The Alpha Band

The Alpha Band was a rock band formed in July of 1976 from the remnants of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. Band members were T-Bone Burnett (who allegedly converted Dylan to Christianity during the Revue), Steven Soles, and David Mansfield, plus sidemen who differed from record to record and included: David Kemper (later drummer for Bob Dylan and Jerry Garcia Band); mysterious piano virtuoso K.O. Thomas; gospel great Andrae Crouch; and Ringo Starr (perhaps better known for earlier work with The Beatles).

The Alpha Band reputedly signed a huge-money deal with Arista Records, Clive Davis's label. But their three albums were remarkably obscure, even upon release: almost straight to the cut out bin. Somehow, the Alphas never gained traction. The group is now recalled, if at all, as a launching pad for Mansfield, and even more for launching Burnett. Soles's solo career never went anywhere outside of Christian record stores.