The Phoenix & the Turtle: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• The Decemberists
• An Angle
• Arcade Fire
• Beirut

• Godspeed You Black Emperor!
• Gogol Bordello
• The White Stripes

Formed:

Jan 1, 2003 in Yucaipa, CA

Genre:

Rock Music

Decades Active:

2000's

The mainly instrumental, experimental ensemble Phoenix and the Turtle (the title of a poem by William Shakespeare) travels the path of such avantgarde artists as Godspeed You Black Emperor. Based in the southern California town of Yucaipa, David Barrington (bass), Cahn Curtis (vocals, guitar, keyboard) and Mikie Curtis (drums) had been playing in various bands together for years before meeting Valerie White (vocals, guitar, violin, cello, keyboard). Forming in summer 2003, Barrington and the two brothers were working on a song for a funeral when they asked White to collaborate on strings. The first effort, Sunday is a Good Day for Relaxing (2004), was preceded by Asleep in America (2007).

- Kenyon Hopkin, All Music Guide