F
The Fabulous
Thunderbirds
f: 1974,
Austin
With their fusion of blues. rock 'n' roll, and R&B, the Fabulous
Thunderbirds helped popularize roadhouse Texas blues with a mass audience in the
80's and, in the process, they helped kick-start a blues revival during the mid
80's. During their heyday in the early 80's, they were the most popular
attraction on the bar circuit, which eventually led to a breakthrough to the pop
audience in 1986 with their fifth album, Tuff Enuff. The mass
success didn't last too long, and founding member Jimmie Vaughan left in 1990,
but the Fabulous Thunderbirds remained one of the most popular blues concert
acts in America in the 90's.
Guitarist Jimmie
Vaughan formed the Fabulous Thunderbirds with vocalist/harpist Kim Wilson in
1974; in addition to Vaughan and Wilson, the band's original lineup
included bassist Keith Ferguson and drummer Mike Buck. Initially, the
group also featured vocalist Lou Ann Barton, but she left the band shortly after
its formation. Within a few years, the Thunderbirds became the house band
for the Austin club Antoine's, where they would play regular sets and support
touring blues musicians. By the end of the decade, they had built a strong
fan base, which led to a record contract with the local Takoma
Records.
In 1979, the Fabulous Thunderbirds released
their eponymous debut on Takoma. The record was successful enough to
attract the attention of major labels and Chrysalis signed the band the
following year. What's the Word, the group's second album, was
released in 1980 and it was followed in 1981 by Butt Rockin'. By
the time the Thunderbirds recorded their 1982 album T-Bird Rhythm,
drummer Mike Buck was replaced by Fran Christina, a former member of Roomful of
Blues.
Although the Fabulous Thunderbirds had become
favorites of fellow musicians-they opened shows for the Rolling Stones and Eric
Clapton-and had been critically well-received, their records didn't sell
particularly well. Chrysalis dropped the band following the release
of T-Bird Rhythm, leaving the band without a record contract for four
years. While they were in limbo, they continued to play concerts across
the country. During this time, bassist Keith Ferguson left the band and
was replaced by Preston Hubbard, another former member of Roomful of
Blues. In 1985, they finally landed another record contract, signing with
Epic/Associated.
After the deal with Epic/Associated
was complete, the T-Birds entered a London studio and recorded their fifth album
with producer Dave Edmunds. The resulting album, Tuff Enuff, was
released in the spring of 1986 and, unexpectedly, became a major crossover
success. The title track was released as single and it's accompanying
video received heavy play on MTV, which helped the song reach the American Top
Ten. The success of the single sent the album to number 13 on the charts;
Tuff Enuff would eventually receive a platinum record. "Wrap it
Up", a cover of an old Sam & Dave song, was the album's second single and it
became a top ten album rock track. Later in 1986, the T-Birds won the W.C.
Handy Award for best blues band.
The Fabulous
Thunderbirds follow up to Tuff Enuff, Hot Number, arrives in the summer
of 1987. Initially, the album did fairly well-peaking at number 49 on the
charts and spawning the Top Ten album rock hit "Stand Back"-but it quickly fell
off the charts. Further more, it's slick, radio-ready sound alienated
their hard core following of blues fans. "Powerful Stuff", a single from
the sound track of the Tom Cruise film Cocktail, became a number-3-album
rock hit in the summer of 1988. It was included on the following years
Powerful Stuff album, which proved to be a major commercial
disappointment-it only spent seven weeks on the
charts.
After the two poorly received follow-ups to
Tuff Enuff, Jimmie Vaughan left the band to play in a duo with his
brother, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Following Stevie Ray's death in the summer of
1990, Jimmie pursued a full-time solo career. The Fabulous Thunderbirds
replaced Vaughan with two guitarists, Duke Robillard and Kid Bangham. The
first album from the new lineup, Walk That Walk, Talk That Talk,
Epic/Associated dropped the Fabulous Thunderbirds from their
roster.
During the early 90's, the
Fabulous Thunderbirds were in limbo, as Kim Wilson recorded a pair of solo
albums-Tiger Man(1993) and That's Life(1994). Wilson re-assembled the band
in late 1994 and the band recorded their ninth album, Roll of the Dice,
which was released on Private Music in 1995. Following it's release, the
band returned to actively touring the United States.
Guy
Forsyth
b:
?
Austin,
Texas based guitarist, singer, interpreter, and songwriter Guy Forsyth is like a
lot of Austin musicians. He leads his own band, as well as group called
The Asylum Street Spankers. When he's not performing with either of these
groups locally, you can find Forsyth sitting in with someone else just for
kicks. Forsyth is a rare combination; he's a talented guitarist, singer,
and songwriter, but also a diligent, conscientious student of the blues,
blues-rock, and other indigenous folk music's.
The
Guy Forsyth Band has one album on the Discovery-Warner Bros. label, Needle
Gun. On it, his quartet reinvigorates the blues-rock form, taking the
music to uncharted waters. Forsyth is accompanied in his band with Gil T.
on bass, Keith Bradley on guitar and Rich Chilleri on drums. The music on
their debut is equal parts blues, rock 'n' roll, and Americana. Forsyth
sings with conviction and plays harmonica in some smoldering guitar. Live,
the band is what you'd expect from any good blues-rock conglomeration: loud, raw
and raucous.
Anson
Funderburgh
b: Nov. 15,1954,
Plano, TX
In recent years, Dallas-based guitarist Anson Funderburgh has taken his
band, the Rockets, out of the clubs and on to the festive stages with his
critically acclaimed recordings for the Black Top label out of New
Orleans. With Jackson, MS-native Sam Myers delivering the vocals and harmonica
treatments, the band mixes up a powerful gumbo of Texas jump blues that can't be
found anywhere else. Funderburgh and his Rockets are a particularly hard working
band, performing across the US and Europe nearly 300 nights a
year.
Funderburgh was born Nov. 15, 1954, and got
hooked on the blues when he got his first guitar at age 7 or 8. His first
musical experiences happened in the clubs in Dallas. he developed his team
approach to blues music while learning from the likes of Freddie King, Jimmy
Reed, and Albert Collins when these great bluesmen were passing through
Dallas-area clubs, but Funderburgh had already taught himself guitar mostly from
listening to classic blues records. He never had the chance to see Muddy
Waters, but he did get to play with Lightin' Hopkins in the late 70's.
Funderburgh formed the Rockets in 1978, but didn't meet Sam Myers until
1982.
Funderburgh recorded with the Fabulous
Thunderbirds on their Butt Rockin' album, then went solo in 1981,
when the New Orleans based Black Top label released Talk to You by Hand,
the labels first release. Funderburgh added Myers on harmonica and lead
vocals in 1986. Myers had traveled for years on the Chitlin circuit, where
he had the chance to accompany people like Elmore James and Robert Junior
Lockwood. Funderburgh admits that adding Myers on vocals and harmonica was
a turning point for the Rockets, partly because of the image they project form
the stage, a big towering Black man and three White guys backing him
up.
The endlessly creative Funderburgh
is just coming into his prime by way of his songwriting talents, so his career
deserves close watching in the coming years. The best is yet to come from
this guitarist and bandleader.