Black Oak Arkansas band to join Usual Suspects at Riverfest

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Joshua Payne

The Little River Festival is set for April 18, in Hornersville, Mo., and will feature many artists including Black Oak Arkansas and The Usual Suspects.

Black Oak Arkansas formed in 1963, when high school friends decided to form a musical group. Over the last 46 years, the group has created several albums, three of which becoming gold, one platinum, and one song a gold single. The gold single was "Jim Dandy to the Rescue," which they were encouraged to record by Elvis Presley.

Many testimonials and awards have been presented to the band over the years. These awards have been presented by famous people including Bill Graham, Wolfman Jack, Betty Ford, and former President Bill Clinton.

Jim "Dandy" Mangrum has been the group's lead singer and front man since their conception in junior high school. He has said one of his proudest moments was when Johnnie Carson asked Mick Jagger on the Tonight Show, "Out of all of the new and up-coming groups, who is your favorite front man," to which Jagger replied, "Jim Dandy of Black Oak Arkansas."

Bad Company lead singer, Paul Rodgers, was known to give the same response to the question, and John Lennon personally informed Mangrum that he thought Jim was ahead of his time.

Mangrum's unusual vocal style and instrument of choice, scruboard, have made him into the rock legend that he is today.

Along with Jim Dandy, Black Oak Arkansas consists of Rickie Lee Reynolds on vocals, songwriting, and guitar, Johnnie Bolin on drums, George Hughes on bass, and Hal McCormack on lead guitar. These individuals have played with several artists including Joe Walsh, Deep Purple, Survivor, and Tora Tora.

The group has shared the stage with numerous legends of rock music such as Kiss, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Foghat, Bad Company, Boston, Alice Cooper, 38 Special, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Doobie Brothers, ZZ Top, Steely Dan, and the Allman Brothers.

After touring every major city and every secondary circuit in America, along with several tours of Europe and South American, Black Oak Arkansas hits the road once again in 2009.

The Usual Suspects, who are more or less a staple at the Little River Festival, give performances that always seem to really get everyone on their feet and moving.

The Usual Suspects include Kennett's own Jim Baker, Ken Williams, Daryl Wilcoxson, Dunk Carter, Gary Wilcoxson and Wendell Crow. The band is always a crowd pleaser.

The gates for the event will open at 4 p.m., with music beginning at 5 p.m. For further information on the event call 1(800) 890-1647.

Comments

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Sure hope Jim Dandy does not wear those tight he was wearing back in 1973. All of the 50 to 60 year olds that were big BOA fans back in the day....you may not like that music quite as much sober as you did when you were wasted and listening.

-- Posted by gobler on Wed, Apr 15, 2009, at 10:38 PM

Gobler, I second your comment. But, to add, aren't The Usual Suspects a little past their prime!

-- Posted by br549 on Thu, Apr 16, 2009, at 5:47 PM