Effective period / Period of releases: 1996 - 2005

Members: Nate Walcott, Andrew Bird, Jessica Billey, Jonathan Doyle, Ryan Hembrey, Charles Kim, Gerald Dowd, Jason Adasiewicz, Steve Alford, Andra Kulans, Darren Richard, Jody Livo, Melissa Bach, Margot Horton, Mona Saraceno, John Peeler, Tim Peterson (2), Jonathan Peeler, Ned Folkerth

Pinetop Seven formed in 1996 as a loose collective of Chicago musicians interested in re-working the notion of popular American music, co-opting elements from diverse musical traditions (Tango, Mariachi, Funeral Dirges, 20th Century Classical, Eastern European, Asian Gamelan) and blending them with American Folk and Country-Blues. Over the group's 8 year / 5 album history their lineup never remained constant for long; twenty-three men and women have contributed to the records or participated as touring members. Despite the ever-changing cast, the vision remained constant, anchored by songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and singer Darren Richard, who also started Self-Help Records to further advance the interests of his band and personal music projects. He later began Barbary Coast Recordings.