Kentucky Headhunters   -  Biography

The Kentucky Headhunters created a hybrid of honky-tonk, blues and Southern rock that appealed to fans of both rock and country music. While they were only officially together for a few albums, the band nevertheless left a long shadow.

The origins of the Kentucky Headhunters lie in 1968, when Fred and Richard Young began playing together with their cousins Greg Martin and Anthony Kenney at the Youngs' grandmother's home. Mark Orr also later joined them. The first incarnation of the band was called the Itchy Brothers, and the group played together informally for over a decade. After about 13 years, the band members began launching separate careers: Richard Young went off to write songs for Acuff-Rose, while Fred Young began touring with country singer Sylvia. Martin became a member of Ronnie McDowell's band, while Kenney dropped out of music. In 1985, Martin decided to reassemble the Itchy Brothers. When Kenney declined to rejoin the group, Martin remembered Doug Phelps, who he had met while on tour with McDowell. Phelps joined the new project, which was named the Kentucky Headhunters. Besides Martin and Phelps, the band also included the Young brothers and Doug's brother Ricky Lee Phelps.

The Headhunters started playing twice monthly on The Chitlin' Show, a radio program on WLOC in Munfordville, Ky. From these 90-minute performances, the Headhunters built up a following. They sent an eight-song demo to Mercury, and soon after, the label signed the group. The original demo tape was remixed and became the basis of the band's first album, 1989's Pickin' On Nashville. Upon its release, it received overwhelmingly positive reviews and won two CMA Awards, including one for album of the year. "Dumas Walker" reached No. 15 in 1990, followed by the group's biggest hit, "Oh, Lonesome Me," which peaked at No. 8. The band picked up CMA Awards in 1990 and 1991 for vocal group.

In 1991, the Headhunters released their second effort, Electric Barnyard. The album received mixed reviews, couldn't muster a hit single and sold weakly. In summer 1992, the Phelps brothers left the group to form Brothers Phelps, a more conventional country group. (The duo reached the Top 10 once, with 1993's "Let Go.")

The remaining Headhunters brought back Kenney and Orr. The rehashed lineup released Rave On! in 1993. The album marked a progression towards bluesy Southern rock, which came to fruition with That'll Work later that same year. In 1996, Doug returned on lead vocals, replacing Orr, and a year later, the band issued Stompin' Grounds. Songs From the Grass String Ranch followed in 2000, and Soul appeared in 2003. Big Boss Man, a collection of songs from the Sony-ATV catalog, arrived in 2005. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide