LIVE MUSIC – The Fabulous Fleetwoods
Since 1982, the Fabulous Fleetwoods have been entertaining South Florida’s live music venues. Their unique blend of hard charged covers and rocked-up & inspired original blues, gives their audiences a trip through various musical styles of Rockin’ Boogie, Roots Rock & Funk, Psycho Country, and an ability to make every show a Rock-n-Roll Rhythm & Blues party!
In their earlier days the Fabulous Fleetwoods became a local favorite performing music made popular by the Fabulous Thunderbirds, George Thorogood, and the Nighthawks, to name a few. It wasn’t long before the group was commanding the attention of the South Florida music scene and sharing billing with major acts like Johnny Winter, John Mayall, and James Cotton. They often played events such as Sunfest, The Riverwalk Blues, Hollywood Blues, and the Pompano Seafood Festival as well as regular appearances at Delray Beach’s Jazz on the Avenue and South Florida’s famous “Garlic Fest”. In the past few years the band has opened shows for Jimmy Thackery, Little Feat, Grand Funk Railroad, Sister Hazel, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Blues Traveler, Lifehouse, Uncle Kracker, .38 Special, The Gin Blossoms, Everclear, Collective Soul, Eddie Money, Hoobastank, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Trombone Shorty & Oleans Ave, Three Dog Night, Rick Derringer, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members, Dave Mason of Traffic, Bob Seger sax man Alto Reed, and Allman Bros. great, Dickey Betts.
Front man vocalist and blues harpist John Harris produces classic blues licks that have landed him solos on 1992 Geffen Records release, “Coverdale/Page” featuring Led Zepplin’s Jimmy Page. Sharing vocals and solo duties with Harris is talented guitarist Richie Schmidt. These two are supported by a hard driving, heavy hitting, veteran South Florida duo, original Fleetwoods drummer Pete Noble and vocalist/bassist Jim Jones in a tight and rock solid rhythm section.
In 1989, the band released its first recording, “First Take”, a six-song demo cassette recorded at New River Studios in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
1997 brought the band to new heights with their first tour to Europe and continued performances in various parts of the U.S. Their recordings from “The Blue Collar Band…(Rockin’ the White Collar World)” received great reviews as a limited tour release.
1999 marked the first full CD release called “TEXAS PARTY KILLERS” on the Fla.Mingo Rodeo label. Several cuts from the CD received airplay on WKPX Radio, Ft. Lauderdale, and WAIL Radio, Key West. The song “The Key” was featured in a local cable TV commercial. 2003 saw the release of “LIVE WOOD” on Fla.Mingo Rodeo Records. This collection of originals and covers, recorded entirely LIVE, showcases highlights of the band’s high energy performances. In 2006 The Fleetwoods released an all new Fla.Mingo Rodeo CD of nine never released originals and three select covers titled “RADIO” filled with great music from all over the dial. The released their follow-up to RADIO in 2010. Titled “BLUES HEATHENS” it features a return to the band’s origins in the blues.
The band is frequently labeled as “The Longest Running Blues Act in South Florida” and are known as one of the area’s tightest acts …”The Fabulous Fleetwoods!”. Check out their Tight & Hard Drivin’, House Rockin’, Party Blues when in South Florida or e-mail the band for information on how to see the band at a place near you.