With their fusion of blues, rock and R&B, The Fabulous Thunderbirds helped popularize roadhouse Texas blues with a mass audience in the ’80s and, in the process, they helped kick-start a blues revival. During the early ’80s, they were the most popular attraction on the blues bar circuit, which eventually led to a breakthrough to the pop audience in 1986 with their fifth album, Tuff Enuff. After the two follow-ups to Tuff Enuff, Jimmie Vaughan left the band to play in a duo with his brother, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Following Stevie Ray’s death in the summer of 1990, Jimmie pursued a full-time solo career. The Fabulous Thunderbirds replaced Vaughan with two guitarists, Duke Robillard and Kid Bangham. The first album from the new lineup, Walk That Walk, Talk That Talk, appeared in 1991. During the early ’90s, the Fabulous Thunderbirds were in limbo, as Kim Wilson recorded a pair of solo albums. Wilson re-assembled the band in late 1994, and the band recorded their ninth album, Roll of the Dice, which was released on Private Music in 1995. High Water followed in 1997, with a live album after that in 2001. In 2004, Wilson reassembled the band yet again adding retro blues sensation guitarist Nick Curran and equally talented guitarist Kirk Eli Fletcher. The new line-up released Painted On on Tone Cool records in 2005. They released On the Verge in 2013. Still touring, The Fabulous Thunderbirds remain one of the most popular blues concert acts.
