“I’ve always wanted my music to stand up to my heroes’ music,” reflects Fabulous Thunderbirds co-founder and harmonica great, Kim Wilson. On Strong Like That, Wilson pairs his own compositions alongside his heroes: Clarence Coulter, Eddie Floyd, Eddie Holland and Cornelius Grant. The album balances the mournfulness of blues with all the joy of soul music.
“The T-Birds have spread their wings, but are always straight and true. Soul music became a recurring style for them, and especially for Wilson. Strong Like That retains a blues edge but lights a major blaze under that soul meter mercury…. The songs [Kim Wilson] wrote, and the unique covers here, make for one of the best T-Birds albums in some time.” – Tom Clarke, Elmore Magazine
Over thirty years ago, The Fabulous Thunderbirds were the first band to come out with a rock ‘n’ roll beat that was basically the blues. “You can’t really push the envelope unless you’re versed in the blues,” Wilson says. “I am what I am. I started playing harmonica with all the old guys when I was a kid, 18 or 19 years old.”
“…The band balances the mournfulness of the blues with all the joy of soul music, and the tunes are often so bright that they drive us up out of our seats to the dance floor to groove to The Fabulous Thunderbirds’ smooth and soulful sound.” Henry Carrigan, No Depression
