Quarterflash was a rock music group formed in Portland, Oregon, United States in 1980. The band was made up of lead singer and saxophonist Rindy Ross, her husband, guitarist Marv Ross, guitarist Jack Charles, keyboardist Rick DiGiallonardo, bassist Rich Gooch and drummer Brian David Willis.

The group was formed by merging two popular Oregon bands Seafood Mama and Pilot.^[1][2] They originally released the single "Harden My Heart" in Spring 1980. It was a big hit on Portland radio stations, and got the band a one-hour TV special, Seafood Mama In Concert, on KOIN on June 5, 1980, which was also simulcast on KQIV. "Harden My Heart" would later be rerecorded by the band after they renamed themselves Quarterflash. The name came from an Australian slang description of new immigrants as "one quarter flash and three parts foolish," which the Rosses found in a book at producer John Boylan's house.^[3][4]

In 1990, Quarterflash reunited, hiring session musicians, including bassist/vocalist Sandin Wilson, drummer Greg Williams, guitarist Doug Fraser, and Mel Kubik on saxophone and keyboards. The group released Girl in the Wind on Epic Records. In 1991, Rindy and Marv Ross founded historic music ensemble The Trail Band, which was formed at the request of the Oregon Trail Advisory Council to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Oregon Trail.^[5]

In June 2008, Marv and Rindy Ross will release a new Quarterflash CD, Goodbye Uncle Buzz.^[6]

"Goodbye Uncle Buzz" was co-produced by the Rosses and Gregg Williams (Dandy Warhols, Wallflowers, China Forbes) and was recorded atypically by laying down Rindy's lead vocals and Marv's acoustic guitar parts first. Marv explains, "We played all the overdubbed parts to just those two elements to keep the focus on the lead singer and the primary chordal instrument. In previous recordings, we would spend endless hours creating huge drum and guitar sounds and then try to find "room" for Rindy's lead vocal. By starting with the finalized lead vocal, it forced everyone to play and shape their sounds to complement her voice. It worked beautifully - never has Rindy sounded better."

Harden My Heart

Cryin' on the corner, waitin' in the rain
I swear I'll never, ever wait again
You gave me your word..but words for you are lies
Darlin' in my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd go
But it's time to let you know....oh...
Chorus:
I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
I'm gonna turn...and...leave you here.....
All of my life I've been waitin' in the rain
I've been waiting for a feeling...that never, ever came
It feels so close, but always disappears....
Darlin', in your wildest dreams, you never had a clue...
But it's time you got the news......oooo....
Repeat Chorus
I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
Harden my heart...harden my heart...
Swallow my tears
I'm gonna harden my heart....