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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = The Fabulous Thunderbirds| image = FabulousThunderbirdsFeb06.jpg| caption = Riverwalk Blues Festival; February 2006| image_size = 350| landscape = yes| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Texas , United States | genre = Blues rock , Texas blues | years_active = 1974present| label = Columbia Records|CBS Associated | associated_acts =| website =| current_members = Kim Wilson Johnny Moeller Mike Keller Randy Bermudes Jay Moeller| past_members = Duke Robillard Doyle Bramhall II
Fran Christina Gene Taylor (musician)|Gene Taylor Jimi Bott Keith Ferguson (musician)|Keith Ferguson Kid Bangham Kirk Fletcher Mike Buck Preston Hubbard Richard Innes Ronnie James Weber Steve Hodges Willie Campbell Kid Ramos Jimmie Vaughan Nick Curran (musician)|Nick Curran Troy Gonyea The Fabulous Thunderbirds are an American, Grammy-nominated blues rock band (music)|band , formed in 1974.
Career
After performing for several years in the Austin, Texas|Austin , Texas blues scene, the band won a recording contract with Takoma/ Chrysalis Records , and later on signed with Epic Records . In 2011, they signed with Severn Records .cite web | url = http://blues.about.com/b/2011/11/11/severn-records-goes-to-the-birds.htm | title = Severn Records Goes to the Birds | accessdate = 2011-11-14 | last = Gordon | first = Kieth A. | date = Nov 11, 2011 | publisher = About.com ; Blues
Their first two album s, released in 1979 and 1980 with Kim Wilson 's lead vocals and harp, Jimmie Vaughan as lead guitarist, Keith Ferguson (musician)|Keith Ferguson on bass guitar and Mike Buck on Drum kit|drum s, initially sold poorly, but are now regarded as significant blues recordings. http://www.bluesmusic.lt/index.php/lt/istorijos/bliuzo-istorija/1269-100-greatest-blues-albums "100 Greatest Blues Albums" on Blues Music website The Thunderbirds' blues style mixed Texas blues with the harmonica laced swamp blues sounds of Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester & mdash; both of whom the Thunderbirds cover version|covered .Citation needed|date=February 2008 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 instrument|brass .
Although the Fabulous Thunderbirds had become favorites of fellow musicians & mdash; opening shows for the likes of The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton & mdash; and had been critically well-received, the band's gramophone record|records did not sell particularly well.cite web|last=Thomas |first=Stephen |url=Allmusic|class=artist |id=p4217/biography |pure_url=yes |title=The Fabulous Thunderbirds |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2011-12-08 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 (music)|single , "Tuff Enuff" was featured in the 1986 film Gung Ho (film)|Gung Ho . It was also featured in the film Tough Guys , as was the follow-up single "Wrap It Up". "Tuff Enuff" remains the band's only Top 40 hit, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 . The band's music was also used in the 1987 movie Hot Pursuit (film)|Hot Pursuit . The Fabulous Thunderbirds' next album, Hot Number , fell off the record chart|charts quickly. But following that, their recording of Powerful Stuff was a success, based in part upon its inclusion in the 1988 film Cocktail (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 duet (music)|duo with his brother Stevie Ray Vaughan ; following Stevie Ray's death in 1990, Jimmie pursued a full-time solo career.cite book | first= Tony | last= Russell | year= 1997 | title= The Blues - From Robert Johnson (musician)|Robert Johnson to Robert Cray | edition= | publisher=Carlton Books Limited | location= Dubai | page= 110 | isbn= 1-85868-255-X The Fabulous Thunderbirds replaced Vaughan with two guitarist s, Duke Robillard and Kid Bangham.
Doug "Kid" Bangham left the band after three years, recorded two solo albums, and opened the Carver School of Music and the Carver Institute of Rock in Carver, Ma.
In the early 1990s, Kim Wilson recorded a pair of solo albums while continuing to tour with The Fabulous Thunderbirds. In 1994, the band recorded a ninth album, Roll of the Dice , which was released on Private Music in 1995. High Water followed in 1997, although this was actually a collaboration between Wilson and studio musicians Steve Jordan and Danny Kortchmar issued under the Fabulous Thunderbirds name.
On the evening of February 16, 2000, The Fabulous Thunderbirds made history, becoming the first band ever to be broadcast on the Internet using high-definition cameras. The companion DVD, Invitation Only, is one of the first high-resolution multi-track recordings of a live concert event. The companion CD Live& #33; was released in 2001.cite web|url= http://www.fabulousthunderbirds.com |title=Fabulousthunderbirds.com |publisher=Fabulousthunderbirds.com |date=2011-05-05 |accessdate=2011-12-08
The band recorded Painted On in 2005, produced by Steve Berlin (of Los Lobos ) and featuring Rachel Nagy of The Detroit Cobras on the track Love Speaks Louder Than Words . Guitarist Nick Curran (musician)|Nick Curran joined Wilson on vocals for Two Time Fool .
The Fabulous Thunderbirds have maintained an intense touring schedule throughout the United States and Europe since the early 1990s.
Bassist Ronnie James and guitarist Troy Gonyea toured, to considerable acclaim, with Booker T. Jones in England in 2009, with the addition of guitar player Marc Ford from The Black Crowes and Darian Gray on drums.
The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special (2011)
;Singles
" Tuff Enuff (song)|Tuff Enuff " (1986)
"Wrap It Up" (1986)
"How Do You Spell Love" (1987)
"Powerful Stuff" (1989)
col-end
Music videos
Year
Video
1986
"Tuff Enuff"
See also
Music of Austin
Music of Texas
List of 1980s one-hit wonders in the United States
Texas blues
List of blues musicians
Rockabilly
References
;Notes reflistPrimary sources|date=January 2008
External links
http://www.fabulousthunderbirds.com/ Official site
The Fabulous Thunderbirds DEFAULTSORT:Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Category:Musical groups established in 1974 Category:Rock music groups from Texas Category:American blues musical groups Category:Texas blues musicians Category:Contemporary blues musicians
