Editing The Fabulous Thunderbirds (section)

==Career==
After performing for several years in the [[Austin, Texas]], blues scene, the band won a recording contract with [[Takoma Records|Takoma]]/[[Chrysalis Records]] and later signed with [[Epic Records]]. In 2011, they signed with [[Severn Records]].<ref name='BIRDS'>{{cite web | url = http://blues.about.com/b/2011/11/11/severn-records-goes-to-the-birds.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120419122237/http://blues.about.com/b/2011/11/11/severn-records-goes-to-the-birds.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 19, 2012 | title = Severn Records Goes to the Birds | access-date = November 14, 2011 | last = Gordon | first = Keith A. | date = November 11, 2011 | publisher = [[About.com]]; Blues }}</ref>

Their first two albums were released in 1979 and 1980, with [[Kim Wilson]]'s lead vocals and harmonica, [[Jimmie Vaughan]] as lead guitarist, and [[Keith Ferguson (musician)|Keith Ferguson]] on bass guitar. Mike Buck was on drums for the first album but left the band and was replaced by [[Fran Christina]] on the second. Both albums initially sold through the small number printed (about 3000 units) and are now regarded as significant blues recordings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bluesmusic.lt/index.php/lt/istorijos/bliuzo-istorija/1269-100-greatest-blues-albums|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313211531/http://www.bluesmusic.lt/index.php/lt/istorijos/bliuzo-istorija/1269-100-greatest-blues-albums|url-status=dead|title=100 Greatest Blues Albums|archivedate=March 13, 2014|website=Bluesmusic.lt|access-date=April 14, 2021}}</ref> The Thunderbirds' blues style mixed [[Texas blues]] with the harmonica-laced [[swamp blues]] sounds of [[Slim Harpo]] and [[Lazy Lester]]—both of whom the Thunderbirds [[cover version|covered]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesharp.ca/legends/sharpo.html |title=The BluesHarp Page:Legends:Slim Harpo |website=Bluesharp.ca |access-date=May 18, 2015}}</ref> The band's third album, ''Butt-Rockin''', released in 1981, took the band closer to old [[rhythm and blues]] and added additional musicians playing piano and [[brass instrument|brass]].

Although the Fabulous Thunderbirds had become favorites of fellow musicians—opening shows for the likes of the [[The Rolling Stones|Rolling Stones]] and [[Eric Clapton]]—and had been critically well-received, the band's records did not sell well.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thomas |first=Stephen |url={{AllMusic|class=artist |id=p4217/biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=The Fabulous Thunderbirds |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=December 8, 2011}}</ref> Chrysalis dropped the band following the release of ''T-Bird Rhythm'', leaving the band without a contract for four years. While still in limbo, the Fabulous Thunderbirds continued to play concerts across the US. During this time, bassist Keith Ferguson left the band and was replaced by Preston Hubbard, a former member of [[Roomful of Blues]].<ref name="Larkin80">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2003|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-969-9|page=185}}</ref> Also during this time, the band was featured on the 1983 Carlos Santana album ''[[Havana Moon]]''. In 1985, the band landed another recording contract with [[Epic Records|Epic]]/[[CBS Associated Records|Associated]].<ref name="Larkin80"/>

The single "[[Tuff Enuff (song)|Tuff Enuff]]" was featured in the 1986 film ''[[Gung Ho (film)|Gung Ho]]''. It was also featured in the film ''[[Tough Guys]]'', as was the follow-up single, "Wrap It Up", which went to number 50 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart. "Tuff Enuff" remains the band's only Top 40 hit, peaking at number 10 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The album ''Tuff Enuff'' went gold in several countries and was subsequently certified platinum in the United States, with sales of over one million. The band's music was also used in the 1987 movie ''[[Hot Pursuit (1987 film)|Hot Pursuit]]''. The Vaughan–Wilson composition "Twist It Off" appears in the 1987 [[Michael J. Fox]] and [[Joan Jett]] film ''[[Light of Day]]'' and on the issued soundtrack. The band also appears in the film performing the song live. The Fabulous Thunderbirds' next album, ''[[Hot Number]]'', fell off the [[record chart|charts]] quickly. But following that, their recording of "[[Powerful Stuff]]" was a success, based in part on its inclusion in the 1988 film ''[[Cocktail (1988 film)|Cocktail]]''.

