The Fabulous Thunderbirds

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
 This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications.
Primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article generally are not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please include more appropriate citations from reliable sources, or discuss the issue on the talk page.
This article has been tagged since January 2008.
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Origin Texas, U.S.
Genre(s) Blues-rock
Texas blues
Years active 1974 – present
Members
Kim Wilson
Johnny Moeller
Mike Keller
Randy Bermudes
Jay Moeller
Former members
See 'Line-ups' section (below)

The Fabulous Thunderbirds are a blues-rock band, formed in 1974.

Contents

[edit] Career

After performing for several years in the Austin, Texas blues scene, the band won a recording contract with Takoma/Chrysalis Records, and later on signed with Epic Records.

Their first two albums, released in 1979 and 1980 with Keith Ferguson on bass guitar and Mike Buck on drums, initially sold poorly, but are now regarded as successful white blues recordings.[citation needed] The Thunderbirds' blues style mixed Texas blues with the harmonica laced swamp blues sounds of Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester — both of whom the Thunderbirds covered.[citation needed] The band's third album, Butt-Rockin', released in 1981, took the band closer to old rhythm and blues and added additional musicians playing piano and brass.

Although the Fabulous Thunderbirds had become favorites of fellow musicians — opening shows for the likes of The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton — and had been critically well-received, the band's records did not sell particularly well.[citation needed] Chrysalis dropped the band following the release of T-Bird Rhythm, leaving the band without a contract for four years. While still in limbo, the Fabulous Thunderbirds continued to play concerts across the U.S.. During this time, bassist Keith Ferguson left the band and was replaced by Preston Hubbard, a former member of Roomful of Blues. In 1985, the band finally landed another recording contract with Epic/Associated.

The single, "Tuff Enuff" was featured in the film Tough Guys, as was the follow-up single "Wrap It Up". The band's music was also used in the 1987 movie, Hot Pursuit. The Fabulous Thunderbirds' next album, Hot Number, fell off the charts quickly. But following that, their recording of Powerful Stuff was a success, based in part upon its inclusion in the 1988 film Cocktail. The band then embarked on a long series of line-up changes and albums throughout the 1990s.

Jimmie Vaughan left the band to play in a duo with his brother Stevie Ray Vaughan; following Stevie Ray's death in 1990, Jimmie pursued a full-time solo career. The Fabulous Thunderbirds replaced Vaughan with two guitarists, Duke Robillard and Kid Bangham.

In the early 1990s, the Fabulous Thunderbirds were in limbo, and Kim Wilson recorded a pair of solo albums. In 1994, Wilson reassembled the band to record a ninth album, Roll of the Dice, which was released on Private Music in 1995. High Water followed in 1997, and a live album in 2001.

In 2004, Wilson reassembled the band again adding Nick Curran and Kirk Eli Fletcher. The group released Painted On in 2005.

[edit] Line-ups

1976-1980
1981–1985
1985–1989
1990–1992
1993-2002
  • Kim Wilson: Vocals, harmonica
  • David "Kid" Ramos: Guitar
  • Willie Campbell: Bass
  • Gene Taylor: Keyboards
  • Steve Hodges: Drums
2002-2004
  • Kim Wilson: Vocals, harmonica
  • Troy Gonyea: Guitar
  • Gene Taylor: Keyboards
  • Ronnie James Weber: Bass
  • Jimi Bott: Drums
2005-2007
  • Kim Wilson: Vocals, harmonica
  • Nick Curran: Guitar
  • Kirk Fletcher: Guitar
  • Gene Taylor: Keyboards
  • Ronnie James Weber: Bass
  • Jimi Bott: Drums
2007
2008

[edit] Discography

  • Girls go Wild - (1979)
  • What's the Word - (1980)
  • Butt Rockin' - (1981)
  • T-Bird Rhythm - (1982)
  • Tuff Enuff - (1986)
  • Hot Number - (1987)
  • Powerful Stuff - (1989)
  • Walk that Walk, Talk that Talk - (1991)
  • Roll of the Dice - (1995)
  • Different Tacos - (1996)
  • High Water - (1997)
  • Live - (2001)
  • Painted On - (2005)

[edit] Compilations

  • The Essential - (1991)
  • Hot Stuff: The Greatest Hits - (1992)
  • Wrap It Up - (1993)
  • Butt Rockin'/T-Bird Rhythm - (1996)
  • Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds - (1997)
  • Tuff Enuff/Powerful Stuff - (1999)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fabulous_Thunderbirds"
Personal tools