Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows

Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows
GenresRhythm and blues
Years active1970s - 1980s
LabelsFlying Fish Records, Red Lightnin', Alligator Records, Sonet Records
SpinoffsChicago Rhythm and Blues Kings

Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows was an American blues and rhythm and blues group.[1]

Background

The frontman was singer, drummer and harmonica player Lawrence "Big Twist" Nolan (né Lawrence Millard Nolan; 23 September 1937, Terre Haute, Indiana – 14 March 1990, Broadview, Illinois).[2] He began singing in church at the age of six. In the mid to late 1950s he moved to Colp, Illinois and began singing and played drums in a bar band, the Mellow Fellows, performing everything from R & B, blues and country music.[1] At the beginning of the 1970s he joined with guitarist Pete Special and tenor saxophonist Terry Ogolini, and the band put out albums on Flying Fish Records and Alligator Records.[1] Over the decade, the group earned a loyal following and moved from private parties to the big stages. Big Twist and the Mellows success led them to appear on national television programs, including having their music videos for “300 Pounds of Heavenly Joy” and “Too Much BBQ” appear on the USA network and MTV. Big Twist toured with the Band, B.B. King, Muddy Waters and many other notable acts. The band's repertoire was a mixture of soul, rhythm and blues, and rock, a mixture that was equally popular among young and old.[1]

The group was managed by Ron Kaplan.[3][4]

Career

Bu May 1982, the group's "One Track Mind album had been released in the UK on Red Lightenin' RL 0040.[5]

Saxophonist Gene Barge joined the group after he toured with the Rolling Stones in Europe during 1982.[6]

It was reported by Billboard in the magazine's 1 October 1983 issue that Alligator Records had launched their first video clip. It was filmed at the Crystal Ballroom of Chicago's Blackstone Hotel. The production and direction of the clip was overseen by Michael Dawson. In the clip, Big Twist and the band changed the vibe of what appeared to be a stuffy cocktail event into a party of r&b fanatics.[7] The clip was "300 Pounds of Heavenly Joy", which was from the group's Playing for Keeps album.[8]

The group recorded the single, "300 Pounds of Heavenly Joy" bw "Pouring Water on a Drowning Man". By January 1984, it was released in the UK on Sonet SON 2262.[9]

The group's fourth album, Live from Chicago!, Bigger Than Life was released in 1987. It was reviewed in the November issue of Down Beat, where it received four stars. The reviewer said that it was possibly their best album.[10] Nelson George of Billboard called it a Good house-rocking record and said that the band wasn't original but it was fun, giving "300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy" as an example of that fun.[11]

Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows and another act, The Van Dorens played at the Celebrate Brooklyn festival on 17 July 1988.[12]

It was reported in the 20 November 1992 issue of Cash Box that Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows were one of the nominees for the 15th annual NAACP Image Awards.[13]

Later years etc.

Big Twist (no one who actually knew him ever called him "Larry"; according to a former BTMF Stage Manager, bassist Tango West - his nephew - called him "Uncle Twist") died in March 1990 of a heart attack. The Illinois State Historic Association placed a marker dedicated to the life of Big Twist on the Court House Lawn in Murphysboro, Illinois. The group played on, with new singer Martin Allbritton, from Carbondale, Illinois.[1] The saxophonist and producer Gene "Daddy G" Barge often appeared as a guest vocalist.[1] After the founding member Peter Special left the band, they called themselves the Chicago Rhythm And Blues Kings, and remain a popular band in Illinois.

Members

  • Gene Barge
  • Tim Caron
  • Melvin Crisp
  • Larry "Big Twist" Nolan
  • Terry Ogolini
  • Bob Pina
  • Pete Special
  • Jon Stocklin

Discography

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 36. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
  2. ^ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 136. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  3. ^ Billboard, Aug 13, 1983 - Page 58 Lifelines, Births
  4. ^ INTERNATIONAL TALENT & TOURING DIRECTORY, 1992 - Page 13 ARTISTS, BIG TWIST & THE MELLOW FELLOWS, BA: American
    Famous Talent Corp, Ron Kaplan, (312) 440-1900. PM/Bus.
    Mgmt.: Mellow Fellow Music, Inc, Pete Special, (312) 736
    7906. PR: Fast Track Communications, Dan Kening, (312)
    334-1766.
  5. ^ Record Business, May 31, 1982 - Page 13 New Albums, BIG TWIST & THE MELLOW FELLOWS ONE TRACK MIND Red Lightning 0 RL 0040 2.70 PINNACLE/CARTEL
  6. ^ The Chicago Reader, April 22, 2021 - MUSIC, Saxophonist Gene Barge helped shape the sound of Chicago R&B
  7. ^ Billboard, Oct. 1, 1983 - Page 31 Video, Music Monitor, * Premiere Video:
  8. ^ Billboard, Oct. 1, 1983 - Page 31 TWISTIN' THE NIGHT AWAY -
  9. ^ Record Mirror, January 21, 1984 - Page 22 Product Patrol, Singles, BIG TWIST & The Mellow Fellows 300 POUNDS OF HEAVENLY JOY/Pouring Water On A Dying Man Sonet SON 2262 Pic Bag
  10. ^ Down Beat, November 1987 - Page 39 Waxing On, NEW BLUES, Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows
  11. ^ Billboard, July 4, 1987 - Page 26 BLACK, The Rhythm and the Blues, by Nelson George
  12. ^ BRIC - 1988 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, 1988 BRIC CELEBRATE BROOKLYN! FESTIVAL, Big Twist & The Mellow Fellows / The Van Dorens July 17, 1988
  13. ^ Cash Box, November 20, 1992 - Page 19 THE RHYTHM SECTION
  14. ^ "Big Twist & the Mellow Fellows | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  15. ^ "Mellow Fellows - Street Party". Audiophileusa.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
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