Hughie Thomasson made southern rock history not only with one, but two different bands: His career with The Outlaws started in 1960’s and remarkably expanded to five different decades. Thomasson took a little break with The Outlaws and performed with Lynyrd Skynyrdbetween 1995 and 2005 before returning to his roots…
Between 1975 and 1999 Hughie Thomasson, known as “Flame” by friends and fans, went on to record 13 albums with The Outlaws and four studio albums with Lynyrd Skynyrd, helping them to reach new level of success by co-writing many of their songs between 1995 and 2005.
Second to none guitar playing skill and his amazing singing voice were the most essential factors on the success of The Outlaws. Hughie Thomassons unique guitar sound was created with the use of Fender Stratocaster and every now and then, a Fender Telecaster. Hughie wrote some of The Outlaws greatest hits like, “Green Grass and High Tides”, “Hurry Sundown” and “There Goes another Love Song”.
The original members of The Outlaws, Hughie Thomasson, David Dix, Monte Yoho and Henry Paul made a come back in April 2005. In addition to the group was Dave Robbins on keyboards, Randy Threet on bass Chris Anderson on guitar. The Outlaws put on their last show with Hughie only a day before his untimely death, at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Nevada. Hughie Thomasson passed away while in his sleep in his home in Florida on September 9, 2007.
But his memory will live on, there is an unreleased album Hughie Thomasson finished shortly before his death, called “Once an Outlaw“, which hasn’t been scheduled to release yet.
Hugh Edward Thomasson, Jr. August 13, 1952 – September 9, 2007
