Tailgators

Don Leady leads Tailgators while working as singer, songwriter, guitarist, accordionist, and producer guided by a clear artistic vision. He assembled an audio gumbo that fuses Gulf Coast styles with rock elements. Born in Cool Valley, Missouri, he approaches the guitar as an experimentalist who continually develops fresh techniques and tones. His instrumental range later expanded to fiddle, steel guitar, and accordion. Early listening drew from readily available recordings by Chet Atkins, Les Paul, and then B.B. King. Subsequent encounters with the Ventures and Duane Eddy sparked admiration for their sound. Appearances by Joe Maphis and the Collins Kids on the Ranch Party television program left a deep impression, and Joe Maphis rose to become one of Don Leady’s idols. The sight of Joe Maphis delivering boogie woogie guitar at a speed ten times greater than Duane Eddy produced an immediate sense of awe. Tailgators formed in 1984 and remained active into the twenty-first century, presenting a charismatic and highly contagious musical style. The 1996 release It’s a Hog Groove! showcases Don Leady, Jean-Jacques (JJ) Barrera, and Chico Oropeza, the Tail Gators who prepared its tracks. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top has named the Austin, Texas trio his favorite American band. Their live shows draw strong crowds and sell out quickly whenever tickets become available. In the Austin area the group has also circulated under the alternate names Zydeco Loco and Gators del Norte.