The Nightcaps (Texas band)

Last updated

The Nightcaps
Origin Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Years active1958–2009
LabelsVandan
Past members
  • Billy Joe Shine
  • Gene Haufler
  • David Swartz
  • Mario Daboub
  • Jack Allday

The Nightcaps were an American rock and roll band formed in Dallas, Texas, in 1958 and were active, in varying lineups, until 2009. They became one of the most popular bands in Dallas and scored regional hits in the early 1960s with "Wine, Wine, Wine" and "Thunderbird", which was later recorded by ZZ Top. The songs gained the group notoriety outside of their own region, and during the 1960s they toured in other parts of the country, particularly around the South. The group was a forerunner for many of the Dallas garage bands of the era and their raunchy, blues-based sound influenced artists such as Jimmie Vaughan and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In 2009, they were honored for their accomplishments by the Texas Senate.

Contents

History

The Nightcaps were formed by Billy Joe Shine in Dallas, Texas in 1958. [1] [2] [3] Their original lineup consisted of Shine on lead vocals, Gene Haufler on rhythm guitar, David Swartz on lead guitar, Mario Daboub on bass, and Jack Allday on drums. [1] [2] [4] The Nightcaps recorded their only LP album, Wine, Wine, Wine, at WRR's Fair Park studio in 1959. [5] At the time, all of the band members were high school students. [1] They began by playing sock hops and school dances, and playing R&B covers, but also began writing songs, usually written by Shine. [1] [2] They secured frequent gigs in the Dallas area and were often paid from $50–200 a night. [1] [2] They were noticed by local entrepreneur Tom Brown, who initially attempted to have them signed to RCA Victor, but then signed them to his own local Vandan label. [1] [2]

The Nightcaps' recorded their debut single featuring two songs written by Shine, "Wine Wine Wine" b/w "Nightcap Rock". [1] [2] [3] According to Shine, he wrote "Wine, Wine, Wine" during a school study hall following a class where the students had been taught that Jesus turned water into wine. [1] The song became a hit in Dallas and received airplay in other parts of the country. [1] [2] The group got offers to play far beyond Dallas. [1] Their second single, "Thunderbird" b/w "Ole Jose," released in 1961, was also a hit in Dallas. [1] [2] [3] The group recorded the album, Wine, Wine, Wine, which was released that year, and featured a mixture of rockabilly, blues, and instrumental tracks. [1] [2] [3] [6] The instrumental "Tough That's All" showcased David Schwartz's lead guitar playing. [1] [3] Also appearing on the album was jazz saxophone player John Hardee, credited under the name John Hardtimes. [1] Though the album did not crack the national charts, it got pirated around the country and made it possible for the Nightcaps to get bookings across the south. [1]

The British Invasion, though it presented a challenge, did not prevent the band from remaining popular as a live act well into the 1960s. [1]

The group went through several lineup changes in the 1960s. [7] Dennis Mills, playing bass & vocals, of the Floyd Dakil Group, joined the band in 1962. Len Mills, playing guitar and keyboards, joined the band in 1969. Chris Brown, playing drums, of the Exotics, joined the band in 1968. Gary Mears of the Original Casuals, another Dallas band, briefly joined. [1]

During this period, they became a major influence on musicians such as Jimmie Vaughan and his younger brother, Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as future members of ZZ Top, whose later use of the song "Thunderbird" (credited to themselves) would become the source of legal controversy. [1] [2] [8] Vaughan later recorded "Thunderbird," and ZZ Top chose it to open their Fandango album. [1] [3]

Eventually, advancing maturity, marriage and general weariness led most of the members into regular jobs and professions. [1] Billy Joe Shine became a furniture manufacturing representative, but was still fronting a version of the Nightcaps on weekends in the 1990s, and he remained a popular musical figure in and around Dallas for many years. [1] [2] In 2009, the Nightcaps were honored by the Texas Senate. [2] Leader Billy Joe Shine died in March 2015. [2]

Personnel

Discography

Singles

Album

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZZ Top</span> American rock band

ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969. For 51 years, it consisted of vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill, until Hill's death in 2021. ZZ Top developed a signature sound based on Gibbons' blues style and Hill and Beard's rhythm section. They are known for their live performances, sly and humorous lyrics, and the matching appearances of Gibbons and Hill, who wore sunglasses, hats and long beards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Ray Vaughan</span> American blues guitarist (1954–1990)

Stephen Ray Vaughan was an American musician, best known as the guitarist and frontman of the blues rock trio Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Although his mainstream career spanned only seven years, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians in the history of blues music, and one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He was the younger brother of guitarist Jimmie Vaughan.

