Little Memphis Blues Orchestra
Encyclopedia
Little Memphis Blues Orchestra (also known as L.M.B.O. or LiMBO) is the band formerly known as the Taylor Hicks Band. Taylor Hicks
had assembled the band about two years before he won American Idol
in 2006
. The band was initially formed in Alabama
, but has since based themselves throughout the Southern United States, and later (after American Idol), to nationwide. The band features Brian Less on keyboard/piano/vocals, Sam Gunderson on lead guitar/vocals, Mitch Jones on bass guitar, Zippy Dietrich on drums/vocals and Jeff Lopez on Saxophone/Backup Vocals. The band has toured the United States during the American Idol concert tour, playing numerous after-parties which sometimes feature Hicks on stage, along with Hicks' friends and fellow American Idol finalists, Elliott Yamin
, Ace Young
, Bucky Covington
, and Chris Daughtry
(they, along with Hicks, make up the top five men). One of the LiMBO "after-party" concerts was at WorkPlay Theatre in Taylor Hicks and LiMBO's home town of Birmingham. This concert was actually the night of the Birmingham stop of the American Idol tour and Idols Hicks, Yamin, Young and Covington appeared with the band. The entire performance was recorded on both audio and video. LiMBO has since released both a DVD and a CD version of that performance.
The LiMBO name has a double meaning. As Taylor Hicks gained fame during the American Idol competition, the remaining members of the Taylor Hicks Band continued to play professionally. But they wanted to make sure no one assumed that Taylor Hicks would appear with the band, so they decided, at least for the short term on a name change. The keyboard player, Brian Less, is originally from Memphis, Tennessee and is not that tall. Taylor Hicks (who played basketball in high school) and Sam Gunderson are tall men, so it especially showed since Brian, Taylor Hicks and Sam Gunderson were the front men for the band. Brian acquired a nickname of "Little Memphis". When and even if Taylor Hicks would return was unknown as long as Taylor was still competing on American Idol - leaving his band in "limbo".
LiMBO is still playing as its own intity, and touring with Taylor Hicks. If you want to possibly catch LiMBO in action, Brian's girlfriend, Amory Harwell, is a bartender at the Oasis Roadhouse Bar where she makes sure they stay on the calendar year round. (The Oasis is where Taylor filmed part of his American Idol homecoming segment.)
Taylor Hicks
Taylor Reuben Hicks is an American singer who achieved fame in 2006, when he won the fifth season of American Idol. Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the Southeastern United States for well over the span of a decade, during which he also released...
had assembled the band about two years before he won American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
in 2006
2006 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
. The band was initially formed in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, but has since based themselves throughout the Southern United States, and later (after American Idol), to nationwide. The band features Brian Less on keyboard/piano/vocals, Sam Gunderson on lead guitar/vocals, Mitch Jones on bass guitar, Zippy Dietrich on drums/vocals and Jeff Lopez on Saxophone/Backup Vocals. The band has toured the United States during the American Idol concert tour, playing numerous after-parties which sometimes feature Hicks on stage, along with Hicks' friends and fellow American Idol finalists, Elliott Yamin
Elliott Yamin
Elliott Yamin , born Efraym Elliott Yamin, is an American singer known for his hit single "Wait for You" and placing third on the fifth season of American Idol....
, Ace Young
Ace Young
Brett Asa "Ace" Young is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He came to national recognition upon appearing on the fifth season of the reality television talent show, American Idol, although he was eliminated from the competition on April 19, 2006, finishing in seventh place.-Early...
, Bucky Covington
Bucky Covington
William Joel "Bucky" Covington III is an American country music singer. He placed eighth on the 5th season of the Fox Network's talent competition series American Idol. In December 2006, he signed a recording contract with Lyric Street Records...
, and Chris Daughtry
Chris Daughtry
Christopher Adam "Chris" Daughtry is an American musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Daughtry and as the fourth-place finalist on the fifth season of American Idol, from which he was eliminated on May 10, 2006...
(they, along with Hicks, make up the top five men). One of the LiMBO "after-party" concerts was at WorkPlay Theatre in Taylor Hicks and LiMBO's home town of Birmingham. This concert was actually the night of the Birmingham stop of the American Idol tour and Idols Hicks, Yamin, Young and Covington appeared with the band. The entire performance was recorded on both audio and video. LiMBO has since released both a DVD and a CD version of that performance.
The LiMBO name has a double meaning. As Taylor Hicks gained fame during the American Idol competition, the remaining members of the Taylor Hicks Band continued to play professionally. But they wanted to make sure no one assumed that Taylor Hicks would appear with the band, so they decided, at least for the short term on a name change. The keyboard player, Brian Less, is originally from Memphis, Tennessee and is not that tall. Taylor Hicks (who played basketball in high school) and Sam Gunderson are tall men, so it especially showed since Brian, Taylor Hicks and Sam Gunderson were the front men for the band. Brian acquired a nickname of "Little Memphis". When and even if Taylor Hicks would return was unknown as long as Taylor was still competing on American Idol - leaving his band in "limbo".
LiMBO is still playing as its own intity, and touring with Taylor Hicks. If you want to possibly catch LiMBO in action, Brian's girlfriend, Amory Harwell, is a bartender at the Oasis Roadhouse Bar where she makes sure they stay on the calendar year round. (The Oasis is where Taylor filmed part of his American Idol homecoming segment.)