Omar & the Howlers

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Omar & the Howlers is a Texas based blues band, formed in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1973 by blues guitarist and singer, Omar Kent Dykes. Three years later they moved to Austin, Texas. The band has regularly toured European countries.[1][2][3]

Contents

[edit] Early years

Kent Dykes grew up in McComb, Mississippi, began playing the guitar at age 7 and joined his first band at 12. In his 20s, he gathered a group of musicians who started calling themselves the Howlers. They specialized in frat parties and was a party band, playing music that included both "R&B, R&R and even the occasional polka and western swing tune".[4] Dykes has said he remembers these days fondly. It was around this time that he started calling himself Omar and developed his penchant for the blues.

In 1976, the Howlers relocated to Austin, at the time sporting a bustling music scene, home to such up-and-coming artists as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Johnson. After a year of gigging in Austin, the rest of the band quit, feeling that they werent cut out to play music full-time. As they heade back to Mississippi, Omar stayed an kept the name with their good memory. He worked out a new lineup, and cut the debut Big Leg Beat for Stomp records in 1980, just after fellow Austin band The Fabulous Thunderbirds.[4] The record was a local hit, and their next, I Told You So, would make them somewhat of local legends.

[edit] Success

It wasn't until 1987, however, when Omar signed a deal with Columbia, that the band would hit it big. That year saw the release of Hard Times in the Land of Plenty, ten tracks that really showed the band's potential, and went on to sell in excess of 500,000 copies.[4] The band now consisted of Omar singing and playing the guitar, Bruce Jones on bass and Gene Brandon on drums.

Since then, Omar & the Howlers has released dozens of successful albums, both for Columbia and Provogue Records, as well as their current label Ruf records.

[edit] Musical style

Omar & the Howlers mainly plays guitar-driven, happy blues, with lyrical themes revolving around love and life in Mississippi. Their sound relies heavily on Dykes' compelling baritone voice.

[edit] Band members

  • Omar Dykes - vocals, guitar
  • Bruce Jones - bass
  • Gene Brandon - drums
  • Stephen Bruton - guitar
  • Paul Junior - bass
  • Steve Kilmer - drums
  • Mark Hallman - percussion
  • Gary Pimrich - harmonica
  • Nick Connolly - organ

[edit] Discography

  • Big Leg Beat (1980)
  • I Told You So (1984)
  • Hard Times In The Land Of Plenty (1987)
  • Wall of Pride (1988)
  • Monkey Land (1990)
  • Live at the Paradiso (1992)
  • Courts of Lulu (1992)
  • Blues Bag (1992) - Omar solo
  • Muddy Springs Road (1995) - Omar solo
  • World Wide Open (1995)
  • Southern Style (1995)
  • Swingland (1998)
  • Live at the Opera House Austin, Texas 8/30/1987 (2000)
  • The Screaming Cat (2000)
  • Big Delta (2001)
  • Boogie Man (2003)
  • Bamboozled (2006)
  • Omar Kent Dykes and Jimmy Vaughan: On The Jimmy Reed Highway (2007)

[edit] Notes & references

  1. ^ (Danish) "Forårsprogram 2005 – PÅSKEBAL - OMAR and the Howlers og TopNudge som opvarmning! Påskesøndag 27. marts" – brovstmusik.dk (Retrieved on April 18, 2008)
  2. ^ (Norwegian) "Billetter igjen, men vær rask ute" – Karmsund Avis (28.06.06) (Retrieved on April 18, 2008)
  3. ^ (Norwegian) "Omar topper bluesfestivalen" – Østlandets Blad (31.05.2007) (Retrieved on April 18, 2008)
  4. ^ a b c Official homepage (Retrieved on 2008-04-18)

[edit] External links

Official website

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