Nighthawks

The Nighthawks originated in 1972 as a high-energy bar band rooted in Chicago blues, established in Washington, D.C., by Mark Wenner on harp and vocals together with guitarist Jimmy Thackery. Through more than ten years of joint tours and recording sessions alongside John Hammond and alumni from Muddy Waters’ group, the ensemble solidified its standing as a dependable live act. After Thackery’s exit in 1986, Wenner rebuilt the lineup around longtime bassist Jan Zukowski and drummer Pete Ragusa. Their 1991 Powerhouse album Trouble fused blues, R&B, and rock into a characteristically vigorous sound sharpened by endless cross-country club dates. Follow-up projects encompassed the live set Rock This House in 1993, Pain & Paradise in 1996, and Still Wild in 1999. A 2001 concert collection appeared as Live Tonight during spring 2002. The band maintained its output with Blue Moon in Your Eye in 2006, American Landscape in 2009, and Back Porch Party in 2015. Returning in 2017, they issued All You Gotta Do, which contained a cover of Brenda Lee’s “That’s All You Gotta Do.”