Biography
The Outlaws were born to
the blue-collar port city of Tampa, Florida in the early 1970’s. The
band was made up of Hughie Thomasson, Henry Paul, Monte Yoho, and Frank
O’Keefe. At Hughie’s urging, Billy Jones moved back to Tampa from Boulder,
Colorado in1972 to complete the original five-piece lineup. Joining
the likes of Tom Petty and other regional acts at the time, The Outlaws
quickly became a favorite of the Tampa college crowd. With the help
of newly recruited manager Charlie Brusco, the band set its sights on
taking the show on the road.
Earning a reputation as
a great live band, they lit up the clubs from Macon to Nashville and
honky-tonks throughout the southeast. Following in the footsteps of
such great bands as The Allman Brothers and The Eagles, The Outlaws
developed their own high-powered, guitar-driven country-rock, complete
with exciting self-penned music and stellar three-part harmony. At Ronnie
Van Zant’s urging, Lynyrd Skynyrd manager Alan Walden became management
partners with Charlie Brusco, and the two men brought label executives
to the up-and-coming band’s doorstep. Clive Davis signed the band to
his newly formed Arista label in the spring of 1975.
The Outlaws’ debut album
rode the momentum of AOR classic “Green Grass and High Tides” to #13
on Billboard’s Hot 100. With substantial success in the live concert
arena and on the strength of repeated chart-topping records, The Outlaws
established themselves as premiere players in the phenomenon that came
to be known as Southern Rock. After decades of triumph, The Outlaws
have endured repeated tragedy in the loss of original members Frank
O’Keefe, Billy Jones, and most recently signature singer/songwriter/guitarist
Hughie Thomasson. Today, the Outlaws are at the threshold of a new era.
Along with original singer/songwriter/guitarist Henry Paul and original
drummer/songwriter Monte Yoho, the Outlaws feature Chris Anderson, Billy
Crain, Randy Threet, and Jon Coleman. Chris Anderson, lead guitarist
and longtime Outlaws bandmate, brings his considerable talent as a player,
singer, and songwriter to the band.
His solo records for Sony
in the early 90s and his collaboration with Dickey Betts, Dan Toler,
Warren Haynes and The Outlaws over the years have helped establish him
as one of Southern Rock’s most notable players. Billy Crain has become
a household name in the southern rock family of exceptional lead guitar
players. He has enjoyed significant success as a songwriter with his
songs cut by such artists as the Dixie Chicks, Poco and Martina McBride.
With the Henry Paul Band in the late 1970s, he developed a large following
with his legendary musicianship, and with Chris Anderson, forms one
of the all-time great lead guitar teams in rock and roll. Bassist/Singer/Songwriter
Randy Threet became a member of the Outlaws in 2005 through his previous
work with Henry in the Country group Blackhawk.
He has also played with such
artists as Pam Tillis, Larry Boone, Trisha Yearwood, Buddy Jewel, and
toured overseas in support of our troops. In 2004 he worked on the USA
Network show "Nashville Star". Randy's high energy, great harmonies
and solid bass work make him a popular part of "The Outlaws". The most
recent addition to the band is keyboard player, singer/songwriter Jon
Coleman. Coleman found his way to The Outlaws through stints with Lee
Roy Parnell and the super-group collaboration of Brothers of the Southland,
which featured Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie, Dan Toler of The Allman Brothers,
Steve Gorman of the Black Crowes, and Henry Paul.
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