Both were born and raised in St. Louis, though they didn't know each other until later. Gannaway was a member of the bluegrass band Homegrown for six years before moving to Los Angeles. Oliver played in the bands of jazz musicians Maynard Ferguson and Dave Weckl, and later spent three years as a member of Jimmy Buffett's backup band, co-writing songs on the albums Off to See the Lizard and Barometer Soup. Gannaway and Oliver began living and working together in Los Angeles in the late '80s. With guitarist Andy Georges and drummer Mike Lawrence, they formed Tiger & the Helix, which released the album Peace Face. They formed Aomusic, self-releasing their debut album Grow Wild in 2000. ~ William Ruhlmann