Kingfish (band)

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Kingfish
Background information
Origin	San Francisco, California
Genre(s)	Rock
Years active	1973 - present
Label(s)	Grateful Dead Records Relix Records Phoenix Rising
Associated acts	Ratdog
Members
Matthew Kelly
Former members
Bob Weir Dave Torbert Robbie Hoddinott Chris Herold Mick Ward David Merrill Mookie Siegel Barry Sless Steve Kimock

Kingfish is an American rock band led by Matthew Kelly, a musician, singer, and songwriter who plays guitar and harmonica. Kelly co-founded Kingfish in 1973 with New Riders of the Purple Sage bass player Dave Torbert and fellow San Francisco Bay Area musicians Robbie Hoddinott, Chris Herold, and Mick Ward. However, Ward died in a car accident later that year.

In 1974, Kingfish became more well known, and signed their first record contract, after Grateful Dead member Bob Weir, a long time friend of Kelly's, joined the band. (Kelly had previously been a guest musician on the Grateful Dead album Wake of the Flood.) Weir toured with Kingfish and was a band member on their first two albums, Kingfish and Live 'N' Kickin'. When the Dead started touring again in 1976, Weir left Kingfish. (Kelly later appeared on the Grateful Dead album Shakedown Street, and on Weir's album Bobby & The Midnites. In 1995 he became a founding member of Weir's band Ratdog.)

The lineup of Kingfish continued to evolve. Then, in 1980, Kingfish disbanded. In 1983, Torbert died of a heart attack. The following year, Kelly reformed Kingfish, and the band toured and released a live album. Subsequently Kingfish disbanded again, and Kelly pursued a solo career, in 1987 releasing the album A Wing and a Prayer.

In 1999, Kelly organized a reformulated Kingfish lineup that recorded a new studio album and played a number of live concerts.