Gabe Witcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabe Witcher
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Witcher in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gabriel Witcher |
| Born | June 11, 1978 |
| Genres | Progressive bluegrass, bluegrass, Americana, Rock |
| Instruments | Violin, guitar, drums, mandolin, bass, vocals |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels | Nonesuch |
| Associated acts | Punch Brothers, Jerry Douglas, Witcher Brothers, many more... |
Gabriel Witcher (born June 11, 1978) is an American musician. He plays many instruments, writes music, and helps make albums. He is best known for playing the fiddle (a type of violin) and singing. Gabe is one of the people who started the band Punch Brothers. In 2019, Gabe and his bandmates in Punch Brothers won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.
Contents
Gabe Witcher's Musical Journey
Early Start in Music
Gabe Witcher started playing music on stage when he was just six years old in 1984. A famous musician named Bill Monroe invited him to play a song with him at a festival. Soon after, Gabe and his dad formed a band called "The Witcher Brothers." They played music together for 25 years all over the southwestern United States.
In 1993, Gabe wrote songs for the movie The Skateboard Kid. He even played some of these songs with his band, Trashkittens.
Joining Bands and Touring
In 1995, Gabe joined a band called the Laurel Canyon Ramblers. He played with them for four years and recorded two albums.
Later, in 1999, Gabe joined a tour with famous banjo player Béla Fleck. In 2002, Gabe became a regular member of Jerry Douglas's band. He played with them until 2008, when he helped start the band Punch Brothers.
In 2005, Gabe toured with Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina. He played many instruments like fiddle, mandolin, and drums, and also sang. In 2010, he toured with the Dave Rawlings Machine for two weeks.
Gabe also played bass and sang backup for the band Eve 6 on their Horrorscope tour from 2000 to 2001.
Music for Movies and TV Shows
Gabe Witcher has played music for many movies and TV shows. Some of the movies include The Good Dinosaur, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Hunger Games, Brokeback Mountain, Cars, and Toy Story.
He has also worked on music for TV shows like True Detective, Nashville, Better Call Saul, and Sons of Anarchy. He even helped produce music for Nashville and True Detective with T Bone Burnett.
Awards and Collaborations
Gabe Witcher has won one Grammy Award and has been nominated ten times! Six of his nominations were with Punch Brothers. He also received four Grammy nominations as a producer, helping other artists make their albums.
He has played on albums for many famous musicians, including Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Beck, Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond, Fiona Apple, and Shania Twain.
Gabe has also written music arrangements for artists like Elton John, Kronos Quartet, Punch Brothers, and for orchestras like the Boston Pops.
He composed and arranged music for the video game Red Dead Redemption 2. He was also the music director for a live concert of the game's music in 2019.
Personal Life
Gabe Witcher married actress Mary Faber on September 15, 2013. They have two sons together.
Music Director Roles
Gabe has been a music director for several big events and tours:
- For Sara Bareilles: Her "Amidst The Chaos" Album Release Tour in 2019, and performances on TV shows like Saturday Night Live and Ellen.
- For "The Music of Red Dead Redemption 2" concert in Los Angeles in 2019.
- For the "American Acoustic" concert at the Kennedy Center in 2016.
- For "Another Day, Another Time," a concert featuring music from Inside Llewyn Davis in Los Angeles in 2013.
Discography
Punch Brothers Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Punch | Nonesuch |
| 2010 | Antifogmatic | Nonesuch |
| 2012 | Who's Feeling Young Now? | Nonesuch |
| 2013 | Ahoy! | Nonesuch |
| 2015 | The Phosphorescent Blues | Nonesuch |
| 2015 | The Wireless (EP) | Nonesuch |
| 2018 | All Ashore | Nonesuch |
Other Albums
Gabe has also played on albums for other artists, including:
- Christina Courtin (2009)
- Jerry Douglas (2006)
- Laurel Canyon Ramblers (1996, 1998)
Credits on Albums
Gabe Witcher has played on many albums for various artists.
| Artist | Project | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Simon | So Beautiful or So What, Stranger to Stranger | Fiddle, Vocals |
| Eric Clapton | Old Sock | Fiddle |
| Elton John | Wonderful Crazy Night | Arranger, Conductor |
| Willie Nelson | The Great Divide | Fiddle |
| Beck | Return of the Grievous Angel | Fiddle |
| Shania Twain | Now | Fiddle |
| Rosanne Cash | The River & the Thread † | Fiddle |
| Emmylou Harris | Return of the Grievous Angel | Fiddle |
| John Denver | All Aboard† | Fiddle |
| Dierks Bentley | Up on the Ridge ^ | Fiddle |
| The Chieftains | Voice of Ages | Fiddle |
| Sara Watkins | Young in All the Wrong Ways | Producer, guitars, Fiddle, Arrangements |
| Rhiannon Giddens | Tomorrow Is My Turn | Fiddle, Violin, Guitar, Arranger |
| Phoebe Bridgers | Stranger in the Alps | Violin |
| Noam Pikelny | Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe ^ | Producer |
| Jerry Douglas | The Best Kept Secret ^ | Fiddle, Strings |
| Chris Thile | How to Grow a Woman from the Ground ^ | Fiddle, Vocals, Arranging |
| The Secret Sisters | Put Your Needle Down | Fiddle, Violin, Arranger |
Film Music
Gabe has contributed to the music of many films.
