Kim Wilson

November 17, 1995

Reprinted with permission.

BLUES CHAT Presents ANTONES/PRIVATE MUSIC Recording Artist KIM WILSON of the FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS!

10/17/95

OnlineHost: Good Evening! I'm BevBlues, (Beverly Howell) host of "BLUES CHAT," and it's great to see y'all here tonight! I'm proud to introduce our special guest this evening, ANTONE'S and PRIVATE MUSIC Recording Artist KIM WILSON, of the FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS!!!

OnlineHost: Kim has not one, but TWO, hot releases currently receiving rave reviews from coast to coast: his newest effort with THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS, entitled "ROLL OF THE DICE," (Private Music) as well as his latest solo release, "THAT'S LIFE," on the Antone's label.

OnlineHost: Kim's accomplishments as founder, vocalist, and harmonica master with the T-Birds, as well as his solo efforts on his Antone's releases, and his contributions to seasoning the flavor of Texas Blues, have firmly established him as one of the hottest Texas bluesmen to ever mosey 'cross state lines, and made him an "etched-in-granite" Texas Blues legend!

OnlineHost: Kim has taken time out of his busy schedule to visit with us tonight and address your questions about his extraordinary career and newest projects.

OnlineHost: Tour dates for the Fabulous Thunderbirds will be posted in their folder within 24 hours, located in the Music Message Center. To locate it: Go to keyword: MMC, click on Jazz/Blues, then Blues, and scroll down to the TBirds folder.

OnlineHost: Any personal messages you may wish to convey to Kim and the TBirds will be forwarded to him IMMEDIATELY after tonight's show, so send your email to ScreenName: BEVBLUES prior to the end of the show for forwarding.

OnlineHost: Requests for copies of Kim's scanned photo, and requests for more information about Kim, the TBirds, and their latest projects may also be sent to the same email address as well.

OnlineHost: Without further adieu, please join me in welcoming KIM to America Online, in his first visit to "BLUES CHAT!"

BevBlues: Thanks for coming, Kim, I'm thrilled to finally get you here!

WilsonKim: It's great to be here! Glad you invited me.

BevBlues: Kim told me prior to the show he went fishing today, catch anything?

WilsonKim: A cold :::laughing out loud::: Nothing else.

BevBlues: :::laughing out loud!:::

BevBlues: You have many fans here that can't wait to talk to you, so we're gonna jump right in, OK?

Question: Thanks for being with us tonight, Kim. I'm a BIG Tbird fan, and have your Antone's CD's as well. How long have the Tbirds been in existence, and how did they come to be?

WilsonKim: 21 years, 1974 - October--We didn't work for the first eight months, so officially it's 1975. I had a friend playing with Fulson, Mark Pollack was his name. He's the first guy I met who told me about Austin Texas. So I kept communications going with him as I moved around and finally they got me down there. And that's when I met Jimmie and Derek O'Brien and Denny Freeman and Doyle Bramhall, and of course Stevie Ray Vaughan. That was really the beginning of it.

Question: Do you still live in Austin, and do you still pop in to Antone's?

WilsonKim: Yes, I do live there. I pop into Antone's just about every night I'm in town - at least just to stick my head in.

Question: Hey, Kim, what's the "Hornet," on the back of your "That's Life," CD?

WilsonKim: That's just a popular old car--no other meaning.

Question: I saw you a while back and you are looking GREAT! I didn't think you could work in blues and actually looking BETTER through the years! What's your secret?

WilsonKim: Clean living. (hahahaha)

BevBlues: :::laughing:::

BevBlues: A comment from the audience, Kim...

Question: Keep the rhetoric about Austin quiet, Kim! We don't want the whole world to know! Next thing you know, they're all moving here! [smile]

WilsonKim: It's already starting anyway. It's a lot different now.

Question: I know you're busy with the Tbird tour, but will you be doin' any gigs with the "That's Life," Austin gang.....George Rains, Derek O'Brien, Rusty Zinn, etc.?

WilsonKim: As a matter of fact, I'm doing a 2-night show at Antone's with Doug Sahm and George Rains, Derek, Jack Barber, Gene Taylor, Sauce on organ, and the San Antonio Horns, with special guest Roy Head; 27th, 28th of this month.

WilsonKim: What do you think of that?

BevBlues: What a show!! Take me with you! [grin]

WilsonKim: Bet you all will be chomping at the bit to be there now!

Question: You have a fantastic voice. Did you ever take lessons, or do you have perfect pitch?

WilsonKim: No I have far from perfect pitch. I didn't take any lessons until later in my career but the only reason I did take those lessons was to keep my voice for long periods of time - like singing 20 nights in a row. Being a singer is the biggest challenge of any instrument. You never stop refining it.

Question: How old were you when you first startin' playing harmonica? Why harmonica?

WilsonKim: That's my exact question right now. Why harmonica?

BevBlues: [grin]

WilsonKim: I was 17, but I had a musical background - horn and guitar when I was 8. I quit when I was in my teens. Then when I started the harmonica, I loved it and loved to practice with it.

BevBlues: It IS easier to pack around than a standup bass, too....[grin]

WilsonKim: :::laughing out loud:::

Question: Who are your big influences and have you met 'em or played with 'em?

WilsonKim: I've played with a very high percentage of my biggest influences. Muddy Waters was my biggest influence. I've worked with all the guys that invented the music and they were all like family.

Question: You've got a LOT of tour miles under your belt...got a favorite backstage story from your early Thunderbird years you'd share?

WilsonKim: :::laughing out loud::: You know.... [grin]

WilsonKim: :::laughing out loud:::

BevBlues: Come on, Kim...'fess up... [wink]

WilsonKim: I'd like to believe this is a family show.

