Bio - AFTERLIFE - Official Website

A few years down the road, Jonathan Dorsey (a budding guitarist and songwriter) met Hudson through a gathering at his cousin's apartment.  Dorsey's cousin had played him some tapes of Hudson and Davis.  Dorsey was intrigued with the music and learned that Hudson was the author of all the original songs on the tape.  When Hudson and Dorsey met, they developed an instant friendship and began working on musical projects together.  Soon it was decided the two of them would put together a permanent group of some type, and it only seemed natural to invite Davis to join in.  Davis graciously accepted the invitation.  They decided to not keep The End as the band name, and soon all agreed upon "AFTERLIFE".  The band's offical formation date is January 1st, 1986.

Initially, Dorsey was slated to be the second guitarist in the band (and the band did one show with Dorsey also on guitar and without a bassist), but after only one bass player auditioned for the group, the new band decided it was in their best interests if either Dorsey or Hudson one took over the role as bassist.  Dorsey decided to make the transition and proved to be a natural on the instrument.  A few months later in early 1987, AFTERLIFE was in the studio recording their first EP "Three-Way Mirror".

AFTERLIFE began playing local clubs, restaurants, venues, private parties, frat gigs, public parks, charitable events, state parks, and pretty much anywhere they could get in front of an audience.

In 1988, the first full-length album, "The Frozen Sun", was released.  It contained 4 brand new songs recorded at the same studio as their previous EP, and also contained that same EP in a different running order as side two.  At the last minute an additional 10th track which was recorded in Hudson's upcoming studio was added to the album, but not printed on the song listing, therefore becoming a "secret bonus track".  During this time, the band began expanding their playing field more, branching out further and further away from their hometown of Carrollton, Ga.

Almost all of the songs from "The Frozen Sun" were played on Atlanta's 96 Rock (96.1FM - WKLS) on their Sunday night local artists show, "The Peach Jam".  Several of AFTERLIFE's songs were chosen to be "Peach Pick of the Week" over a period of the next couple years.  AFTERLIFE was also selected to be one of the artists to perform in the first "New South Music Showcase".  AFTERLIFE played in Club Rio in Atlanta along with 2 other local Atlanta area bands and a band from Florida.  During this same period of time, their music was played on a number of college radio stations, primarily WWGC (90.7FM) on the campus of West Georgia College (now known as the University of West Georgia).  AFTERLIFE was in regular nearly hourly rotation on that station for quite some time.

In 1990, the second album, "The Awakening" was released.  10 brand new songs, all recorded for the first time exclusively at Hudson's own "Clockwork Studio".  Beginning with this album, all of AFTERLIFE's future recordings would be made in Hudson's studio.  With this album release, the band began playing new clubs in other states such as Chattanooga, TN, Columbia, SC and Auburn, AL.  They also had their music played on a few out of state radio stations as well.  It was also during this time that AFTERLIFE was invited to be interviewed on 96 Rock's "Peach Jam" show as well as do a couple of acoustic performances live on the show.

By the Spring of 1991, AFTERLIFE had their third album, "Curtain Call" recorded and ready to go except for the artwork.  But due to a series of unfortunate circumstances the band decided to take a break in the Summer of 1991, and the album was temporarily put on hold.  By the fall of 1991, "Curtain Call" was finally released, but was considered at the time to be the final recorded work of AFTERLIFE.  "Curtain Call" was only released in very limited quantities and never received the distribution and promotion of the first two albums.  The three members of AFTERLIFE remained friends, but the band was effectively ended.  Hudson and Davis soon dropped out of the musical scene.  Hudson eventually dismantled and sold off his studio.  Dorsey, however, continued on and played in a number of different bands, released his own solo CD, and was featured on other people's albums over the years in various capacities.

In 2003, Hudson invited Dorsey to be the best man at his second wedding, and Davis was sent an invitation, but Hudson was unsure if Davis would be able to attend, because he now lives in Florida.  Davis did make the wedding and at the reception that night, the three bandmates discussed their past and the possibility of one day getting back together to do something.  What that would be was unsure.

A few years later, around 2007-2008, Hudson decided he needed an outlet for the songs he'd been writing over the years.  Initially, thinking he'd do a solo album, he began building a new version of Clockwork.  In 2011, the studio was up and running, and Hudson contacted Davis and Dorsey with the prospect of helping out on the solo album, and also possibly recording a couple of new AFTERLIFE songs in the process.  

In October 2011, the three reunited in Hudson's studio for the first time in a little over 20 years.  It only took about 15 or 20 minutes for everyone to get back into the swing of things, and it felt more like it'd only been a couple weeks instead of a couple decades that they'd been apart.  That first weekend, 7 new rhythm tracks were recorded, and it was soon decided that the solo album would have to wait until some other time...they were going to concentrate on recording a new AFTERLIFE album!  Two more weekends (one in November 2011 and one in December 2011) yielded the other 6 basic tracks which would eventually become AFTERLIFE's 4th album, "Compass Rose", which was released on April 1st, 2013.  Overdubbing, mixing and mastering, title selection and graphic design filled up the rest of the nearly 19 months between initial recording and release.

Although the logistics of performing live are no longer a viable option, the three members of AFTERLIFE decided that they would officially become a studio band, much like the Beatles did in the second phase of their career.  It is still not out of the question for a future live event, but it is highly unlikely at this time, due to the demands of the primary jobs of the bandmembers.

In January 2014, the recording process was started once again, and on December 12, 2016, AFTERLIFE's 5th album, "Brave New World" was released.  16 brand new tracks comprising what is AFTERLIFE's most varied album to date.  It's both their most progressive, yet their most pop sounding venture yet, with a heavy dose of psychedelia.  This album took one month shy of 3 years from concept to finished product.  

AFTERLIFE hopes to enter the studio once again at some point next year to begin working on album number six.