Early Years/background Information
Bruce Randall Hornsby was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, a son of Robert Stanley Hornsby (1920–1998), a real-estate developer and former musician, and his wife, née Lois Saunier. Raised a Christian Scientist, he has two siblings, Robert Saunier Hornsby and Jonathan Bigelow Hornsby.
He graduated from James Blair High School in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1973, where he played on the basketball team. He studied music at the University of Richmond, as well as Berklee College of Music and the University of Miami, from which he graduated in 1977.
In the spring of 1974 Hornsby's older brother Bobby, who attended the University of Virginia, formed the band "Bobby Hi-Test and the Octane Kids" to play fraternity parties, featuring Bruce on Fender Rhodes and vocals. The band, which is listed in Skeleton Key: A Dictionary for Deadheads, performed covers of Allman Brothers Band, The Band, and predominantly Grateful Dead songs. Although Hornsby's collaboration with Bobby Hornsby would be relatively short-lived, Bobby's son R.S. was a recurring guest-guitarist with Hornsby's band and periodically toured with his uncle.
Following his graduation from the University of Miami, in 1977, Bruce returned to Williamsburg and played in local clubs and hotel bars. In 1980, he and his younger brother (and songwriting partner) John Hornsby moved to Los Angeles, where they spent three years writing for 20th Century Fox. Hornsby also spent time in Los Angeles as a session musician and touring with Sheena Easton's band before moving back to his native southeastern Virginia.
Hornsby currently uses a Steinway & Sons concert grand piano. He bought the piano in Zurich, Switzerland, while on a solo show tour in Europe in 1995. With the Range and up until 1995, he used a Baldwin concert grand piano. He currently uses a Korg M1 synthesizer. With the Range, Hornsby used an Oberheim OB-X synthesizer.
Outside the realm of music, Hornsby is a good basketball player and an avid fan of the sport. As such, he can frequently be seen at college basketball games around the state of Virginia. He is also a friend of former St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, and attends games in St. Louis whenever he can. Their friendship led to La Russa introducing Hornsby to jazz bassist Christian McBride, which then led to the formation of The Bruce Hornsby Trio (along with drummer Jack DeJohnette) and their first album, Camp Meeting.
Hornsby and his wife Kathy have twin sons: Russell, who runs Division I track at the University of Oregon, and Keith, who plays Division I basketball for UNC Asheville Bulldogs. They were named after Leon Russell and Keith Jarrett.
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