American rock band, Goose Creek Symphony, formed in 1968 in Phoenix, Arizona, was founded as a creative outlet for Charlie Gearheart, also known as Ritchie Hart. The band's initial recordings were made at Audio Recorders between 1968 and 1969, leading to their signing with Capitol Records in 1970. Their debut album, Goose Creek Symphony Est. 1970, was released the same year, followed by Welcome To Goose Creek in 1971 and Words Of Earnest in 1972. The latter album featured their notable cover of Janis Joplin's "Mercedes Benz", which became a hit single. The band's eclectic sound and tight musicianship were highlighted during this period, with appearances on shows like The Ed Sullivan Show and performances at major festivals such as the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival alongside acts like Jimi Hendrix and The Allman Brothers Band. In 1974, Goose Creek Symphony moved to Columbia Records, releasing "Do Your Thing But Don't Touch Mine", but the band took a hiatus from 1976 until reforming in 1990. Post-reunion, they released several albums including The Goose Is Loose and Going Home, and continued touring with popular acclaim. The band was inducted into the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2011.
