After taking the band’s name Aztec Two-Step from a poem by beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and writing the first song for or about Jack Kerouac’s iconic novel, “On The Road,” the story of Rex Fowler and Aztec Two-Step became intertwined with the history of folk-rock music in America.
Originating from a chance meeting at an “open mic night” in a Boston folk club in 1971, the duo that included co-founder Neal Shulman, went on to record four albums throughout the decade on Elektra & RCA Records that left an indelible mark on the musical genre.
As their recording career continued, so did the critical acclaim. In 1986, their first indie album “Living in America” was named in Billboard’s year-end critic’s poll. It also received the New York Music Award for the Best Folk Album. In 1999 they were the subjects of the documentary, “No Hit Wonder,” which was aired on several PBS stations across America. In June 2007, Real Simple, a popular national lifestyle magazine, named Aztec Two-Step’s debut album one of the all-time top five classic “folk” albums, along with works by Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Tom Rush and Phil Ochs. The group appeared in concert with The Band, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Donovan, Judy Collins, Jackson Browne, America, Seals and Crofts, Carly Simon, Heart, Orleans, The Beach Boys and so many more.
Following Neal’s 2018 retirement, Rex has continued their legacy with his wife Dodie Pettit and their expanded band Aztec Two-Step 2.0, performing ATS fan favorites, forgotten gems as well as new compositions. They recapture the multi-layered dimension of Rex & Neal’s original studio recordings, still engaging their fans with the music and their heartfelt and humorous stage presence.
“This new lineup has brought new life to the music. This truly is a band that people need to experience!!” – Ron Olesko, WFDU-FM/Folk Music Notebook
