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With
their fusion of blues, rock & roll, and R&B,
the Fabulous Thunderbirds helped popularize roadhouse
Texas blues with a mass audience in the '80s and, in
the process, they helped kick-start a blues revival
during the mid-'80s. During their heyday in the early
'80s, they were the most popular attraction on the blues
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 during the '90s.
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 Antone'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 a single and its 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, arrived 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. Furthermore,
its slick, radio-ready sound alienated their hardcore
following of blues fans. "Powerful Stuff,"
a single from the soundtrack of the Tom Cruise film
Cocktail, became a number-three-album rock hit in the
summer of 1988. It was included on the following year's
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, appeared in 1991. Following the release
of Walk That Walk, Talk That Talk, Epic/Associated dropped
the Fabulous Thunderbirds from their roster.
During the early '90s, the Fabulous Thunderbirds were
in limbo, as Kim Wilson recorded a pair of solo albums
-- Tigerman (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 its release, the band returned
to actively touring the United States. |
