The Boogie Kings
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The Boogie Kings (also known as The Fabulous Boogie Kings) are an American Cajun swamp pop and blue eyed soul supergroup.
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[edit] History
The band formulated in Eunice, Louisiana in 1955 as teenagers first consisting members Doug Ardoin, Skip Morris, Bert Miller, Byron Launey, and Harris Miller. As their popularity soared, the band became the first Caucasian band to perform music specifically recorded by black people.[1] In 1965, they released their first self-titled album. Throughout the mid 1960’s, the band expanded, including Ned Theall, a Cajun trumpeter from Abbeville became the group’s leader. It was because of him that the band changed their style of music (swamp pop) to a more blue-eyed sound of music[2]. The band toured throughout the United States and helped back big name musicians on the stage and in the recording studio. The Boogie Kings disbanded in 1969 due to the popularity of the British wave of music. They reformed again in 1975 and 1982 before fading into obscurity once again. In the late 1980s, the band released Cajun Soul in 1988 and Nine Lives in 1989. After that recording, the band disbanded .However, they reunited in 1991 and went back to recording swamp pop music. The band released three albums in the 90’s. To date, The Boogie Kings are still performing. They added three new members to the supergroup and released a new album. The band are still in high demand, touring and performing throughout Louisiana.
[edit] Recordings
All in all, The Boogie Kings have released eleven studio albums, three compilations and a double compilation album, including an upcoming studio album due late January 2007. All albums were (and still are) recorded on Jin Records. The Boogie Kings have proven to be one of the most enduring bands of all time. Ned Theall has stated that the band will continue to play as long as he has a blue note left in his horn.
[edit] Members
The Boogie Kings have had different members throughout the decades. Today, the original members are still in the band, including three new members called The New Breed. Allen Wayne, a musician who was inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame, joined the band in 2006. Gregg Martinez, a Cajun blue-eyed soul performer also joined in 2006. Mark Klein, a fourteen-year boy, also became a member of the Boogie Kings in 2004 and is also the youngest person ever to join the supergroup. Theall as well as members Jon Smith, Jerry Lacroix, G.G. Shinn, Duane Yates, Dale Gothia, and Gary Dorsey were inducted into the Music Hall of Fame at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur,Texas.[3]
Past and present members (in no particular order):
- Doug Ardoin
- Skip Morris
- Bert Miller
- Ned Theall
- Mike Pollard
- Harris Miller
- Jason Parfait
- Jerry Henderson
- James Anderson
- Jon Smith
- Gary Dorsey
- Ronnie Ghirardi
- Dale Gothia
- Duane Yates
- Clint West
- Johnnie Giordano
- Jerry Lacroix
- Gary Walker
- Everett Brady
- Mark Klein
- Parker James
- Glen Guilbeaux
- G.G. Shinn
- The King Brothers
- Tommy McLain
- Willie Tee
- Gregg Martinez
- Gary Walker
- Tommy Clint
- Allen Wayne
- Byron Launey
- Shayne Whitmore
- Steve "Big Daddy" Morrow
- Jeff Fournet
- Alex Melton
- Mick Emery
- Wally Malone
- Peggy Malone
- Ted Broussard
- Cal Arnold
[edit] Discography
- Clint West and The Boogie Kings (1964)
- The Boogie Kings (1965)
- Blue Eyed Soul (1966)
- Sam Montel Presents The Boogie Kings (1966)
- The Boogie Kings Live at the Bamboo Hut (1967)
- Cajun Soul (1988)
- Nine Lives (1989)
- Louisiana Country Soul (1994)
- Bourbon Street Live (1995)
- Swamp Boogie Blues (1995)
- Walkin’ The Dog (1998)
- Never Go Away (2007)
Compilations
- Greatest Hits Volume 1
- Greatest Hits Volume 2
- Greatest Hits Volume 3
- 50th Anniversary Essential Collection