<i>XXX</i> (ZZ Top album) 1999 studio album (with live elements) by ZZ Top

XXX is the thirteenth studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in September 1999. The album's title commemorates the band's 30th anniversary.

<i>Rhythmeen</i> 1996 studio album by ZZ Top

Rhythmeen is the twelfth studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in 1996. It is their last album with longtime producer Bill Ham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Gibbons</span> American musician (born 1949)

William Frederick Gibbons is an American rock musician, best known as the guitarist and primary vocalist of ZZ Top. He began his career in Moving Sidewalks, who recorded Flash (1969) and opened four dates for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Gibbons formed ZZ Top in late 1969 and released ZZ Top's First Album in early 1971. He has also maintained a solo career in recent years, starting with his first album Perfectamundo (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusty Hill</span> American musician (1949–2021)

Joe Michael "Dusty" Hill was an American musician who was the bassist of the rock band ZZ Top for more than 50 years. He also sang backing and lead vocals and played keyboards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Shannon</span> American bass guitarist (born 1946)

Tommy Shannon is an American bass guitarist, who is best known as a member of Double Trouble, a blues rock band led by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Shannon moved to Dumas, Texas when he was nine, where he originally started as a guitarist, though he started playing bass at the age of 21. He appeared with Johnny Winter at Woodstock in 1969. He later joined Double Trouble in 1981 and became a permanent member of Double Trouble until Vaughan's death in 1990. Shannon and bandmate Chris Layton later formed supergroups such as the Arc Angels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">W. C. Clark</span> American singer-songwriter (1939–2024)

Wesley Curley Clark was an American blues musician. He is known as the "Godfather of Austin Blues" for his influence on the Austin, Texas, blues scene since the late 1960s.

<i>Album Number 2</i> 1966 studio album by The Outsiders

Album #2 – also known as The Outsiders Album #2 or simply #2 – is the second studio album by the Outsiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Haynes</span> American Texas blues guitarist

Alan Haynes, born in Houston, Texas, is an American Texas blues guitarist. Haynes has been playing professionally since the 1970s and has performed with a variety of blues musicians that include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Albert King, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, and Otis Rush among others. He now resides in Austin, Texas, and plays locally in and around Texas' major cities, especially Houston, occasionally in Dallas and Fort Worth, and also Europe, where he has a following in Scandinavian countries, Germany, Denmark and Israel.

<i>Somewhere in the Middle</i> 2004 studio album by Jason Boland & The Stragglers

Somewhere in the Middle is Jason Boland & The Stragglers's fourth album. It was released in September 2004. It is the first album by the band to be produced by Lloyd Maines. The song "Thunderbird Wine" is a cover of the Billy Joe Shaver song featured on the 1981 album I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal. The album itself is dedicated to Shaver, stating "may he live forever." The song "Hank" was originally recorded by Eleven Hundred Springs and released on their 2004 album, Bandwagon under the title, "Hank Williams Wouldn't Make It Now In Nashville, Tennessee". The last track features Randy Crouch singing lead vocals on the song, "Hope You Make It."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worldwide Texas Tour</span> 1976–77 concert tour by ZZ Top

The Worldwide Texas Tour was a concert tour by American rock band ZZ Top. Arranged in support of their 1975 album Fandango!, the band visited arenas, stadiums, and auditoriums from 1976 to 1977. The elaborate stage production was designed to bring Texas to national audiences, with regional fauna and flora.

