Cuby + Blizzards – also known as Cuby & the Blizzards – are a Dutch blues group that formed in 1964 around Harry Muskee (vocals) and Eelco Gelling (guitar).[1] This band is completely different from another Dutch band in the same time period, Peter & the Blizzards.
The spelling of the name varies, with 'Cuby' also written as 'QB' and the ampersand (&) also written as 'and' or '+' and the 'and sometimes left out. The spelling 'Cuby + Blizzards' was used on the first albums.
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The band's first single, a blues-based track bearing similarities to The Pretty Things output, was "Stumble and Fall" in 1965.[1] Right from the start they were a big hit in the Netherlands. In 1967 they toured with Van Morrison after he had left Them),[1] recorded an album, ' Praise the Blues ' with U.S blues musician Eddie Boyd[1] and scored a hit with "Window of my Eyes". That year, John Mayall stayed at their farm and the next year they regularly played with the 'king of British blues' Alexis Korner.
The line-up of the band changed regularly, but founders Harry Muskee and Eelco Gelling remained at the core of the band until 1976. Herman Brood was the pianist for a short period during 1967 (which kick-started his career) and again in 1976. Also in 1976, Muskee and Gelling left, Muskee to form the Harry Muskee Band, while Gelling joined Golden Earring.[1] The band continued with the line-up of Herman Deinum (bass guitar) and Hans Lafaille (drums), who had both joined the band in 1969, together with vocalist Rudy Van Dijk, Paul Smeenk (guitar) and Jeff Reynolds (trumpet). This line-up remained constant into the 1980s.
In the early '90s Cuby + Blizzards re-formed. In 2004 they went on a theatre tour to honor John Lee Hooker.
"Window of my Eyes" was later featured over the ending credits for the 2010 film The American, and the band received an Edison award for the song.
Harry Muskee died on 26 September 2011.[2]