The Delta Kings Bio - Revision
from 2007
 Recently, when we posted the below posting on the site, it reminded folks that the Delta Kings as they are now, were not the handsome young devils that started the band back in the halcyon days of the early '70's, so in the interest of public interest and our vaunted dedication to accuracy, we felt that we would continue the serialization of the true history of the Delta Kings...
Part I of the unofficial history of the Delta Kings...
DON’T FORGET, TONIGHT FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY- THE DELTA KINGS WILL REUNITE THEIR HISTORIC 1965 LINE-UP OF THE ORIGINAL 4 MEMBERS (WELL, NONE OF THEM ARE ALIVE, BUT WE WILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL GAFFER’S TAPE AND ONE OF THE ORIGINAL EXTENSION CORDS – IN FACT THE ONE THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ELECTORCUTION OF GUITARIST BLAZE ONTARIO –CODY REPLACED HIM - )
Part II of the unofficial history of the Delta Kings -
Blaze Ontario was the coolest guitarist ever, and people forget that he was originally the drummer until Fess Timmons quit to go back to Dental school.
Part III of the unofficial History of the Delta Kings -
So then with Blaze firmly planted on the guitar throne- and never was there anyone who sat so imperially on said throne, and sat high in the saddle too (mixed metaphors, ouch!), Blaze set out to find his kindred funky rock brothers. Well, as luck would have it, on a trip to New York City, he espied some skanky skinny rock'n'roll dude drinking his own personal bottle of Night Train wine. Well, it was not apparent if he could play, but it was apparent that he could drink. So, Blaze said, "hey young man, I'm the king-maker of rock'n'roll and I am going to make you a star. Now, just pass me that bottle." Well the wino on that fateful day was none other than Kirk Junkow, legendary Polish emigre guitar slinger. Blaze returned to Champaign with the young & impressionable Junkow in tow. (Coming in Part IV- the new bass player) .
The Delta Kings Biography
The Delta Kings were formed in 1993 in Champaign, Illinois when founding members Bill Humphrey (bass) and Kenny McNichols (guitar & vocals) recruited Cody Sokolski (guitar & vocals), a freshly transplanted New Yorker. After a couple of unsuccessful tries, the band found human rhythm machine Terry Hawkins (drums) and the Delta Kings were complete.
Playing four sets a night to tough roadhouse audiences up and down the Central Illinois’ area, the band realized they had turned into a crack rhythm oriented blues/rock’n’roll band. Next thing you know, the Delta Kings started writing their own songs. Much to their joyous surprise, audiences actually liked the band’s original material, at times, even screaming out requests for the stuff. Hearing about a fellow who had a 16 track studio in his dining room, the Delta Kings thought, “Hey, let’s record this stuff, just to hear what we sound like.” Blitzing through 25 songs in six hours, the band was ecstatic with the results. No one knows how six hours in a dining room ended up at Streeterville Studios in Chicago, being mixed by Fred Breitberg of numerous Alligator Record credits. But it did. The result of that mysterious process was their first cd release in 1997, “Damn Thing Bites”. By 2000 they had released “Done Fell Out The Back,” a collection of rarities & out-takes, and in between, two limited edition live recordings. “Live at the Farmer City 4th Of July Music Festival” and “Night Of The Living Groove.”
With the release of “Roadhouse Hullabaloo,” two things were done differently. More time was put into the actual recording process and the songs were chosen to more closely reflect the diversity of the band’s repertoire. Sharing stages with acts like Bobby Blue Bland, Delbert McClinton and BR 549, as well as playing over 500 one nighters at Central Illinois roadhouses, biker bashes and festivals, the band has shaped & honed a song list of originals and select covers that span the breadth & depth of American Roots Music. Blues, R&B, Country, Rockabilly & Rock’n’Roll are the humble, but noble streams which The Delta Kings draw from to create their funky brew.
Roadhouse Hullabaloo - the next chapter in The Delta Kings’ story.
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