About
Blues Traveler is an American rock band that formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987. The group is known for creative segues during live performances and pioneering the H.O.R.D.E. touring music festival. The group comprises singer and harmonica player John Popper, guitarist Chan Kinchla, drummer Brendan Hill, bassist Tad Kinchla, and keyboardist Ben Wilson. Tad Kinchla and Ben Wilson joined the band following the death of bassist Bobby Sheehan in 1999. Their singles include "But Anyway", "Run-Around", and "Hook", the latter two from their 1994 album four which sold over six million copies worldwide. Fans are permitted to record live events. Sheehan's death and Popper's struggle with obesity put a damper on the group's mainstream success, and A&M dropped the band in 2002. In the years following, the band has attempted to work with a number of independent labels and record producers. Traveler's Blues, an album of blues covers, was released in July 2021, and was nominated by The Recording Academy for Best Traditional Blues album at the 2022 Grammy Awards. Their follow-up album, Traveler’s Soul, a collection of R'n'B and Soul covers, was released in October of 2023.