Providence was a six-piece American rock band active from 1971 to 1974. The group originated in Boise, Idaho, but was later based in Portland, Oregon. The Moody Blues signed Providence to a recording contract with Threshold. They released one album, Ever Sense the Dawn, in 1972. Band members Bob Barriatua - electric bass, vocals Bart Bishop - lead vocals, piano, harpsichord, organ, autoharp Jim Cockey - violin, glockenspiel, vocals Andy Guzie - guitars, vocals Tim Tompkins - cello, vocals, recorders, percussion Tom Tompkins - viola, vocals, occasional violin. Musical style The style of the group was soft rock with classical influences, particularly in contrapuntal instrumental interludes by their string trio and in broad vocal harmonies that followed strict rules of voice-leading. Providence was an impressive live unit that drew heavily on the combined power of Barriatua's bass and Tompkins' cello, the two instruments combining to create a rock edge that could be quite intense. Layered on top of that were Tompkins' viola and Cockey's violin. Guzie's guitar work was often treated as a lyrical embellishment more than the blistering leads of his rock contemporaries of the period. Lead singer and main writer Bartholomew Bishop's keyboards centered on piano, organ and harpsichord, rather than the Moog, ARP and other synthesizers then in common use among groups exploring a mixture of rock and classical influences. Because of their string trio, the group did not use the popular Mellotron (which the Moodies popularized in songs like "Nights in White Satin"), giving Providence a sound that was quite organic and more complex than that created by the Mellotron. After breakup Following the band's breakup, individual members went on to a wide range of professional activities. Cockey and the Tompkins brothers lent their talents to the duet album Blue Jays (1975) by the Moodies' Justin Hayward and John Lodge. They also became part of the Bluejays touring band for the 1975 UK tour, and in 1977 they appeared on Justin Hayward's solo album Songwriter. Barriatua completed an M.D. degree and established a practice in Portland. Cockey completed a degree in composition at University of Oregon under Hal Owen and has since established himself as a composer and music teacher working out of McCall, Idaho. Andy (now known as Andrew) Guzie completed a classical guitar degree from the University of Oregon and continues to work as a performing guitarist in Portland. Tim and his wife Frances