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Profile
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
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1999 KBA Award Winner
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by the Blues Foundation
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Blending elements of blues, rock & roll, and R&B, the Fabulous Thunderbirds helped popularize Texas roadhouse blues during the 1980s. In the process, they helped kick-start a blues revival that endures to this day. Harpslinger and vocalist Kim Wilson, along with guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, formed the Fabulous Thunderbirds in 1974. Within a few years the Thunderbirds became the house band at Antone's in Austin, Texas where they would play regular gigs and support touring blues musicians. By the end of the decade they had built a strong fan base which led to their debut release in 1979. After a number of years of grueling tours and several more records, 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, bringing their rip-roaring blues to mass audiences. The title track was released as a single and its accompanying video received heavy play on MTV, which helped the song reach the Top Ten. The T-Birds went on to win the W.C. Handy Award for Best Blues Band of the year. With a number of personnel changes in the early '90s and a brief hiatus from touring, Wilson re-assembled the band and in 1995 recorded their ninth album, Roll of the Dice. Following it's release the band returned to active touring of the United States bringing their high-energy brand of roadhouse rhythm and blues to a whole new generation of blues fans. Joining Kim Wilson (harp and vocals), the current lineup of The Fabulous Thunderbirds features Kid Ramos (guitar), Gene Taylor (keyboards), Willie Campbell (bass), and Richard Innes (drums).
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