Chickasaw Mudd Puppies
Encyclopedia
The Chickasaw Mudd Puppies are an American
rock band
, formed by Brant Slay (vocalist, washboard, harmonica) and Ben Reynolds (vocalist, percussion, electric guitar). The band was a major part of the music of Athens, Georgia
, and were proteges of Michael Stipe
, member of R.E.M.. The Chickasaw Mudd Puppies recorded two albums, White Dirt (1990) and 8 Track Stomp (1991), working with producers Stipe, Willie Dixon
and John Keane
. The band broke up soon after. Reynolds has since played guitar and sang with the band Workhorses of the Entertainment/Recreational Industry and taught photography at the Lamar Dodd School of Art
at the University of Georgia
.
Despite their famous producers, who also backed up the duo in the studio, Chickasaw Mudd Puppies received little popular attention outside of Athens. Their use of traditional and "invented" percussion instruments, including the stomp board (invented), washboard
, cowbells, and even cans, combined with the occasional dobro and lap steel guitars, gave their music an Americana
sound.
Their reunion after a 20 year hiatus was sparked by recent interests in their music including songs in the films, The Mechanic and Tracing Cowboys. Alan Cowart, drummer of the Jacksonville band, The Beggar Weeds (also Stipe-produced), joined the band in early 2011. The three musicians appeared together at the 2011 SXSW Music Festival in Austin Texas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, formed by Brant Slay (vocalist, washboard, harmonica) and Ben Reynolds (vocalist, percussion, electric guitar). The band was a major part of the music of Athens, Georgia
Music of Athens, Georgia
The music of Athens, Georgia, includes a wide variety of popular music and was an important part of the early evolution of alternative rock and New Wave. The city is well known as the home of chart-topping bands like R.E.M. and The B-52s, and several long-time indie rock groups...
, and were proteges of Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
, member of R.E.M.. The Chickasaw Mudd Puppies recorded two albums, White Dirt (1990) and 8 Track Stomp (1991), working with producers Stipe, Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
and John Keane
John Keane (record producer)
John Keane is an American record producer based in Athens, Georgia, who has worked extensively with R.E.M., Indigo Girls and Widespread Panic. He owns and operates John Keane Studios in Athens, which opened in 1981....
. The band broke up soon after. Reynolds has since played guitar and sang with the band Workhorses of the Entertainment/Recreational Industry and taught photography at the Lamar Dodd School of Art
Lamar Dodd School of Art
The Lamar Dodd School of Art is the art school of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States.-History:...
at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
.
Despite their famous producers, who also backed up the duo in the studio, Chickasaw Mudd Puppies received little popular attention outside of Athens. Their use of traditional and "invented" percussion instruments, including the stomp board (invented), washboard
Washboard
A washboard is a tool designed for hand washing clothing. With mechanized cleaning of clothing becoming more common by the end of the 20th century, the washboard has become better known for its originally subsidiary use as a musical instrument....
, cowbells, and even cans, combined with the occasional dobro and lap steel guitars, gave their music an Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
sound.
Their reunion after a 20 year hiatus was sparked by recent interests in their music including songs in the films, The Mechanic and Tracing Cowboys. Alan Cowart, drummer of the Jacksonville band, The Beggar Weeds (also Stipe-produced), joined the band in early 2011. The three musicians appeared together at the 2011 SXSW Music Festival in Austin Texas.
Albums
| Year | Name | Format | Label | Catalog Number | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | White Dirt | LP/CD/Cassette | Wing/Texas Hotel | 843 217-1/2/4 | John Keane and Michael Stipe |
| 1991 | 8 Track Stomp | LP/CD/Cassette | Wing/Mercury | 843 935-1/2/4 | Willie Dixon and Michael Stipe |
Promotional singles
| Year | Tracks | Format | Label | Catalog Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "McIntosh"/"Lookout" | CD | Wing/Texas Hotel | CDP 233 |
| 1991 | "Words and Knives"/"Cold Blue"/"Lodi" (live)/"Nothin' " (live) | CD | Wing/Mercury | CDP 433 |
| 1991 | "Do You Remember"/interview b/w "Do You Remember"/interview | 12" | Wing/Mercury | PRO 912-1 |