The Fabulous Thunderbirds

The Fabulous Thunderbirds play an energized fusion of blues, rock & roll, and R&B that sounds like it came straight out of a Texas roadhouse. During their heyday in the early '80s, the band was one of the most popular attractions on the blues bar circuit, cutting no-frills albums like 1979's The Fabulous Thunderbirds and 1980's What's the Word. This eventually led to a breakthrough to the pop audience with their 1986 album Tuff Enuff. The mass success didn't last too long, and founding member Jimmie Vaughan left in 1990, but under the leadership of harmonica ace and vocalist Kim Wilson, the Fabulous Thunderbirds remained one of the most popular blues acts in America during the '90s and onward, occasionally making their way into the studio to cut albums like 2016's Strong Like That and 2024's Struck Down.

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. High Water followed in 1997 with a live album in 2001. (1997 also saw the death of original bassist Keith Ferguson at the age of 50.)

In 2004, Wilson reassembled the band yet again adding retro blues sensation guitarist Nick Curran and equally talented West Coast guitarist Kirk Eli Fletcher. The newly anointed group released Painted On, produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, on Tone Cool records in 2005. It would be 2013 before the T-Birds issued their next studio album. On the Verge saw Wilson working with guitarists Johnny Moeller and Mike Keller, with Randy Bermudes on bass and Jay Moeller on drums. Wilson took his latest incarnation of the Thunderbirds -- Johnny Moeller on guitar, Kevin Anker on keyboards, Steve Gomes on bass, and Wes Watkins on drums -- back to the studio to make 2016's Strong Like That, which included additional guitar from Anson Funderburgh. Former bassist Preston Hubbard, who played with the group from 1985 to 1993, died on August 17, 2016, at the age of 63, and keyboardist Gene Taylor, who was in the band from 1993 to 2005, (and also recorded with Canned Heat and the Blasters), passed on February 20, 2021, at the age of 68. In June 2024, the Canadian Stony Plain label issued Struck Down; With Wilson and Johnny Moeller, this version of the Fabulous Thunderbirds featured Bob Welsh on keyboards, Steven Kirsty on bass, and Rudy Petschauer on drums. Struck Down also included a handful of guest stars, including Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Bonnie Raitt, Elvin Bishop, Mick Fleetwood, and Taj Mahal. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Mark Deming, Rovi