Interviewing The Legends: Muddy Waters

The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Celebrate 50th Anniversary!

with the Release of First Studio Album in Eight Years

'Struck Down'

Coming June 28th on Stony Plain Records

Listen to the first single

“Payback Time”

(featuring Billy Gibbons)

Struck Down features special guests

Billy Gibbons, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo,’

Mick Fleetwood, Elvin Bishop, Terrance Simien,

and Canadian blues guitar ace Steve Strongman.

Stony Plain Records proudly announces the signing of legendary American band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, who will celebrate their 50th anniversary with the release of their first studio album in eight years, Struck Down, on June 28th. The album’s first single, “Payback Time,” featuring Billy Gibbons, is out now.

Struck Down also features special guests Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’ and Mick Fleetwood on the album’s lone cover song, a scintillating take on Memphis Minnie’s “Nothing in Rambling.” Additional contributions on the new disc come from Elvin Bishop, Terrance Simien and Canadian blues guitar ace Steve Strongman, who co-wrote with Kim Wilson nine of the album’s 10 tracks.

Struck Down was produced by Kim Wilson, Steve Strongman and Glen Parrish; recorded in New Jersey and Hamilton, Ontario; and mixed by acclaimed recording engineer Shelly Yakus (John Lennon/U2/Tom Petty). In addition to the searing first single, “Payback Time,” other standout tracks include the album’s opener, “Struck Down By The Blues,” featuring Steve Strongman on guitar; the Cajun-flavored “Don’t Make No Sense,” featuring Terrance Simien on accordion; “Watcha Do To Me,” featuring guitar icon Elvin Bishop; and the wistful closing track, “Sideline.”

The catalyst for the recording sessions happened when blues guitarist Steve Strongman hooked up with Kim Wilson on a trial basis to write some songs. Thunderbirds manager Glen Parrish had convinced an at-first hesitant Kim Wilson to give it a try by co-writing with Strongman, who flew down to California from Canada. As a songwriting team, they clicked immediately. For the recording sessions, Wilson called a few friends. The first single, “Payback Time,” features Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top on guitar and backing vocals. “Billy is someone I talk to on a pretty regular basis,” said Wilson. “He is a dear friend, a great musician, and he knows how to make a record.” Regarding the great interplay on the track between Gibbons’ guitar and Wilson’s harmonica, Wilson said, “It was really all him. Being the great musician that he is, he created that conversation.”

The cover of Memphis Minnie’s “Nothing in Rambling” is overflowing with talent. “All of these people I have the utmost respect for,” said Wilson. “Taj Mahal was one of my very first influences. He is one of the reasons I started playing the harmonica. Bonnie Raitt and I have always been very close. I love what she does. I love her voice. I love Keb’s voice. And Mick was kind enough to put his performance on that track as well.” “I love the material, the performances, and the sound of the album. It was mixed by Shelly Yakus and mastered by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone. They are the very best there is.”

When talking about the full-time members of the Thunderbirds, Wilson proclaimed, “The strength of this band has inspired me to be more creative. This band really allows me to do anything I want to do: modern, traditional, anything in between. They are masters of it all. And as for what’s next…“I’m far from finished.”

Formed in 1974, The Fabulous Thunderbirds is a familiar name for anyone into contemporary blues and blues rock. This is the band that created classic albums like T-Bird Rhythm and Tuff Enuff. Powered by hits like the title track and “Wrap It Up,” Tuff Enuff went platinum, selling more than one million copies. Led by founding member Kim Wilson, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have been nominated for Grammy Awards six times and for Blues Music Awards more than 20 times. The Fabulous Thunderbirds continue to tour internationally, selling out venues and headlining festivals with the current line-up of Kim Wilson on vocals and harmonica, Johnny Moeller on guitar, Bob Welsh on keyboards and guitar, Rudy Albin on drums and Steve Kirsty on bass.

PREORDER

THE NEW ALBUM

THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS

Entitled

‘STRUCK DOWN’

The Fabulous Thunderbirds Celebrate 50th Anniversary with the Release of First Studio Album in Eight Years, Struck Down, Coming June 28th on Stony Plain Records

Listen to the first single “Payback Time.”

