Outlaws - 2006

In the late 1960s, The Outlaws were a successful local band in Tampa featuring Dave Dix, Frank Guidry, Herbie Pino, Henry Paul & Hughie Thomasson. Guidry and Dix left the band and Monte Yoho joins. The group eventually broke up and Hughie went to New York to play with noted folk-singer Milton Carroll. Tampa folk-singer Henry Paul also moved to New York to pursue a recording career. Henry and Hughie’s paths don’t cross until sometime later.

In the early 70s Hughie and Henry move back to Tampa and with Frank O’Keefe, Billy Jones and Monte Yoho complete the 5 man lineup called OUTLAWS. The band began playing clubs in Tampa and develop a strong local following.

The group meets Charlie Brusco who became their first manager. The band hit the road and played clubs from Cocoa Beach to Macon, Nashville to Cleveland and many, many places in-between.

In the spring of 1975 Arista Records president Clive Davis signed the band to his new label as his first signing. Paul Rothchild (who had produced The Doors and Janis Joplin) was selected as the producer of their self-titled debut Album. Recording in Los Angeles the group lived at the infamous Tropicana Hotel. The album was released in late August and just four months later it peaked at #13 on the Billboard chart. Soon after the album was certified gold. The band embarked on a coast to coast tour with The Doobie Brothers. The Outlaws’ national reputation as a great live band was quickly established.

In 1976 Lady in Waiting was also recorded with Paul Rothchild and the rest of the year was spent touring with Lynyrd Skynyrd who was managed in Europe by the Who’s manager Bill Curbishley. Curbishley became the Outlaws European manager and the band teamed up with The Who on their “By Numbers” tour of the U.K and Holland. The Outlaws also performed throughout the USA with, among others, Charlie Daniels Band and The Rolling Stones.

Frank O’Keefe left the band in 1977 after intense schedule demands and lifestyle choices and was replaced by Harvey Arnold, a left handed player from North Carolina. The Band went into the studio to record Hurry Sundown produced by Bill Scymczyk of The Eagles fame. At the same time Dave Dix rejoined the band to play drums with Monte. In August Henry Paul left the band to pursue a solo career and was replaced by former Chambers Brothers member Freddie Salem.

In 1978 the live Album Bring It Back Alive was released and was soon certified gold and in November their new studio album Playin’ To Win was released, produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange (who would later go on to produce among others, Def Leppard and AC/DC) The Outlaws continued to headline shows across America.
In 1979 they headlined a sold out Madison Square Garden concert with Molly Hatchet.

In 1981 The Outlaws most commercially successful album Ghost Riders was released, produced by Gary Lyons, Hughie Thomasson and Billy Jones . It became the band’s third gold album with a top charting single Ghost Riders in the Sky.

The group disbanded upon completing Los Hombres Malo in 1982. Sadly in 1995 Billy Jones and Frank O’Keefe died within months of each other.

In 2005 some of the surviving members of The Outlaws got together with Charlie Brusco in Atlanta for “dinner”. Out of this came the decision to have a 30th. Year Reunion Tour. Fans have been screaming for this to happen for many years and it is finally a reality. They performed May through December 2005 to very happy former and new fans.

The three touring members, Hughie Thomasson, Monte Yoho and David Dix have added Chris Anderson and Randy Threet to the lineup and will be in your city in 2006.

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