“I’m gonna to harden my heart…I’m gonna swallow my tears…”
You know the rest and will probably continue to hum the ’80s hit for the rest of the day, all the while wondering, “Who sang that song?”
Pat Benatar? Blondie? Cindy Lauper?
Nope, the song that spent several weeks in 1981 in the No. 1 spot was sang by Quarterflash, a rock group lead by married couple Rindy and Marv Ross, both Portland natives.
Growing up the ’50s and ’60s, the duo has witnessed the evolution of music in the Pacific Northwest.
Marv Ross took a few minutes to speak with Meetings West about the development of the region’s distinctive sound.
What was Portland’s music scene like when you were growing up? When I was a kid, Portland wasn’t known as a mecca for national music. There was always local music here, but a vibrant African American music and jazz scene really emerged after World War II because people were moving to the area to work in the shipyards. From that evolved a local music scene, but it wasn’t until the ’60s that everything exploded. That is when everything really changed.
What happened in the ’60s? It was during that time that the area really got its own sound, the Northwest sound, which was kind of a punky music that traces roots to the garage band. Everyone was aware that the Northwest music sound was just beginning to happen.
How did things change in the ’70s and ’80s? In the ’70s, it wasn’t unusual for a band that came out of the Northwest to move elsewhere after they were discovered. But one of the evolutionary steps that happened in the ’80s was that more national bands would stay here instead of leaving. So studios were built to accommodate those musicians. Not only did people stay here, but people started coming here to perform and make their music.
How about the ’90s and today? From the vibrant scene that came out of the ’80s came the Seattle Sound of the ’90s with bands such as Nirvana. Today there is an extremely vibrant jazz and blues scene. I am also seeing a lot of neo-Americana—more acoustic-based. You can really see all music types represented in this town—from death metal to bluegrass. I am also hearing a lot of stuff that isn’t hard rock, but it is more introspective and thought provoking—like The Decemberists—who are from here.
What was it like when Harden my Heart came out? It was a pretty exciting time. Harden My Heart was actually written when Rindy and I were part of a group called Seafood Mama. We played a lot of swing and rock in those days. But in 1980, we decided to go out on our own. We wanted to play rock and roll and pop. We signed with Geffen records and rerecorded Harden My Heart. At first it was a local hit, but then it became an international hit. We were playing at outdoor venues for 50,000 people. It was really incredible.
Do you still play? Yep. Quarterflash was around from 1980 to 1990, but now Rindy and I play a lot as a duet. We do a lot of benefits and play quite a bit in rural Oregon nowadays. We do shows in little theaters and at high schools and colleges. We still play Harden My Heart all the time. We never get tired of doing it. Some songs age better than others and it never feels old to us.
Marv Ross’ three music venue recommendations for groups visiting Portland:
*The Aladdin Theater (503.234.9694; http://www.aladdin-theater.com) “We put on Christmas shows there every year. It is very intimate and is just the right size.”
*Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (503.248.4335; www.pcpa.com/events/asch.php) “It is absolutely stunning inside. Even though it is a historic theater, it is still in incredible shape and a great place to see a show.”
*The Newmark Theatre (503.248.4335; www.pcpa.com/events/newmark.php) “It is an amazing room to play in.”
