Singer/songwriter
Joel R.L. Phelps initially earned notice as a member of indie rock stalwarts
Silkworm, the group he co-founded in his native Missoula, MT in 1987. He left
Silkworm in the wake of their 1994 effort
Libertine, forming backing combo the Downer Trio with bassist Robert Mercer and drummer William Herzog to record 1996's spare, country-influenced
Warm Springs Night. 3 followed two years later, and in 1999
Phelps resurfaced with Blackbird. ~ Jason Ankeny