John Rockford "Rocky" Hill was an American blues guitarist, singer, and bassist from Dallas, Texas, United States. Hill was the older brother of ZZ Top bassist, Dusty Hill.

<i>Fandango!</i> 1975 studio & live album by ZZ Top

Fandango! is the fourth album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in 1975. The album's first side consists of selections from live shows, with the second side being new studio recordings. A remastered and expanded edition of this album was released on February 28, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Telefones</span> American rock/pop band

The Telefones are a musical group based in Dallas, Texas. A regular act at the notable punk venue the Hot Klub in the 1980s, they are generally considered a pioneer Texas punk band, but have also been called “Dallas' first—and best—new wave band,” and yet also "[n]either punk nor new-wave." Their sound is a blend of many different styles and eras of rock and pop music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Suhler</span> American singer

Jim Suhler is an American Texas blues guitarist. Suhler has been playing professionally since the 1980s and has performed with a variety of blues musicians that include George Thorogood, Johnny Winter, AC/DC, Buddy Whittington, Billy F. Gibbons, Joe Bonamassa, Elvin Bishop, and Buddy Guy, along with many other notable musicians. He resides in Dallas, Texas, and plays locally in and around Texas' major cities, especially Dallas/Fort Worth with his own band, Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat, in addition to the remainder of the United States and also Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gentlemen (Dallas band)</span> American garage rock band

The Gentlemen were an American garage rock band from Dallas, Texas, who were active from 1964 to 1968. They are best known for their 1966 song, "It's a Cry'n Shame", which has been recognized as one of the greatest songs in garage rock. The band is noted for the contributions of guitarist and songwriter, Seab Meador. Jimmie Vaughan, later a member the Fabulous Thunderbirds and brother of Double Trouble guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, served a brief stint for several months in the Gentlemen in late 1965 and early 1966, but did not appear on any of their recordings. He went on to play in another Dallas garage rock band, the Chessmen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chessmen</span> American garage rock band

The Chessmen were an American garage rock band from Denton, Texas, near Dallas, who were active in the 1960s. They were one of the most popular bands in the region and recorded for Bismark Records, where they recorded three singles including, "I Need You There", which is now considered a garage rock classic. The band is notable for including several members who went on to greater fame. Jimmie Vaughan, brother of Stevie Ray Vaughan was briefly a member, joining after the death of original band leader, guitarist, and vocalist, Robert Patton, who died in a boating accident in 1966. Drummer Doyle Bramhall later played with and wrote songs for Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Bill Etheridge later played bass with ZZ Top. Following the breakup of the Chessmen, several of their members, including Jimmie Vaughan, went on to form a group that would come to be known as Texas Storm, which eventually included Stevie Ray Vaughan on bass.

Francis Anthony Christina is an American drummer known for his work in Texas blues band the Fabulous Thunderbirds (1979–97). He was also the founding drummer of Roomful of Blues (1967–1971).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Eder, Bruce. "The Nightcaps: Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Wilonsky, Robert (March 2015). "Before His Death, Nightcaps Frontman Billy Joe Shine Made Local Music History". Dallas News. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Nightcaps". Ponderosa Stomp. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  4. ↑ "The Nightcaps". Oldies. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  5. ↑ Walters, Kevin (March 22, 1961). ""Kat's Karavan" recordings sure to resonate with Texas baby boomers". Phil York.
  6. ↑ "The Nightcaps (3) – Wine, Wine, Wine". Discogs. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  7. ↑ The Dallas Morning News, Metro, Monday May 25, 2009, Page 1B & 6B, By Kirk Dooley, "It all started with Wine', Now it's Nightcaps Day"
  8. ↑ Wilonsky, Robert (February 2, 1995). "Case Dismissed". Dallas Observer. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  9. ↑ Anders, John (January 25, 1998). "Aging makes Nightcaps go down smooth". Dallas Morning News (Today): 1.
  10. ↑ Dunn, Si (September 1, 1974). ""The Ritual of Billy Joe Shine"". Dallas Morning News (Scene Magazine): 6–10.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.