Jimmie Vaughan left the band in 1990 to record an album with his brother [[Stevie Ray Vaughan]], ''Family Style''. Following Stevie Ray's death in 1990, Jimmie pursued a full-time solo career.<ref name="russell">{{cite book
| first= Tony
| last= Russell
| year= 1997
| title= The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray
| publisher=Carlton Books Limited
| location= Dubai
| page= 110
| isbn= 1-85868-255-X}}</ref> 
The band then embarked on a long series of lineup changes and albums throughout the 1990s. The Fabulous Thunderbirds replaced Vaughan with two guitarists, [[Duke Robillard]] and Kid Bangham.<ref name="russell"/> Long-time drummer [[Fran Christina]] left in 1996 and went on to join with Marcia Ball and later Doug Sahm's Last Real Texas Blues Band. Doug "Kid" Bangham left the band after three years to pursue a solo career and open the Carver School of Music and the Carver Institute of Rock in Carver, Massachusetts.

In the early 1990s, Kim Wilson recorded a pair of solo albums while continuing to tour with the Fabulous Thunderbirds.<ref name="russell"/> In 1994, the band recorded its ninth album, ''Roll of the Dice'', which was released on [[Private Music]] in 1995.<ref name="Larkin80"/> ''High Water'' followed in 1997, although this was actually a collaboration between Wilson and studio musicians Steve Jordan and [[Danny Kortchmar]] issued under the Fabulous Thunderbirds name.

Former bassist Keith Ferguson died of liver failure on April 29, 1997, at the age of 50.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ttuav/00005/tav-00005.html|title=Keith Ferguson: An Inventory of His Papers, 1951-2008, at the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library|first=Keith|last=Ferguson|website=Legacy.lib.utexas.edu|access-date=February 18, 2019}}</ref>

On the evening of February 16, 2000, the Fabulous Thunderbirds were the first band ever to be broadcast on the Internet using high-definition cameras in what is claimed to be one of the first high-resolution multi-track recordings of a live concert event. The companion CD ''Live!'' was released in 2001.;<ref name="Birds">{{cite web|url=http://www.fabulousthunderbirds.com |title=Fabulous Thunderbirds Homepage |website=Fabulousthunderbirds.com |date=May 5, 2011 |access-date=December 8, 2011}}</ref> the companion DVD, ''Invitation Only'',  presents this event in standard resolution due to limitations of the format.

The band recorded ''Painted On'' in 2005, produced by Steve Berlin (of [[Los Lobos]]) and featuring Rachel Nagy of the Detroit Cobras on the track "Love Speaks Louder Than Words". Guitarist [[Nick Curran (musician)|Nick Curran]] joined Wilson on vocals for "Two Time Fool".

In 2016, Kim Wilson announced that the Fabulous Thunderbirds lineup for 2016 will be Steve Gomes on bass, Kevin Anker on keyboards, Wes Watkins on drums, with holdover Johnny Moeller on guitar.<ref name="Birds"/> This lineup plus drummer Rob Stupka recorded the album ''Strong Like That'' released in August 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://severnrecords.com/release/strong-like-that/|title=Strong Like That |website=Severnrecords.com|access-date=February 18, 2019}}</ref>

Former bassist Preston Hubbard (born on March 15, 1953, in [[Providence, Rhode Island]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/ns/preston-hubbard-obituary/181109438|title=Preston Hubbard Obituary|website=Legacy.com|date=August 18, 2016 |access-date=February 18, 2019}}</ref> was found dead at his home in [[St. Louis]], Missouri, on August 17, 2016, at the age of 63.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20160818/preston-hubbard-of-roomful-of-blues-fabulous-thunderbirds-dies-at-63|title=Preston Hubbard, of Roomful of Blues, Fabulous Thunderbirds, dies at 63|first=Mark|last=Reynolds|website=Providencejournal.com|access-date=February 18, 2019}}</ref> Former keyboardist Gene Taylor died on February 20, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.austin360.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/02/21/gene-taylor-austin-pianist-fabulous-thunderbirds-and-more-dies/4535083001/|title=Gene Taylor, Austin pianist who played with Fabulous Thunderbirds and others, dies at 68|first=Peter|last=Blackstock|website=Austin360.com|access-date=April 14, 2021}}</ref>