Shadowfax, one of the most prominent proponents of electronic music, was founded in Chicago by Chuck Greenberg (guitarist G.E.) in 1972. Stinson and Phil Maggini, the bassist. The trio started out as a blues band. However, they soon explored chamber jazz and folk music. Even medieval music was introduced to the group, which is fitting for a group named after a J.R.R. horse. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. Shadowfax added drummer Stuart Nevitt to their debut album, Watercourse Way in 1974. Although it failed to make an immediate impact on the charts, the group did gain a loyal following the Windham Hill label signing. The release of 1982’s self-titled album was their commercial breakthrough. Shadowfax added pianist/synth player Jared Stewart and violinist Jamii Szmadzinski to its ranks for Shadowdance in 1983. In the years that followed, the band saw many personnel changes. However, founding members Greenberg u0026 Maggini remained constants well into 1990. Due to Greenberg’s leadership role in Shadowfax, and his contribution in creating the band’s signature sound (including his playing on the Lyricon electronic wind instrument he helped engineer), the group was forced to disband in 1995 after the reedman died from a heart attack in California’s Santa Cruz Island.
