Rawlins Cross

Rawlins Cross
Origin	St. John's, Newfoundland
Genres	Celtic rock
Years active	1988–2001 2008–present
Labels	Ground Swell Warner Music Canada
Website	www.rawlinscross.com
Members	Joey Kitson Dave Panting Jeff Panting Ian McKinnon Brian Bourne Howie Southwood
Past members	Pamela Paton Lorne Taylor Derek Pelley Tom Roach

1988–2001

Rawlins Cross is a Canadian Celtic band that formed in 1988 in Atlantic Canada. With members from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario, the band took its name from an intersection in St. John's, Newfoundland.

Rawlins Cross was formed in St. John's in the late 1980s by songwriting brothers Dave Panting (guitar and mandolin) and Geoff Panting (keyboards and accordion) and Ian McKinnon (highland pipes and tin whistle). They also added drummer Pamela Paton and bassist Lorne Taylor to the band.

The band burst onto the East Coast recording scene in late 1989 with its first indie recording, A Turn of the Wheel and a video for the single "Colleen." Just weeks after its release, "Colleen" scored a top ten radio slot on Toronto's influential CFNY station. In 1991, Lorne Taylor left the band, with Derek Pelley briefly replacing Taylor on bass. Prior to the recording of their sophomore album, Crossing The Border, original drummer Pamela Paton left in late 1991, with Tom Roach replacing Paton, and bassist Derek Pelley left in early 1992, and was replaced by Brian Bourne.

In 1992, the band released Crossing The Border, which further developed the fusion of highland bagpipes, mandolin and accordion with a rocking rhythm section. A year later, after Rawlins Cross brought in drummer Howie Southwood, the band recorded Reel 'n' Roll, which would be its best-selling album and launch a national radio hit with the title track. At this time, prior to the recording of Reel 'n' Roll, Prince Edward Island singer Joey Kitson joined the band, as the new lead singer. Prior to Kitson joining the band, guitarist Dave Panting sang lead vocals for the band on the albums, A Turn of the Wheel and Crossing The Border.

Rawlins Cross released Living River in 1996, which garnered two Juno Award nominations. The band toured Canada three times that year and signed a licensing deal for its music in Europe.

Rawlins Cross performed live on the nationally-televised East Coast Music Awards and performed at the ninth annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration Festival in Germany and also represented Canada at the Expo Cumbre de las Americas in Santiago, Chile.

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