Des Horsfall is a British country and roots-rock singer/songwriter and musician from West Yorkshire. He is known for his solo work and as the frontman of the band Des Horsfall's Kuschty Rye, a project inspired by the late Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces and Faces.
Early Career
Des Horsfall has been active in the music scene since the late 1970s. In the mid-1980s, he fronted the blues-rock band Raw Deal, which was managed by the legendary Alexis Korner until Korner's death.
Solo Success
In the 1990s, he signed a solo recording contract and released his debut commercial album, Easy Road (1996), followed by Mixed Grill (1998). Videos for songs from Easy Road received heavy rotation on Country Music Television (CMT) and VH-1, and the album received substantial airplay on BBC Radio 2 shows hosted by Bob Harris and Nick Barraclough.
Notable Support Gigs
During this period, he was the opening act for several prominent artists, including Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, and Joe Ely.
Kuschty Rye and Ronnie Lane Tribute: Since 2010, he has led the band Des Horsfall's Kuschty Rye, focusing on a "rustic rock and roll" style inspired by Ronnie Lane's post-Faces band, Slim Chance. This project has resulted in a trilogy of albums, including The Good Gentleman's Tonic and The Bastard's Tin.
Collaboration with Pete Townshend
For his Ronnie Lane tribute project, Horsfall collaborated with Pete Townshend of The Who, who wrote a track for the album dedicated to his former bandmate.