Although rooted in the New York punk milieu, Mink DeVille fundamentally operated as a soul outfit drawing from R&B, blues traditions, and Cajun influences. Frontman Willy DeVille, born William Boray in 1953, anchored the group after journeying to London in 1971 in search of collaborators. Finding none suitable, he performed solo until relocating to San Francisco, where he assembled the band's initial lineup in 1974 alongside bassist Ruben Siguenza and drummer Tom "Manfred" Allen. Following gigs in local leather bars and lounges under monikers such as Billy DeSade & the Marquis and the Lazy Eights, the trio encountered a magazine profile on the Ramones that spurred their move to New York and the addition of guitarist Louie X. Erlanger. Their first exposure came via three songs on the Live at CBGB's anthology, after which they worked with producer Jack Nitzsche to deliver the 1977 album Cabretta, whose energetic and soulful tracks included the U.K. Top 20 hit "Spanish Stroll."
Following 1978's Return to Magenta, Willy DeVille retained only Erlanger while parting ways with the remaining members and shifting to Paris for Le Chat Bleu, an album centered on French-Cajun romantic ballads supported by accordion and featuring session players bassist Jerry Scheff, saxophonist Teenage Steve Douglas, and drummer Ron Tutt. Capitol's dissatisfaction led to postponing the U.S. release by more than a year, so the band switched to Atlantic for 1981's Coup de Grace. By the time of 1983's Where Angels Fear to Tread, Willy DeVille stood as the last original member; after 1985's Sportin' Life he abandoned the Mink DeVille identity altogether to record as a solo artist. Among those later projects, 1986's Mark Knopfler-produced Miracle proved most commercially notable, with its single "Storybook Love" earning an Academy Award nomination following its use in the film The Princess Bride. Willy DeVille succumbed to pancreatic cancer in August 2009 at age 58.
