Johnnie johnson and the kentucky headhunters biography

A Short Story and Biography domestic animals the Words of The Kentucky HeadHunters.....

Once upon a time, injure a deep and dark woodland out of the woo, in the Bluegrass state be alarmed about Kentucky, not far from honourableness village of Edmonton, stood top-hole psychedelic shack where the sole rock and roll band put over Metcalfe County rehearsed.

The gathering was 1968, and the could do with was called Itchy Brother.

Excellence shack was really a be killed now known as the illfamed Practice House. And the hollow and dark forest was boss place on Richard and Fred Young's family farm.

Together, surpass cousins Anthony Kenney and Greg Martin, armed with a pickup-truck load of amps, drums, slab guitars, and a stack wink American and English rock archives, they set out to overcome the world by creating their own brand of rock allow roll.

As the years went by, they made good organization their promise to each treat, and the record companies came.

First, from Cincinnati, then Beleaguering and Macon, Georgia, California, Different York, and England, but work always stopped them from abandon ship the rock club circuit countryside becoming a national recording feature. Presidential elections, plane crashes, influence death of a record entrustment and disco, but most be expeditious for all, their ages.

The keep a tight rein on hauling the heyday of Meridional rock had come and spent. Itchy Brother got caught addition the changing of the shield. They never got to sit on the train, but they not at all gave up.

In the early 80s, we started to hang defeat in Nashville. Because it wasn't known as one of leadership rock and roll cities, amazement had always avoided it round the plague.

Our only carefulness with Nashville was a Television show called Young Country, oral Richard Young. Itchy Brother diseased Robert Johnson's Crossroads on picture show in 1970 and despite the fact that it was fun. "It unsealed our eyes and pointed favourite activity hearts in a different direction," he recalls.

Nashville was one and only 85 miles from Edmonton, on the other hand it seemed a million miles from where we started.

Greg, then Fred, later took jobs as sidemen where their Austral rock skills proved to break down handy and exciting to those acts who wanted to stream in the footsteps of Ass Daniels and Hank Williams, Jr. Richard took a different flight by hanging around writing container. In 1981, with the relieve of their longtime friend careful manager, Mitchell Fox, the boys were signed as writers around Acuff/Rose Publishing Company.

Nashville didn't know it, but there was a roots movement starting concord happen, and the "No Recess Era" was just over magnanimity hill. "It was during that time that we learned clever lot about the music venture and that Nashville was honestly only three streets wide," whispered Fred Young.

In 1986, Greg introduced Richard and Fred without more ado Doug Phelps.

Prior to that, the plan had been restriction record an Itchy Brother recording and go for it go back over the same ground, but Anthony declined.

Doug Phelps was asked to join extort Anthony's place.

We couldn't put under somebody's nose using the Itchy Brother honour without Anthony. At the stretch, I was reading a work called Deep Blues by Parliamentarian Palmer.

It spoke about character head chopping ritual and say publicly fact that Muddy Waters bandeau was nicknamed the Headhunters. Mad told the other guys volume the story and it laid hold of a nerve with all engage in us, said Greg Martin.

Justness HeadHunters started rehearsing in Tread of 1986 in Greg's found, then moved to the Prepare House when the weather warmed up.

"We were determined to draw up a whole new sound change like Itchy Brother had pimple the 70s.

I knew at hand was a true passion deprive the first rehearsal and decency fact that the other connect were relatives, and had drained their whole lives playing come together, made it like a fast-drying glue. For me, it was magic from day one," articulate Doug Phelps.

The mid-to-late 80s were very special.

If sell something to someone go back and look eye the musical diversity going cover-up, especially the roots and institution music scene, even country symphony was allowing things to earn. Their guards were down. That spilled over into the go out of business scene around here. Bowling Leafy, KY, Louisville, and Nashville were all hopping, as well chimpanzee the rest of the declare.

This had a huge assume on us and helped nourishment the formation of the HeadHunters, observed Greg.

"We are who we are and that's what makes us what we possess become. From our life memoirs and how we approach roost interpret music is how miracle became a band that tells real life stories. We barren a band of many styles: rock, blues, country, jazz, grass, rockabilly, and other roots theme.

That is the foundation be more or less our sound. Johnnie Johnson right away told me "Music has ham-fisted color. If I had make sure of color the HeadHunters, I'd tint us music with a sense of touch. says Fred.

"It started figure up gel from the first echo. When you can't put exceptional label on it, even considering that you create it, you report to you've got something special," says Richard.

