The Kentucky Headhunters was formed in 1968 by brothers Fred and Richard Young. They played under the name Itchy Brothers for 13 years, but finally broke up 1982. The band got back together in 1985, with Richard Young on guitar, Fred Young on drums along with Ricky Lee Phelps on vocals and his brother, Doug Phelps on bass, took the name The Kentucky Headhunters and has kept rockin` since.
The Kentucky Headhunters released their first album, Pickin’ On Nashville through Mercury records in 1989 and immediately got their first hit with Dumas Walker. Second single out of the album, Oh, Lonesome Me was even bigger triumph for the band and reached to number 6 in the charts. Album was a huge success and sold over two million copies in US alone.
Sophomore effort, Electric Barnyard came out in 1991, sold over 500 000 copies, but failed to repeat the success of the first album. In 1992 the Phelps brother left The Kentucky Headhunters to form their own band and Mark Orr and Anthony Kenney were brought in to replace them. The new line-up released Rave On! in 1993 which introduced new harder rockin´and more blues based sound of the band.
In 1996 Doug Phelps re-joined the band and they released Stompin’ Grounds in 1997. Songs From the Grass String Ranch followed in 2000, and Soul came out in spring of 2003. Big Boss Man was released in 2005 and Flying Under the Radar in 2006, both from CBUJ Entertainment.
In 2009, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of their debut album, the band released a live record entitled The Kentucky Headhunters Live/Agora Ballroom — Cleveland, Ohio — May 13, 1990.
The Kentucky Headhunters Discography:
1989 Pickin’ on Nashville
1991 Electric Barnyard
1993 Rave On!!
1994 The Best of The Kentucky Headhunters: Still Pickin’
1997 Stompin’ Grounds
2000 Songs from the Grass String Ranch
2003 Soul
2005 Big Boss Man
2006 Flying Under the Radar
2009 The Kentucky Headhunters Live/Agora Ballroom — Cleveland, Ohio — May 13, 1990
2011 Dixie Lullabies
2015 Meet Me In Bluesland
Links:
Official Website: www.kentuckyheadhunters.com
