Representative Songs: "Gerroa", "Raise on High", "Motorcycles
Biography
Musician and illustrator Archer Prewitt was born and raised in Frankfort, KY, going on to attend art school in Kansas City. There he co-founded the Coctails, a now-legendary quartet whose eclectic, Martin Denny-inspired kitsch-pop predated the lounge revival movement by a good half-decade; the band relocated to Chicago in 1991, issuing four albums and a series of singles before disbanding with a farewell show on New Year's Eve, 1995. By that time, Prewitt was also ensconced as a member of the acclaimed post-rock combo the Sea and Cake; after completing the band's 1997 effort The Fawn, he returned to the studio to record his long-awaited solo debut, the outstanding In the Sun. White Sky followed two years later. In addition to his musical pursuits, Prewitt enjoyed success as a graphic artist -- a onetime colorist for Marvel Comics, he also earned acclaim for his brilliant independent title Sof' Boy. A third release entitled Gerroa Songs was released in fall 2000. Recorded on an old reel to reel recorder in Australia, it featured a far more stipped down sound. However, 2002's Three was a return to a more lush pop sound and detailed arrangements. In 2003, the Sean and Cake was back on duty, but Prewitt returned to his solo work and released Wilderness in early 2005. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Prewitt enrolled in the Kansas City Art Institute and began drumming in the band Tunnel Dogs and then Mudhead. Archer also played bass in Kansas City local favorites the Bangtails. He then co-founded The Coctails, who moved from Kansas City to Chicago after their first album (1989) and went on to release six albums in all by the time they played their last show on New Year's Eve 1995/96. By then Prewitt had also been involved with a new project, The Sea and Cake, who have released several critically acclaimed albums. Concomitant with his work in The Sea and Cake, Prewitt produced several solo releases.
Comics and illustration
In addition to his music, Prewitt is a freelance illustrator, cartoonist, and comic book colorist. His first professional illustrations were for the Kansas City Star while he still lived there. In 1992, he started drawing and self-publishing his Sof' Boymini-comic, while also working as a colorist for Marvel Comics. Sof' Boy has subsequently been published by Kitchen Sink Press and Fantagraphics Books. Another Prewitt character is Funny Bunny, who has made several appearances in diverse publications. Prewitt's work has appeared in Zero Zero, Drawn and Quarterly, Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, and BLAB!.
Prewitt was nominated for a 1997 Eisner Award for Best Colorist (for Sof' Boy and Friends).
Sof' Boy & Friends #1-3 (Fantagraphics, 1997–2004)
Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern #13: "An Assorted Sampler of North American Comic Drawings, Strips, and Illustrated Stories, &c." (McSweeney's, spring 2004)