^ Academy Award Nominee Best Original Song ! Golden Globe Nominee Best Original Song
† Grammy Award Winner Best Original Song| Title | Composer | Role |
|---|---|---|
| The Peanut Butter Falcon | Gabe Witcher, Jonathan Sadoff, Noam Pikelny, Zach Dawes | Fiddle |
| The Ballad of Buster Scruggs | Additional Music | Fiddle |
| The Good Dinosaur | Mychael & Jeff Danna | Fiddle |
| The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 | Additional music | Composer |
| Toy Story^! | Randy Newman | Fiddle |
| Cars † | Randy Newman | Fiddle |
| Cars 3 | Randy Newman | Fiddle |
| The Princess and the Frog | Randy Newman | Fiddle |
| Inside Llewyn Davis | T Bone Burnett | Fiddle, Vocals |
| The Hunger Games | James Newton Howard | Fiddle |
| Brokeback Mountainº | Gustavo Santaolalla | Fiddle |
| Babelº | Gustavo Santaolalla | Violin |
| Charlie Wilson's War | James Newton Howard | Fiddle |
| This Is 40 | Jon Brion | Fiddle, Violin |
| Kingsman: The Golden Circle | Henry Jackman, Matthew Margeson | Fiddle |
| A Million Ways to Die in the West | Joel McNeely | Fiddle |
| Wild Hogs | Teddy Castellucci | Fiddle |
| The Homesman | Marco Beltrami | Violin |
| Robin Hood | Marc Streitenfeld | Fiddle |
| The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie | Andy Paley | Fiddle |
| The Dukes of Hazzard | Nathan Barr | Fiddle |
| Without a Paddle | Chris Beck | Fiddle |
| The Best Of Me | Aaron Zigman | Fiddle |
| Bridge to Terabithia | Aaron Zigman | Fiddle |
| Flicka | Aaron Zigman | Fiddle |
| The Notebook | Aaron Zigman | Fiddle |
Television Music
Gabe has also worked on music for many TV shows. ^ Emmy Nominated
| Title | Selection | Role |
|---|---|---|
| True Detective Season 3 | Score | Recordist, Additional Music, performer |
| True Detective Season 2 | Score | Violin, Electric Violin, Electric Bass |
| True Detective | The Angry River | Composer, Arranger (strings), Violin |
| Nashville | Nothing in This World Will Ever Break My Heart Again^ | Co-Producer, Arranger (Strings, Background vocals), Violin |
| Nashville | Ho Hey | Co-Producer, Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin |
| Nashville | Used | Co-Producer, Arranger (Strings, Background vocals), Fiddle |
| Better Call Saul | Score | Violin |
| Sons of Anarchy | All Along The Watchtower | Fiddle |
| Legends of Tomorrow | Score | Fiddle |
| Justified | Score | Fiddle |
| Turn: Washington's Spies | Score | Fiddle |
| Party of Five | Score | Violin |
| King of the Hill | Score | Fiddle |
| Curious George | Score | Fiddle |
| Berenstain Bears | Theme Song | Fiddle |
Live TV Performances
Gabe has performed live on television with several artists:
| Artists | Show |
|---|---|
| Punch Brothers | |
| Punch Brothers w/ Steve Martin | |
| Dolly Parton |
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| Beck and Willie Nelson | |
| Willie Nelson |
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Bands and Tours
Gabe has been a part of many bands and tours throughout his career:
| Dates | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|
| (2006–2023) | Punch Brothers | Fiddle, Vocals, Drums |
| (2014) | Steve Martin and Martin Short | Fiddle |
| (2012) | Paul Simon | Fiddle |
| (2010) | Dave Rawlings Machine | Fiddle, Guitar, Vocals |
| (2006) | k.d. lang | Fiddle, Guitar |
| (2005) | Loggins and Messina Sittin' In Again Reunion Tour | Fiddle, Mandolin, Dobro, Percussion, Vocals |
| (2002–2008) | Jerry Douglas Band | Fiddle |
| (2000–2001) | Eve 6 | Bass |
| (1999) | The Bluegrass Sessions f/ Béla Fleck, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton, Mark Schatz | Fiddle |
| (1995–2000) | Laurel Canyon Ramblers | Fiddle |
| (1984–2008) | The Witcher Brothers | Fiddle, Vocals |
