Little Memphis Blues Orchestra
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Little Memphis Blues Orchestra (also known as L.M.B.O. or LiMBO) is the band formerly known as the Taylor Hicks Band. Taylor Hicks had assembled the band about two years before he won American Idol in 2006. The band was initially formed in Alabama, but has since based themselves throughout the Southern United States, and later (after American Idol), to nationwide. The band features Brian Less on keyboard/piano/vocals, Sam Gunderson on lead guitar/vocals, Mitch Jones on bass guitar, Zippy Dietrich on drums/vocals and Jeff Lopez on Saxophone/Backup Vocals. The band has toured the United States during the American Idol concert tour, playing numerous after-parties which sometimes feature Hicks on stage, along with Hicks' friends and fellow American Idol finalists, Elliott Yamin, Ace Young, Bucky Covington, and Chris Daughtry (they, along with Hicks, make up the top five men). One of the LiMBO "after-party" concerts was at WorkPlay Theatre in Taylor Hicks and LiMBO's home town of Birmingham. This concert was actually the night of the Birmingham stop of the American Idol tour and Idols Hicks, Yamin, Young and Covington appeared with the band. The entire performance was recorded on both audio and video. LiMBO has since released both a DVD and a CD version of that performance.[1]
The LiMBO name has a double meaning. As Taylor Hicks gained fame during the American Idol competition, the remaining members of the Taylor Hicks Band continued to play professionally. But they wanted to make sure no one assumed that Taylor Hicks would appear with the band, so they decided, at least for the short term on a name change. The keyboard player, Brian Less, is originally from Memphis, Tennessee and is not that tall. Taylor Hicks (who played basketball in high school) and Sam Gunderson are tall men, so it especially showed since Brian, Taylor Hicks and Sam Gunderson were the front men for the band. Brian acquired a nickname of "Little Memphis". When and even if Taylor Hicks would return was unknown as long as Taylor was still competing on American Idol - leaving his band in "limbo". The result is Little Memphis Blues Orchestra - or LiMBO. Brian's wife, Staci Less, is credited with creating the name.
LiMBO is now back in limbo again. Brian Less and Jeff Lopez will join Taylor Hicks on his 07 Tour until June when the band launches the Summer 07 LiMBO Tour. Meanwhile the rest of the band is in recording studios helping local artists with recordings and preparation as opening acts for the LiMBO Summer tour.[2]
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