A quintessential American band known for classic songs such as "Tuff Enuff" and "Wrap It Up" - The Fabulous Thunderbirds - comes to Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1.
For more than 30 years, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have offered a distinctive and powerful sound, influenced by a diversity of musical styles. Co-founder Kim Wilson on vocals and harmonica is the sole original member, still spearheading the group as it evolves for new generations.
As Wilson recently noted, "By the time you've been around this long, you really want to be good. For your music to stand up to anything, you want to be able to do contemporary stuff at a high level. You want to be playing with people who can play at this high level, and this is just the band that can do this."
The Fabulous Thunderbirds' latest album, Strong Like That, was released in August 2016, and has been called "infectious, can't-get-it-out-of-your-mind, blend of down-to-the bone funk, soul, and rock."
At 17 Wilson began playing the harmonica and singing, influenced by artists such as George "Harmonica" Smith, James Cotton, B.B. King, Muddy Waters and more. In search of musicians who shared his love of the blues, he headed to Minneapolis where he played locally for about a year, before moving to the burgeoning music scene of Austin, Texas. There he met Jimmie Vaughan and they founded the Thunderbirds in 1974.
The first self-titled album was primarily blues-influenced, and became a cult classic. As the years continued, the band began incorporating more Cajun, rock and soul influences. Though Vaughn left the band in 1989, Wilson kept the group going, incorporating keyboards into the guitar-driven sound. The current band line-up includes Wilson, Rob Stupka (drums), Johnny Moeller (guitar), Steve Gomes (bass) and Kevin Anker (keyboards).
Tickets for The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson are $39 and $49 and are available online at www.durangoconcerts.com or call 247-7657, or visit the ticket office inside the Durango Welcome Center at Eighth Street and Main Avenue.
