The Outlaws

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The Outlaws
The Outlaws in 1974
The Outlaws in 1974
Background information
Origin Tampa, Florida
Genre(s) Southern Rock, Rock music
Years active 1972-1987, 1991-1999, 2006-
Label(s) Arista Records
Associated acts Lynyrd Skynyrd
BlackHawk
Website www.outlawsmusic.com
Members
Monte Yoho, Chris Anderson, Randy Threet, Henry Paul, Billy Crain, Jon Coleman,
Former members
Hughie Thomasson, Frank O'Keefe, Billy Jones, David Dix, Harvey Dalton Arnold, Freddie Salem, Rick Cua, Barry "B. B." Borden, Chris Hicks, Rob Carroll, Mike Varney, Jeff Howell
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For the British band, see The Outlaws (UK band). For the rap group, see Outlawz. For characters in children's fiction, see Just William. The Outlaws is also the title of a science fiction novel by Richard Gordon.

The Outlaws are a Southern rock band formed in Tampa, Florida in 1972 by vocalists/guitarists Hughie Thomasson and Henry Paul, bassist Frank O'Keefe, and drummer Monte Yoho. The band was the first act signed to Arista Records under Clive Davis. Davis was in the audience at a show in 1974 where the band was opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd in Columbia, South Carolina. At the end of Lynyrd Skynyrd's set, singer Ronnie Van Zant said from the stage: “If you don’t sign the Outlaws, you’re the dumbest music person I’ve ever met — and I know you’re not.”[1]

The Outlaws most well known chart songs were "There Goes Another Love Song" and "Green Grass and High Tides", both from their 1975 self-titled debut album.

Contents

[edit] Career

While The Outlaws are generally considered to be a part of the southern rock genre, there are distinct differences in their approach and their influences. Their primary similarity to other southern rock bands is the dual lead guitar interplay, a defining characteristic of many southern rock bands. However, the Outlaws’ mix of country and rock elements displays the vocal harmony influences of groups like Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds and Poco. Their use of three and four part harmonies set them apart from their contemporaries who usually relied on a single lead vocalist.

Hughie Thomasson's signature voice and guitar playing style were defining characteristics of the band's sound. Thomasson's guitar sound was underpinned by the use of the Fender Stratocaster (and sometimes a Fender Telecaster) played in a quasi-country style mixed with fluid, quick blues runs.

The other lead guitarist, Billy Jones, played mainly a Gibson Les Paul and switched between a clean and distorted sound. A good example of this can be heard on "Green Grass and High Tides" on the right stereo channel. Hughie Thomasson's smooth Stratocaster sound can be heard on the left channel.

The records released by the band between 1975 and 1980 are considered the best representation of the band's style. The band was seen on successful concert tours billed with other non-Southern Rock acts of the time. This contrast of styles was more common at that time than the packaged "genre" tours seen so often these days. The willingness of promoters to mix styles led to the Outlaws gaining a large following in the United States.

The albums released after 1980 are largely viewed by critics as a gradual move away from the original sound that gained them success in the 1970s. The reworking of the Western-styled "Ghost Riders" in 1980 was the band's last taste of big league success, although the band released two more records in 1982 and 1986. As the 1980s came to a close, Thomasson became the final original member of the act. Albums such as Diablo Canyon (1994) were released on smaller independent record labels. The band by now was mostly confined to smaller club dates. This situation led to Thomasson accepting the guitar position in the legendary, and by now much more popular, Lynyrd Skynyrd in the late 1990s. This essentially sidelined the Outlaws for a decade, as Thomasson's voice and guitar style were just too integral a part of the Outlaws' sound for the other members to successfully work without it.

Henry Paul went on to form the Country band BlackHawk, which had some chart success in the 1990's.

In April 2005, original members Hughie Thomasson, Henry Paul, Monte Yoho, and David Dix reunited as The Outlaws and the rest of the lineup was filled out with former guitarist Chris Anderson, bassist Randy Threet, and Dave Robbins on keyboards. The latter three had been with Paul's country group BlackHawk. The two originals not included in the lineup, guitarist Billy Jones and bassist Frank O' Keefe, could not join as they both unfortunately passed in 1995, strangely within weeks of each other. O' Keefe died of a drug overdose, and Jones committed suicide, shortly after. Paul and Robbins left to resume their careers in Blackhawk in early 2006, but the remaining band soldiered on. They were part of the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam tour in the summer of 2007. Bandleader Hughie Thomasson died on September 9, 2007 of a heart attack in Brooksville, Florida. obituary report No release date has been announced for the new studio album, Once An Outlaw, that was finished before Thomassons death.

Their trademark epic 10-minute track "Green Grass and High Tides" is featured as the finale in the setlist for guitar and bass in the video game "Rock Band" and features two complicated solos.

In December 2007, 2008 Outlaws dates were released. In January 2008, the Outlaws lineup would be revealed to include Henry Paul (guitar/vocals), Monte Yoho (Drums), Chris Anderson (Guitar/Vocals), Billy Crain (guitar), Brett Cartwright (Bass), and Jon Coleman (Keyboards). This would be the first Lineup in Outlaws history without Hughie Thomasson on guitars and vocals, as from the band's formation to his death, he was the only constant member, garnering him the nicknames "Mr. Outlaw" and "The Lone Outlaw".

[edit] Album discography

[edit] Members

  • Hughie Thomasson, guitar, vocals (member from 1972 - 2007) (died in 2007)
  • Monte Yoho, drums
  • Henry Paul, guitarist, vocalist
  • David Dix, drums
  • Chris Anderson, guitar, vocals
  • Randy Threet, bass guitar, guitar, vocals
  • Billy Jones, guitarist, vocalist (former member, died in 1995)
  • Frank O'Keefe, bass guitar (former member, died in 1995)
  • Harvey Dalton Arnold, bass guitar, vocals (former member)
  • Freddie Salem, guitarist, vocalist (former member)
  • Rick Cua, bassist, vocalist, pianist, (former member)
  • Barry "B. B." Borden, drummer (former member)
  • Chris Hicks, guitarist (former member)
  • Rob Carroll, bass guitar, vocals (former member)
  • Mike Varney, guitar (former member)
  • Jeff Howell, bass guitar, vocals (former member)
  • Billy Davis, guitar (former member)
  • Steve Grisham, guitar (former member)
  • Roy McDonald, bass (former member)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hughie Thomasson obituary. Times Online. Times Newspapers Ltd. (2 October 2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-13.

[edit] External links