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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZNRBQAn eclectic American band playing nearly everything, formed in 1967 in Miami FL as the New Rhythm and Blues Quintet: without a hit single hit they still had a loyal cult following decades later. Original lineup: Terry Adams on keyboards and harmonica and guitarist Steve Ferguson (b 22 November 1948; d 7 October 2009 of cancer), both from Louisville KY; Joey Spampinato on bass and vocalist Frank Gadler, both from NYC; Tom Staley on drums, from Ft Lauderdale FL. They all sang except Staley. Encouraged by Slim Harpo, they played a club in NYC and were signed to Columbia who mismanaged their potential: albums NRBQ '69 and Boppin' The Blues '70 with Carl Perkins didn't do much at the time. Ferguson left, but his distinctive mix of styles continued to guide the band; he once said that he had the right hand of a country guitarist and the left hand of a bluesman. Guitarist Al Anderson joined '71 (b 26 July 1947, Windsor CN; led local country-rock band Wildweeds). Albums Scraps '72 and Workshop '74 came out on Kama Sutra; Gadler and Staley left, Tom Ardolino joined on drums (b 12 January 1955, Springfield MA; d there 6 January 2012) and the Whole Wheat Horns became a more or less permanent fixture (saxes Gary Windo and Keith Spring, Adams's brother Donn on trombone). They formed their own Red Rooster label and released All Hopped Up '77 followed by At Yankee Stadium '78 on Mercury, Kick Me Hard '79 on Red Rooster, Tiddlywinks '80 on Rounder, Grooves In Orbit '83 on Bearsville; Tapdancin' Bats c.1984, She Sings, They Play '86 with Skeeter Davis, EP Christmas Wish '86 and their first live album God Bless Us All '87 on Rounder, later Honest Dollar on Rykodisc. Their incessant touring and insouciant stage presence kept the fans loyal; they performed covers, originals, sometimes anything the audience asked for. The Mercury album, the Rykodisc, a best-of on Columbia and reissues and compilations on Rhino and Rounder added up to 16 CDs still available after 30 years. Adams wrote songs covered by Dave Edmunds, Bonnie Raitt; Windo and Adams toured with Carla Bley '77, played on her Watt albums European Tour 1977 and Musique Méchanique '78, Windo playing bass clarinet on the latter as well as tenor sax. Al Anderson made an eponymous album for Vanguard '72, left NRBQ '94, then released Pay Before You Pump '96 on Imprint/ Hit, guests including Elvis Costello and Delbert McClinton: a high-speed opener followed by one good tune after another, all recorded in twelve hours: eleven of thirteen tracks were first takes, and no wonder, after all that experience. You're Nice People, You Are '97 on Rounder was a charming kiddie album. Furguson worked mostly in Louisville with his own groups; he briefly reunited with NRBQ in 1974, and in 2004 for a 35th anniversary concert in Northampton MA. In 2006 he and Adams made an album called Louisville Sluggers. Ardolino released a solo album Unknown Brain in 2004. |