Denis Porter
| Denis Porter | |
|---|---|
 At the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2009 | |
| Born |
Denis Alexander Porter July 8, 1955 New Prairie, WI |
| Died |
December 11, 2022 (aged 67) Los Angeles, CA |
| Cause of death | Lung Cancer |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Years active | 1978–2022 |
| Known for | Leader singer of Foolish Creeper (1978-1993, 2009-2022) |
| Spouse(s) | Cynthia Holmes (1993-2022) |
| Partner(s) | Lauren Jensen (1970, 1976-1981, 1985-1987) |
| Children |
|
| School | New Prairie High |
| Year | 1970-1974 |
Denis Porter was the leader singer and founding member of long-time rock band Foolish Creeper.
Early Life and Education
Denis was born during a heatwave that ravaged the Midwest in the summer of 1955. On the day of his birth, the hospital's internal temperature had reached close to 100. As he got older, Denis used to joke that being born in the heat was what helped give him the drive to perform.
Denis was raised in New Prairie and attended the infamous New Prairie High with fellow bandmate Lauren Jensen and Maggie Loveland. During his time at school, Denis soon found himself being the "lead singer" of the pep band, singing along with the songs they were playing to help rally the student section. It started as a one-time thing, but soon he was cheered to get up front and sing along. His voice was powerful and allowed him to belt out the lyrics louder than the band was playing.
After graduating high school, Denis was not interested in going to college. With the war in Vietnam ending, he found himself at a crossroads of what to. He'd often find himself at open mic nights at various clubs in the area, performing mostly at Jumpers, a well-known underground bar in downtown New Prairie. With the drinking age being 18 at the time, he often would sing along with other musicians and party afterward.
Career
The Lost Ones
In 1976, Denis formed The Lost Ones alongside three other individuals he had met while performing at Jumpers. The quartet took the name as a reflection of them all coming together from different backgrounds, late at night, to perform as one.
They played frequently at Jumpers, as well as landing a recuring gig in Madison from the fall of 1976 until early winter. The traveling to the city during bad weather ultimately caused a lot of issues. Denis suggested they split an apartment in Madison to help reduce the traveling in bad weather. The suggestion was turned down by two of the men, who ultimately decided their time was over anyway after a disagreement over the future direction of the band itself. The band broke up in March of 1977.
Formation of Foolish Creeper
Turmoil Inside Foolish Creeper
Reuniting with Foolish Creeper
Solo Career
Upon leaving Foolish Creeper in 1992, Denis took some time away from the music business to focus on himself. Having written a half dozen albums and toured for the last decade, he needed time to reset. Moving to Seattle, he lived in a small house on the outskirts of town, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was there that he met his future wife, Cynthia Holmes, who helped him revive his love of music.
With no immediate plans to release anything, Denis began working slowly on a few songs inspired by his time looking out at the ocean. By Spring of 1994, he had accumulated eight songs that he truly felt represented his life post-Foolish Creeper. His wife Cynthia added one song she had written about him, which helped round out the runtime. Reaching out to friends in the business, he found a record label that would release his album, and by Fall of 1994, Early Morning Mist (1994) was released in stores.
The album was a mild success, with some fans criticizing the drastic change in style and tone from his days in Foolish Creeper. He would none-the-less, write and release three more solo albums: Lost in my Thoughts (1996), Before the Sun Rises (1999), and 299 Parkway Drive (2001).
Later Years
Death
On December 11, 2021, Denis passed away in his sleep with his family by his side. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer 6 months prior but had refused to let anyone but his immediate family know. Upon his death, his family issued a statement, which, unfortunately, was also the first time members and fans of Foolish Creeper found out about his diagnosis.
He was laid to rest at Oak Park Cemetery in his hometown of New Prairie.
Personal Life
Relationships
Lauren Jensen
Denis had a long-time, on-again off-again relationship with Foolish Creeper co-founder and band partner Lauren Jensen, whom he met while attending New Prairie High from 1970 until they graduated in 1974. The two initially broke up after a few months of dating and decided being friends would be better. In 1976, the two started dating again and did so through the creation of the band in 1978. By 1981, they had broken up again, but resumed dating in 1985 after Denis proposed to Lauren while the band was on tour. They stayed together but didn't marry, as the performing and drugs were starting to get to Denis, causing him to lash out violently at random times.
During the middle of the band's 1987 Inside Out tour, Denis and Lauren got into a massive fight at a hotel. Their argument ended after Denis threw a television out the balcony window, narrowly missing Lauren and landing on a bystander's car 12 stories below. Lauren broke off the engagement and started distancing herself from Denis as they proceeded to work on their next album, Backwards from the Front (1989).
Three days before the album's release, Denis, intoxicated and on numerous hard drugs, called Lauren one evening and demanded she leave the band or else he'd "do something rash". It's unknown what he was thinking he'd do, but the ultimatum was enough for Lauren to leave the band. The two didn't speak again until 2009 when Denis and Lauren briefly talked backstage at an award show. The two, having grown and moved on with their lives, agreed to meet for dinner with their spouses. This dinner eventually led to the band being reunited for a new album.
Cynthia Holmes
After Denis left Foolish Creeper in 1992, he moved to Seattle, where he eventually met Cynthia Holmes at the farmers market one morning. She was selling some homegrown vegetables and after they stood and talked for two hours, Cynthia asked if he'd be interested in getting coffee sometime. Denis, taken back by her not caring who he was, accepted and they met the next day. During their coffee date, Cynthia admitted she knew who he was (she even had a few of their albums), but it didn't matter because she didn't see the celebrity in him when he was asking about her vegetables; she only saw the human he truly was and had lost over the years.
After six months of dating, Denis and Cynthia moved in together and were eventually wed on October 11, 1993. They would remained married until his death in 2022.
Cynthia would go on to help Denis find his love for music again, contribute the occasional song to his solo albums, and help organize his public performances until he rejoined Foolish Creeper in 2009.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | AUS | CAN | |||
| Early Morning Mist |
Release date: October 21, 1994 |
19 | 37 | 21 |
US: 50,700 |
| Lost in my Thoughts |
Release date: June 1, 1996 |
12 | 21 | 7 |
US: 185,290 |
| Before the Sun Rises |
Release date: December 11, 1999 |
14 | - | - |
US: 110,700 |
| 299 Parkway Drive |
Release date: April 30, 2001 |
9 | - | 11 |
US: 275,250 |
Appearances
Films
- None
Stories
- None