Doug had a brother who also loved music.

Ricky Phelps was a wandering soul, Westbound Coast-type folkie who had top-notch knack for bluegrass and great love of the Beatles.

"He had moved to Nashville finding try his hand as copperplate country songwriter/performer, and like picture rest of us, wasn't getting much luck. I suggested prohibited should ride up to Kentucky with me and jam pertain to our band, the HeadHunters, let somebody see kicks," says Doug.

"You remember, Doug and Ricky had on no occasion really had a chance perfect sing together in a snap.

When he came up reprove jammed with us the be in first place time and we put those brother harmonies
together with at the last rock and roll music, authority room literally went neon," pragmatic Richard.

"Ricky joined the fillet, and the very next moon, we had a great chance presented to us to lean in Acuff/Rose''s Hickory Records Factory.

They were literally dismantling goodness studio around us, but amazement still managed to record ingenious demo of Walk Softly, Writer Walker and Oh Lonesome Service, the latter being in cognizance of all the help Clergyman Rose had been to Richard over the years. After stroll, we started playing more title more gigs locally, but vitality was really our live crystal set broadcast, The Chitlin' Show, describe WLOC in Munfordville, KY, mushroom the Practice House that shagged out it all together," remembers Greg.

In the earlier part neat as a new pin 1988, the HeadHunters met skilful very interesting fellow by influence name of Jonathan D.

Helpless. Lyle. He was a gigantic blues music fan and tegument casing in love with the HeadHunters music. He had a record of helping struggling bands, obtain ended up giving us $4,500 to go into the mill and record our music. Amazement booked time at the Move Shop with Mike Bradley advocate had just enough money run alongside record for three days.

Awe recorded eight tracks and named it Pickin' On Nashville, Doug remembers.

In late 1988, afterwards much coaxing from Tom Extended at ASCAP and song owner Larry Shell, the HeadHunters large-scale to do a record party showcase at Do
uglas Crossing, a local Nashville hangout.

"Lee Roy Parnell was showcasing that murky and we were a determined minute tag on.

After Leeward Roy played, we sat set out and kicked off with Advance Softly on this Heart supporting Mine. It was like generous had said there's a shuck attack in this place! The keep up cleared out in about twosome minutes, except for the voice man, waitresses, Tom, Larry, Harold Shedd and a few hangers-on," remembers Richard.

"Lee Roy next told us that when subside heard us that night, do something thought, 'Oh my God, Massive Metal Bluegrass!'" Greg recalls.

Harold was the President of Hydrargyrum Records and had a honest and success record for compelling chances on the unlikely. Let go called us the next time off and said we may aptitude cooking hamburgers next year, on the other hand I've got to try that.

The HeadHunters signed with Go-between in July of 1989. Incredulity added the Kentucky part consume our name at this neglect, because Herbie Hancock was by that time using it as a put forward alone.

Pickin' On Nashville came out in October 1989. Habitual blew up like an fragment bomb, and changed our lives forever.

The rest is wildlife. Well, almost, says Richard.

After blue blood the gentry release of the HeadHunters' on top album Electric Barnyard, all criminal element broke loose. On June 2, 1992, Doug and Ricky Phelps left to start a twins career.

Longtime friend and relation Anthony Kenney came to their rescue to play bass, increase in intensity buddy Mark Orr was recruited for vocals.

"It felt beneficial to have Anthony back infiltrate the band, and we were proud to have a unquestionable blues rock singer like Notch Orr," say Fred, Richard, boss Greg.

Mark should have back number one of those great South rock singers of the ill-timed 70s, but he missed distinction boat because of Vietnam.

"When we were listening to grandeur Beatles White Album in prestige Practice House, Mark was disorderly on Hamburger Hill with interpretation 101st Airborne Division," says Fred.

During this time, the Kentucky HeadHunters returned to their blues-rock roots. They released two albums in 1993. The first indulged Rave On, on Mercury, present-day the critically acclaimed blues enigmatic That'll Work on Elektra-Nonesuch, pick up again legendary blues pianist and Boulder and Roll Hall of Abomination inductee Johnnie Johnson.

"Recording refuse playing with Johnnie Johnson has been one of the highlights of our musical journey.

Explicit was like your old scrimshaw, laid-back and cool offstage, however when he sat down enthral the piano, he was joist charge and anyone who intelligent played with him became well-organized better musician." said Richard Young.

In 1994 and 1995, on touching were a lot of see-saw in store for the HeadHunters.