(featuring Billy Gibbons)

Pre-Order/Pre-Save the Album

https://stonyplainrecords.com/fabulousthunderbirds/

FOR MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT

KIM WILSON

AND

THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS

VISIT

https://fabulousthunderbirds.com/

Official website

https://www.facebook.com/fabulousthunderbirds/

Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/fabuloustbirds/

Instagram

https://twitter.com/ThunderFabulous

Twitter

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfAXkyD5vxFXypN4ZqcF-kQ/featured

YouTube

THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS

IN CONCERT

JUL 3 Healdsburg, CA Raven Performing Arts Theater 8:00 PM

JUL 5 Nicasio, CA Rancho Nicasio 4:00 PM

JUL 6 Napa, CA Blue Note Napa 6:30 PM

JUL 6 Napa, CA Blue Note Napa 9:00 PM

JUL 12 Mequon, WI Gathering on the Green 6:30 PM

JUL 12 Mequon, WI Gathering on the Green 8:30 PM

JUL 30 Cologne Luxor 8:00 PM

JUL 29 Nuremberg Hirsch 8:00 PM

Discography

With The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Albums

The Fabulous Thunderbirds (1979)

What's the Word (1980)

Butt Rockin' (1981)

T-Bird Rhythm (1982)

Tuff Enuff (1986)

Hot Number (1987)

Powerful Stuff (1989)

Walk That Walk, Talk That Talk (1991)

Roll of the Dice (1995)

High Water (1997)

Painted On (2005)

Thunderbirds! (2009, sold only at shows)

On the Verge (2013)

Strong Like That (2016)

Struck Down (2024)

Compilation albums

Portfolio (1987)

The Essential... (1991)

Hot Stuff: The Greatest Hits (1992)

Wrap It Up (1993)

The Fabulous Thunderbirds/What's the Word (1993)

Butt Rockin'/T-Bird Rhythm (1993)

Different Tacos (1996)

The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds (1997)

Tuff Enuff/Powerful Stuff (1999)

Thunderbirds Tacos Deluxe (2003)

The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special (2011)

The Bad and Best of... (2013)

Live albums

Live from London (1985)

Live [AKA Invitation Only] (2001)

Singles

"Tuff Enuff" (1986) No. 10 US, No. 83 AUS[13]

"Wrap It Up" (1986) No. 50 US

"Why Get Up" (1986)

"Stand Back" (1987) No. 76 US

"How Do You Spell Love" (1987)

"Wasted Tears" (1988)

"Powerful Stuff" (1988) No. 65 US

"Knock Yourself Out" (1989)

Solo

1993: Tigerman (Antone's)

1994: That's Life (Antone's)

1997: My Blues (Blue Collar)

2001: Smokin' Joint (M.C. Records)

2003: Looking for Trouble (M.C. Records)

2006: My Blues Sessions: Kim's Mix, Volume I (Bluebeat)

2017: Blues and Boogie, Vol. 1 (Severn)

2020: Take Me Back - The Bigtone Sessions (M.C. Records)

Guest

Ronnie Earl, Smokin' (1983)

Roomful of Blues, Dressed Up To Get Messed Up (1984)

Ronnie Earl, They Call Me Mr. Earl (1984)

Ron Levy's Wild Kingdon, Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom (1988)

People Get Ready – A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield (1993)

Snuff Johnson, Will The Circle Be Unbroken (Black Magic Records, 1994)

Bonnie Raitt, Road Tested (1995)

Kid Ramos, Kid Ramos (1999)

James Cotton, 35th Anniversary Jam of the James Cotton Blues Band (Telarc, 2001)

Big Jack Johnson, The Memphis Barbecue Sessions (2002)

JW-Jones, Bogart's Bounce (guest, 2002)

JW-Jones, My Kind of Evil (producer and guest, 2004)

Wentus Blues Band, Family Album (Bluelight Records, 2004)

Barrelhouse Chuck, Got My Eyes on You (2007)

Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan, Jimmy Reed Highway (2007)

Louisiana Red, Back to the Black Bayou (Ruf Records, 2008)

Elvin Bishop, The Blues Rolls On (2008)

Eric Clapton, Clapton (Reprise, 2010)

Mark Knopfler, Privateering (2012)

Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King, Road Dog's Life (Delta Groove Productions, 2013)

Barrelhouse Chuck, Driftin' From Town To Town (2013)

The Robert Cray Band, 4 Nights of 40 Years (2015)

Buddy Guy, Born to Play Guitar (2015)

Thornetta Davis, Honest Woman (2016)

Peter Karp, Blue Flame (2018)

Ash Grunwald, Mojo (2019)

KIM WILSON APPEARS WEEK OF MAY 24th 2024

ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

WITH RAY SHASHO

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show.

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan.

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives.

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music. The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/

Gold Award Winner