Jimmy Thackery – Cool Guitars
Jimmy Thackery, a master of blues-rock guitar and a relentless live performer, has earned a spot among the top-tier musicians in the genre. Downbeat Magazine once praised him for having “the tonal control, the musical thought, expressive sincerity, velocity, and discipline” that make him a heavyweight in blues-rock. His journey in the music world spans decades, starting back in 1972 with The Nighthawks and continuing with his current band, Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers.
The Early Years: A Passion Sparked by Music and History
Thackery’s musical journey began in his childhood. Growing up in a household where music was omnipresent, his mother, a classically trained pianist, and his father, a lover of Beethoven and Chopin, influenced him greatly. His earliest connection to music was so profound that, as he recounts, he once burst into tears as a child while listening to a Chopin piece. From that moment, his destiny as a musician seemed clear.
His musical rebellion began in junior high school when he first encountered electric guitars and live bands. Inspired by their raw energy and the attention they garnered—particularly from the girls—he abandoned classical piano for rock and roll. As he shared in an interview, “I wasn’t going to get next to girls taking piano lessons,” so he picked up a cheap Japanese electric guitar and started to teach himself how to play.
The Blues “Bug”
While his early influences were The Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the blues hit him hard when he first heard Slim Harpo’s “Scratch My Back.” Thackery said that moment was like “a baseball bat” to his head, and he began tracing the origins of the songs he loved, discovering the true pioneers of the blues like Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters. It was then that Thackery realized that the blues wasn’t just music—it was a means of expression, therapy, and storytelling, rooted in the hardships of life but ultimately uplifting.
Thackery explains this connection: “Blues was invented to purge themselves of the bad feelings they had. It’s therapy, not a down-and-out sad music as some people think, but a way of lifting yourself out of that sadness.”
From The Nighthawks to Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers
Thackery co-founded The Nighthawks in 1972 with Mark Wenner, and over the next 17 years, the band became a staple of the Washington, D.C. music scene. They released numerous albums, toured relentlessly, and backed legends like John Hammond and Muddy Waters. But by 1987, the rigors of constant touring—300 nights a year—and a desire for change pushed Thackery to leave the band and pursue a solo career.
After experimenting with The Assassins, a band he formed post-Nighthawks, Thackery found his true voice in Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers. Despite not driving himself, the band’s name became synonymous with the high-octane, driving blues sound they delivered on stage.
Eureka Springs and the Blues Dog Café
Now residing in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Thackery and his wife, Sally, have found a new home in this quirky, artistic community. Sally runs the local blues and folk festival, and together they operate the Blues Dog Café, which has become a haven for live music and local culture. Thackery’s connection to the town reflects his ongoing love for both music and the communities that nurture it.
Thackery’s life in Eureka Springs is deeply intertwined with his music. In the same spirit that has kept him playing into the late hours for decades, he now enjoys playing impromptu gigs at the café, jamming with local musicians, and contributing to the area’s vibrant music scene.
A Lifetime of Stories in Song
From playing with his teeth in homage to his blues heroes like Charlie Patton, to crafting humorous and ironic lyrics, Thackery’s music is filled with storytelling. He finds inspiration in everyday moments and conversations, turning phrases into lyrics and experiences into songs. As he once recounted, he turned a bassist’s snarky response at a toll booth into the song, “I’ve Got Other Plans.”
His creative process is unique in that he writes lyrics before music, allowing the words to dictate the style and arrangement. His music is filled with up-tempo blues tracks, designed to shake off the burdens of the week and lift people out of their troubles—a form of therapy through rhythm and guitar solos.
Thackery’s Legacy
For aspiring musicians, Thackery’s advice is simple: “Practice, practice, practice.” But he also acknowledges that breaking into the music business today is harder than ever. He reflects on how the changing landscape of nightlife and stricter laws, such as DWI regulations, have impacted the live music scene, making it more difficult for bands to thrive.
Despite these challenges, Thackery continues to tour, record, and live his life through music. His legacy is not only in the albums he has released but in the countless live shows where he connects with audiences, driving them through a journey of blues, rock, and everything in between.
At the heart of Jimmy Thackery’s music is the belief that the blues is about rising above life’s struggles and finding joy. Whether in front of thousands at a festival or a handful of locals in a bar, he keeps the blues alive, one note at a time.
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