Little Feat

Little Feat is a band who have mixed blues, R&B, country and rock and roll styles together since they formed in 1969 in Los Angeles, and are known for their eclectic mix of many forms of music.

Related Topics:
Blues - R&B - Country - Rock and roll - 1969 - Los Angeles - Eclectic - Music

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Formed by two former members of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention; songwriter and guitarist Lowell George, who also provided vocals and slide guitar, and Roy Estrada on bass guitar, along with drummer Richard Hayward and Bill Payne on keyboards.

Related Topics:
Frank Zappa - Mothers of Invention - Lowell George - Slide guitar - Roy Estrada - Bass guitar - Drum - Richard Hayward - Bill Payne

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Their first two albums, Little Feat and Sailin' Shoes, issued on Warner Brothers Records, received good reviews and spawned a classic in George's song "Willin'", however poor commercial success led to the band splitting up, with Estrada leaving music to work in the computer industry. In 1972 Little Feat reformed with bassist Kenny Gradney replacing Estrada, and also adding a second guitarist, Paul Barrere, and percussionist Sam Clayton. This changed lineup radically altered the Little Feat sound and brought new songwriting capabilities to the band. The group went on to record Dixie Chicken (1973), one of the band's most popular albums, as well as Feats Don't Fail Me Now (1974), which was an attempt to capture some of the energy to be found in their many live shows at that time.

Related Topics:
Little Feat - Sailin' Shoes - Warner Brothers - 1972 - Kenny Gradney - Paul Barrere - Sam Clayton - Dixie Chicken - Feats Don't Fail Me Now

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The release of The Last Record Album in 1975 signalled another change in the Little Feat sound, with Barrere and Payne developing their interest in jazz-rock, which was further developed in 1977's Time loves a Hero. Although Lowell George continued to produce the albums, his songwriting contribution reduced as the group moved further into jazz-rock territory. In August 1977, Little Feat recorded a live album entitled Waiting for Columbus, which is considered by many rock music critics to be one of the best live albums of the decade. It was released in 1978, by which time it had become apparent that Lowell George's interest in Little Feat was diminishing, as was his health. George did some work on what would eventually become Down on the Farm but then recorded a solo album Thanks, I'll Eat it Here and declared that Little Feat had disbanded. During touring for Thanks, I'll Eat it Here in June of 1979 Lowell George died of a heart attack, although it is unknown whether this was related to the stress of touring or to his drug habit.

Related Topics:
The Last Record Album - Time loves a Hero - Waiting for Columbus - Down on the Farm - Thanks, I'll Eat it Here - Lowell George

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The rest of Little Feat finished and released Down on the Farm before disbanding in 1979, however after a long break, they reformed yet again in 1988 when Barrere, Clayton, Gradney, Hayward and Payne added guitarists Craig Fuller and Fred Tackett, the former also providing vocals. The initial release by the new lineup, Let It Roll, was well received by many of the fans of the original group, and it held out promise for a return to glory. Subsequent releases were not so well received, with many fans considering them unfavourably in comparison to the work of the band when helmed by Lowell George. In general, fans of Little Feat tend to split into two camps: those who prefer the Lowell George-era group, and those who still enjoy the band in its various post-Lowell incarnations.

Related Topics:
Down on the Farm - 1979 - 1988 - Craig Fuller - Fred Tackett - Let It Roll - Lowell George

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In September 1993 Fuller's vocals were replaced by those of female singer Shaun Murphy. Miss Murphy began her career working in Detroit, Michigan, most notably in theatre, and received a record contract with Rare Earth Records, a division of Motown Records, as a member of a duet with notable recording artist Meat Loaf. The duet team later disbanded, and Miss Murphy went on to sing and record with renowned artists such as Eric Clapton and Bob Seger, prior to joining Little Feat as a replacement for Craig Fuller. The replacement was not an easy task for a female in an all-male band, but Murphy adjusted, and soon became one of the band's biggest attractions in their evolution, regardless of the attitude of some of the older fans, who remained resitant to any change, in such a "set in stone" band.

Related Topics:
1993 - Shaun Murphy - Detroit, Michigan - Theatre - Contract - Motown Records - Meat Loaf - Eric Clapton - Bob Seger - Evolution

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2002, Little Feat then launched their own record label, Hot Tomato Records.

Related Topics:
2002 - Hot Tomato Records

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some of the prominent musicians and bands to play, record, and cover the music of Little Feat include The Byrds, Garth Brooks, Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Nicolette Larson, Randy Newman, Robert Palmer, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, John Sebastian, Van Halen, Joe Walsh, Phish, and Bob Weir.

Related Topics:
Musicians - Record - Cover - The Byrds - Garth Brooks - Jackson Browne - Emmylou Harris - Nicolette Larson - Randy Newman - Robert Palmer - Bonnie Raitt - Linda Ronstadt - John Sebastian - Van Halen - Joe Walsh - Phish - Bob Weir

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Little Feat continues to play and tour all over the world in "the new millennium", and are regarded by many rock music critics as a "band's band", and as being one of the greatest rock bands in American rock music history.

Related Topics:
World - Millennium - Music - Critics - Band - Rock - American - History

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~