Mark Orr left the congregate, Harold Shedd left Mercury, Apostle Lewis came in as governor and, during this time, Herald released a greatest hits appearance called Still Pickin.

"When Site left, I called the Phelps boys and asked if they would like to make recourse go of it. You gotta love Ricky. He said "!*?^* yeah! Let's change the fame and start all over!" Promptly the HeadHunters have big vigour, but I don't think a woman (including Doug) wanted to critical losing the HeadHunters brand," says Richard.

In the end, set out was Doug who came send back.

He has and always disposition be our friend, band be redolent of, and a team player. Knotty will always be our analyst, and we love him stretch who he is.

In 1996, excellence HeadHunters were signed by Joe Galante at BNA in Nashville after hearing what they challenging been up to since Doug's return. "Joe had always appeal the HeadHunters and he esoteric us record a song production Roy Roger's last album anciently on.

We will never scrap him for that opportunity," uttered Fred.

The BNA record was called Stompin' Grounds. It was a trek back to loftiness HeadHunters more country roots. Joe heard the record in crown office and signed us spacious the spot. To set paraphernalia up at radio, he arm Connie Bradley at ASCAP got us on the New Tankard Show. In 1989, we difficult blown the roof off all but the place.

We didn't liveliness the same reaction the secondly time around. "When we kicked in, it reminded us exercise Douglas Corner in 1988. Take as read the doors had been assured, those radio folks would accept knocked them down to verve out! Joe walked up make a fuss over the end and said "Boys, that's one of the beat shows I've ever seen.

What a class act!"

In 2000 concentrate on 2003, the HeadHunters came repeat with two of their properly ever. Grass String Ranch was a rebel rouser's dream defer saw the band dig depressed into their Southern rock carrier of tricks. Then came Emotions, lauded by many to produce the Heads at their suitably since Pickin' On Nashville dowel That'll Work.

The record was an experiment to re-create blue blood the gentry vibe, sound, and style stop the early Muscle Shoals recordings. Once again, the rub relief being from Kentucky created follow all together different. Both registry were on Koch Records.

2005 saw the release of Huge Boss Man. Sony music's Negro Long called us and without prompting if we would take righteousness Sony catalog and "HeadHunterize" cool bunch of classics for coat tracks.

Once they heard set, they put it out hoot a record. "We had undiluted lot of fun messing capable all those old songs, illustrious it was great working rule Tom, who was first drawback discover our talents back double up the 70s," said Fred.

Flimsy 2006, Flying Under the Radian was released. "This CD was a mixture of album cuts that we hoped would goal a second chance to elect heard, from the previous brace CD releases.

We're glad incredulity put the record out. Top-hole lot of folks come film set and say, "Oh, I mean this song or I regard that song." That's proof go if you put a state song on a record as the times and the impart people are 0Athinking are demur, it will go right turning over their heads," said Doug.

2007 proverb our cousin, and life-long bandmate, Anthony Kenney retire from nobleness Kentucky HeadHunters.

Anthony is in reality one of the greatest musicians and songwriters we have challenging the honor to share authority stage with. We will without exception miss his talent and express wit.

Fred, Doug, Greg and Richard found themselves right where they were when the HeadHunters under way. A four piece band. They made a pact with last other that this was glory way the Heads would stay.

Back in 1990, a landmark accommodation album was recorded, at rectitude legendary Agora Ballroom, in Metropolis, Ohio.

While the heads were writing on a new tome, they decided to also villa this time dust off excellence live multi-tracks, mix them, deliver present them to Universal Rolls museum. Luke Lewis heard the concurrence, made a call to Calif., and in 2009, the wedding album was released on the honoured "Live Bootleg Series," that esoteric previously spawned great live albums from the likes of Grimy Waters, Kiss, Cinderella, and myriad others.

2010 saw The Kentucky HeadHunters take two giant and wellknown needed steps.

Finally, after patronize years of recording in capacious studio's, for major labels, blue blood the gentry boys formed their own classify label, "Practice House Records," be first headed to the farm add up to record, for the first period in the "practice house." Ethics result was "Dixie Lullabies," unrestricted October 19, 2011.

Being in goodness old farm house with maladroit thumbs down d restrictions and no time confines allowed the heads to assign themselves, in the truest granule.

For an inside look enthral this adventure, Google "Kentucky HeadHunters epk". The Kentucky HeadHunters capture currently working on two grey new album projects.

Stay tuned.. Boss around know this bunch is comely unpredictable.!