Episode 167 - Joe Puerta of Bruce Hornsby and the Range

The Hustle

If you think about it, the Range were really more of a super group. A bunch of highly sought after professional musicians came together around the creative leadership of newcomer Bruce Hornsby to form an excellent unit that recorded some of the most enduring hits of the 80s ("The Way It Is," "Mandolin Rain," "Look Out Any Window" and many more). Bassist Joe Puerta had already had some success with his original band Ambrosia, which employed a young Bruce late in its run, but his life changed massively once the Range began to take hold in 1986. The band put out three seminal albums before Bruce decided to go it alone in the early 90s. Here Joe talks about how the Range came together, how the Grateful Dead influenced Bruce's musical direction, and his ability to pick hits. Enjoy!