Chris Harford, born in Princeton, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and painter. He attended Connecticut College before transferring to the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Harford established a reputation in the early 1980s as a member of the Boston-based band Three Colors, which included Hub Moore and Dana Colley. In 1992, as Chris Harford and the First Rays of the New Rising Sun, he released the debut album Be Headed on Elektra Records. Harford established a revolving-door backing band concept known as Band of Changes, featuring musicians including Kevin Salem, Jane Scarpantoni, and members of Ween. His independent discography included the albums Comet (1999) and Looking Out For Number Six (2006). Beyond music, Harford gained recognition for his paintings, which were first exhibited at CBGB's, and for coaching college lacrosse at institutions including Hendrix College and Ransom Everglades.
