An alternative country trio from, of all places, the affluent Minneapolis suburb of Edina, the Carpetbaggers were formed in 1991 by guitarists Mike Crabtree and John Magnuson, along with upright bassist Rich Copley. Two well-received independent label releases, 1992's Country Miles Apart and 1993's Nowhere to Go But Down, helped earn the Carpetbaggers a series of high-profile gigs opening for Son Volt. In 1996, the group issued Sin Now...Pray Later. ~ Jason Ankeny