (southern rock) LUCKY BUCK & THE WINNERS (honky-tonk country) THE SORENTINOS - (rock 'n' roll) ADAM MILLER - (traditional folk)

LIVE BAND PERSONNEL & ALUMNI:

VIC CARBERRY - drums, bongos, and percussion with flair and finesse; played on the Tommy Tutone hit "Jenny Jenny".

STEVE BARBIERI - the Ultimate Riffmeister on electric & acoustic guitar, vocals and harmonica, from Beatles to Blues.

AL GARTH - fantastic fiddle and deadpan humor; alumnus of Loggins & Messina, Eagles, too many to count.

RICK CUTLER - Keepin' the groove on drums since 1992 with Solid Air, rocks steady at any volume.

BOBBY LEE - pedal steel guitar & founder of the Steel Guitar Forum.

JOHN R. BURR - interstellar piano, keyboards.

JIM MCCARTY -drummer extraordinaire.

DAVID PHILLIPS - pedal steel guitar, electric guitar.

KENDRICK FREEMAN - drums and percussion that encompass world music and jazz.

RUSS GAUTHIER - fiddle, mandolin, banjo, electric and acoustic guitars and vocals.

TOM DUARTE - electric guitar and Latin fingerstyle wizard

JOHN SALZ -played incredible electric guitar with Solid Air 1993-2010. We miss you, John.