Biography
The music of Rockabilly Hall of Fame members Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys draws its strength from a commitment to genuine expression. Although the six-piece Southern California outfit has broadened beyond its starting point in rockabilly to draw on folk, bluegrass, Western swing, Cajun, and mariachi traditions, it has remained anchored in earlier styles while keeping one foot in the contemporary scene.
Big Sandy, born Robert Williams, absorbed jump blues through his parents’ record collection. The early-’80s rockabilly revival led him to appear with several neo-rockabilly acts in southern California. After forming as a trio in 1988, the group expanded to include Wally Hersom on bass, Lee Jeffriess on steel guitar, Ashley Kingman on guitar, and Bobby Trimble on drums. Kingman and Jeffriess, both originally from the U.K., gave the band an international makeup. Its first two albums were issued as Big Sandy & the Fly-Rite Trio, but the proper debut under the expanded name, Jumping from 6 to 6, was produced by ex-Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin. The 1995 follow-up Swingin’ West concentrated on Western swing elements, while the 1997 album Feelin’ Kinda Lucky adopted a wider stylistic range.
In 1998 Big Sandy and the band stepped away from joint work to record separately. His solo project Dedicated to You revisited R&B and doo-wop classics, and the band’s instrumental album Big Sandy Presents the Fly-Rite Boys showcased the group alone. They reconvened for the 1999 EP Radio Favorites. Although the original plan was to pair three new songs with three tracks previously limited to vinyl pressings of earlier albums, the studio chemistry prompted six fresh recordings instead. The EP introduced pianist Carl Sonny Leyland, who had joined after the sessions for Feelin’ Kinda Lucky.
Night Tide arrived in 2000, followed three years later by It’s Time!. The 2004 compilation Rockin’ Big Sandy collected the band’s most notable tracks from its Hightone and HMG period. The 2006 Yep Roc release Turntable Matinee offered an eclectic survey that acknowledged the group’s Western swing, Memphis soul, and classic rock & roll roots. After a seven-year pause, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys returned in 2013 with What a Dream It’s Been, revisiting favored numbers from their catalog.
Big Sandy, born Robert Williams, absorbed jump blues through his parents’ record collection. The early-’80s rockabilly revival led him to appear with several neo-rockabilly acts in southern California. After forming as a trio in 1988, the group expanded to include Wally Hersom on bass, Lee Jeffriess on steel guitar, Ashley Kingman on guitar, and Bobby Trimble on drums. Kingman and Jeffriess, both originally from the U.K., gave the band an international makeup. Its first two albums were issued as Big Sandy & the Fly-Rite Trio, but the proper debut under the expanded name, Jumping from 6 to 6, was produced by ex-Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin. The 1995 follow-up Swingin’ West concentrated on Western swing elements, while the 1997 album Feelin’ Kinda Lucky adopted a wider stylistic range.
In 1998 Big Sandy and the band stepped away from joint work to record separately. His solo project Dedicated to You revisited R&B and doo-wop classics, and the band’s instrumental album Big Sandy Presents the Fly-Rite Boys showcased the group alone. They reconvened for the 1999 EP Radio Favorites. Although the original plan was to pair three new songs with three tracks previously limited to vinyl pressings of earlier albums, the studio chemistry prompted six fresh recordings instead. The EP introduced pianist Carl Sonny Leyland, who had joined after the sessions for Feelin’ Kinda Lucky.
Night Tide arrived in 2000, followed three years later by It’s Time!. The 2004 compilation Rockin’ Big Sandy collected the band’s most notable tracks from its Hightone and HMG period. The 2006 Yep Roc release Turntable Matinee offered an eclectic survey that acknowledged the group’s Western swing, Memphis soul, and classic rock & roll roots. After a seven-year pause, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys returned in 2013 with What a Dream It’s Been, revisiting favored numbers from their catalog.
Albums