BevBlues: :::LAUGHING!!!:::

WilsonKim: I don't want to pollute the airwaves with one of my backstage stories.

WilsonKim: :::Rolling on the floor laughing:::

BevBlues: :::Rolling on the floor laughing!!!:::

WilsonKim: Especially my favorite one! :::Rolling on the floor laughing:::

BevBlues: OK, we'll move on...but tell me after the show, and I'll tell 'em later in a private room....[grin]

WilsonKim: Beverly - YOU were there!

WilsonKim: :::LAUGHING OUT LOUD:::

BevBlues: YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T TELL!!! :::rolling on the floor, laughing!:::

WilsonKim: I didn't.....................Yet!

BevBlues: [kissing professional career good-bye] Eeeek! Er, um....back to the show...QUICK! [grin]

Question: I love "Roll of the Dice" but I have to ask, what moved you to record ZipaDeeDoDah? Your rendition's great, but its not the first song I think of when I think of hot blues tunes.

WilsonKim: Well, Danny Kortchmar was playing what he thought a musical part would be. It sounded so "mean" I just joined right in and we ended up using that demo as the track on the CD.

Question: Do you have any instructional videos out, and if so, how can I order?

WilsonKim: No I don't have any out. I really like people to learn the tricks the way I did. There's nothing to teach - it's all instinct.

Question: Who's booking both you, as a solo, and the Thunderbirds?

BevBlues: Wow, a sales opportunity! [grin]

WilsonKim: Monterey International is booking THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS. We've had a lot of people book the others.

Question: Where can we find a copy of your discography, both solos and with the THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS?

WilsonKim: I don't believe a discography of what I've done exists but when I was in Europe, a guy brought me a stack of covers--(just the paper)--and it was about 2 inches thick; all the stuff I've been on. I don't remember most of the ones I was on. But as far as an official one, I don't believe it exists, I'd sure like to see it, though.

Question: Kim, what did you guys think of the Beavis and Butthead "Salute" to THE THUNDERBIRDS?

WilsonKim: Well, it was kind of a sigh of relief. I enjoyed it. I was very proud, no joke.

Question: What do you do to take care of your voice?

WilsonKim: A big part is rest. Eight hours of sleep after every performance. I can't always do that, though. I learned some warm up techniques from Renee Grant Williams. She has shown me a lot on how to save my voice in tough road conditions. Her techniques were easy to relate to - have to do more with "feel" than technical things.

Question: What was it like recording with Eric Clapton?

WilsonKim: I don't know, I didn't do it. :::laughing out loud:::

WilsonKim: That was a very good friend of mine who lives in the Boston area named Jerry Pourtnoy - he did a great job.

Question: Kim, I love your work with Jimmy Rogers on Ludella. How has Chicago-style blues influenced you and your individual style?

WilsonKim: I'd have to say it's a big part of my style. You have people like Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson and Big Walter Horton. If you didn't look anywhere else, you'd still have plenty of harmonica there. You'd have all the bases covered.

BevBlues: Hey, Kim, sit back a minute while we give away a copy of "ROLL OF THE DICE" that your label, PRIVATE Music, graciously gave us for tonight's show. [smile]

BevBlues: Be the first person to answer this question by responding via INTERACT --SEND A COMMENT, and you will win Kim and the TBirds latest CD, "ROLL OF THE DICE."

BevBlues: Earlier in the show, Kim named someone as his major influence...who was it?

BevBlues: WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

BevBlues: MadiSunny, please email me your mailing address, and Kim's label, Private Music, will be mailing you a copy of ROLL OF THE DICE! Congratulations! (The answer was MUDDY WATERS.)

BevBlues: OK, back to the show...someone wake Kim up.

WilsonKim: I'm awake. Congrats, MadiSunny!

Question: Are we going to see you back in Helena (Ark.) next year for The King Biscuit Blues Festival? You play one of the meanest harps ever. ...Would love to see ya' there again!

WilsonKim: I would love to play it every year if I could. We'll just have to see what my schedule holds, but I'm always there in spirit.

Question: Kim--I saw you at Tornado Alley last December--great show, and thanks taking time to talk after show. What are some of your favorite places to play? I was at Toad's in New Haven last night. Did you like playing there?

WilsonKim: Yeah - I like Toad's - it's a nice crowd. Tornado Alley is another great place. Clubs, Antone's is at the top of my list, and places like HOB in New Orleans, Belly Up Tavern in San Diego, Buddy Guy's in Chicago--(are all on my "favorites" list.)

Question: What were your favorite gigs that you played on as a session artist, not solo or with the THUNDERBIRDS?

WilsonKim: I would have to say the Jimmy Rogers record was great. I loved the "Nick of Time," record by Bonnie Raitt, and I'm also going to be on her new live record - we just recorded in Oakland a few months ago. I sang a duet with her and played the harmonica on a song I wrote. In fact, it's a song that the Thunderbirds performed on the "Butt Rockin'" record: "I Believe I'm in Love with You."

BevBlues: To send KIM a personal message, email it now, and I will read them to him after the show...email to screenname: BEVBLUES.

BevBlues: Got time for one more, Kim?

WilsonKim: Sure, go ahead.

Question: G'Evening. Kim, did you do vocals for Ronnie Earl? Any plans to do more? A friend of mine used to sub in at drums for Ronnie and "Roomful" a while back (quite a while back.) Come on to Slim's in San Francisco soon, by the way.

WilsonKim: Yeah, on the "Smokin'" record. I like to play with a lot of different people. But (I have) no firm plans to do another.

BevBlues: Kim, thanks so much for being our BLUES CHAT guest tonight, this has been great fun, and you're invited back ANYTIME!

WilsonKim: Thank you.--The sooner the better!

BevBlues: Thanks once again, audience, for making this a great show...goodnight!