Lavender Country

Lavender Country
Lavender Country at Mississippi Studios in Portland in 2020
Lavender Country at Mississippi Studios in Portland in 2020
Background information
OriginSeattle, Washington, United States
GenresCountry, Americana
Years active
  • 1972–1976
  • 1999–2000
  • 2014–2022
LabelsGay Community Social Services of Seattle, Paradise of Bachelors, Don Giovanni Records
Past members
  • Michael Carr
  • Eve Morris
  • Patrick Haggerty
  • Melinda Cooper
  • Tami Allen
  • Claudette Boudreaux
  • Jack Moriarity
  • Bobby Innocente
  • Bobby Taylor
  • Robert Hammerstrom
  • Calvin Murasaki
  • Joyce Baker
  • Mya Byrne
  • Mark Newstetter
  • Paisley Fields

Lavender Country was an American country music band formed in 1972 whose self-titled 1973 album is the first known gay-themed album in country music history.[1] Based in Seattle, Washington, the band originally consisted of lead singer and guitarist Patrick Haggerty (1944–2022),[2][3] keyboardist Michael Carr, singer and fiddler Eve Morris and guitarist Robert Hammerstrom. Lavender Country has released two studio albums Lavender Country (1973) and Blackberry Rose (2019). The band has a wide number of members in various cities, with Haggerty having been the only constant member.[4]

  1. ^ Dickinson, Chris (2000). "Country Undetectable: Gay Artists in Country Music". Journal of Country Music. XXI (1): 28–39. Archived from the original on April 10, 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "Lavender Country's Patrick Haggerty Dies at 78". Pitchfork. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  3. ^ Traub, Alex (November 10, 2022). "Patrick Haggerty, 'Lost Pioneer' of Gay Country Music, Dies at 78". The New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  4. ^ "The First Openly Gay Country Singer....Was Patrick Haggerty, in 1973". Queer Music Heritage, July 10, 2013.