Crazy Texas Gypsies
Performing
at the Tacoma Freedom Fair
JULY 4, 2013, 4:45 – 5:30 PM
DUKE'S CHOWDER HOUSE BLUES STAGE
The Crazy Texas Gypsies were first formed in 1999 by founding member, song writer, vocalist and Guitarist Kenny Williams and bass player, vocalist Kevin Fraser. They played in clubs and festivals in California, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Nevada.
When Katie Baker (Entertainment Director at The Reno Hilton) saw one of their performances, she personally began the duties of managing the band. Katie also booked National Acts including Starship, Willie Nelson and several others into The Reno Hilton. She immediately recognized the "National Act" qualities of The Crazy Texas Gypsies.
The band recorded their first of three albums "Too Much Fun!" in 2000 and began touring as opening act for an impressive group of headliners including Delbert McClinton, ZZ TOP, Ted Nugent, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, The Ford Brothers, Curtis Salgado, Lloyd Jones, Bernard Allison, Joe Louis Walker, Huey Lewis and Walter Trout.
The Too Much Fun CDs and Crazy Texas Gypsies T-shirts flew off the shelves at all the live performances. Delbert McClinton and his band were so impressed with the The Crazy Texas Gypsies performance that every member of Delbert’s band bought a copy of the CD.
The second Crazy Texas Gypsies album " The Crazy Texas Gypsies Live" was released in 2003 and the third album " Blues For The Soul" was released in 2005.
Joe Louis Walker described Kenney Williams (founding member, lead guitarist, lead singer and writer of most of the music in their repertoire as, " The kind of guitarist that comes along once in a lifetime"
Robben Ford, following The Crazy Texas Gypsies as his opening act, walked onto the stage with the crowd still applauding The Gypsies performance, took the microphone and enthusiastically shouted to the crowd, " HOW ABOUT THOSE CRAZY "F"ING GYPSIES!
In 2012 Billy Barner and Doug Skoog joined The Crazy Texas Gypsies. Billy Barner (drums and vocals) and Doug Skoog (keys and vocals). Billy Barner and Doug Skoog have won two recent regional championships representing The South Sound Blues Association at The 2010 and 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee, advancing to the semi finals in both events. Billy won the Tacoma Blues Festival Drummer of the Year Award in 2002. In 2006 Billy and Doug Skoog won The Washington Blues Association BB (Best of Blues) Awards for Best Blues Recording. Billy and Doug were nominated by the Washington Blues Association in 2004 for Best New Band with Blues Alliance. Billy Barner received 4 Washington Blues Society BB Award Nominations in 2006 and was nominated for Best Blues Drummer and Lifetime Achievement Awards by The Washington Blues Association in 2011.Doug Skoog has received numerous Blues Awards nominations from the Washington Blues Association and has won Washington Blues Association Awards for Best Blues Keyboard Player and Best Male Vocalist in 2006. Billy Barner and Doug Skoog have been playing in bands, touring and recording together since 1968.
The individual talent of each of these four musicians is amazing. Their combined talent is astonishing.
The musicianship, showmanship and high powered energy of The Crazy Texas Gypsies LIVE performance is nothing short of riveting..... a spectacle to behold and one crowds never forget.
Visit the Crazy Texas Gypsies Facebook page
