Little Feat

Biography

Little Feat formed in 1969 in Los Angeles, California, when singer-songwriter and guitarist Lowell George was fired from Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and encouraged to start his own band. George recruited keyboardist Bill Payne, whom he met during Payne's audition for Zappa, drummer Richie Hayward from George's prior band The Factory, and bassist Roy Estrada, another Mothers alum. Signed quickly to Warner Bros., they released their self-titled debut album in 1971, featuring the classic 'Willin',' followed by 'Sailin' Shoes' in 1972 with hits like the title track and 'Easy to Slip.' The band's early sound blended blues, R&B, country rock, and Southern rock, characterized by George's slide guitar, Payne's virtuoso keyboards, and Hayward's driving drums, creating a unique California cool meets New Orleans funk style.[1][2][3]

By 1973, Estrada left, replaced by guitarist Paul Barrere, bassist Kenny Gradney, and percussionist Sam Clayton, solidifying the classic lineup. Albums like 'Dixie Chicken' (1973) with its title track and 'Fat Man in the Bathtub,' 'Feats Don't Fail Me Now' (1974) featuring 'Oh, Atlanta' and 'Rock and Roll Doctor,' and the live masterpiece 'Waiting for Columbus' (1978) cemented their reputation. Tragedy struck in 1979 when Lowell George died at age 34 from a heart attack during a solo tour, leading to the band's breakup after completing 'Down on the Farm.'[1][2][3]

Little Feat reformed in 1987 with Payne, Barrere, Gradney, Clayton, and Hayward, adding vocalist Craig Fuller and guitarist Fred Tackett. Albums like 'Let It Roll' (1988) marked their return, followed by tours and releases including 'Join the Band' (2009) with guest vocalists like Dave Matthews and Emmylou Harris. The band continues today with Payne, Clayton, Gradney, Tackett, guitarist Scott Sharrard, and drummer Tony Leone, maintaining their eclectic rock legacy.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• The band's name 'Little Feat' originated from Mothers of Invention drummer Jimmy Carl Black commenting on Lowell George's 'little feet,' with 'feat' spelled as a nod to The Beatles.
• Despite their Southern rock sound with songs like 'Dixie Chicken' and 'Oh, Atlanta,' Little Feat formed in Los Angeles and consisted mostly of West Coast musicians.
• Lowell George was fired by Frank Zappa from Mothers of Invention, who told him to start his own band, leading directly to Little Feat's formation.
• Their 1978 live album 'Waiting for Columbus' is widely regarded as one of the best live rock albums ever recorded.

Members

• Lowell George - guitar (from 1969 until 1979-06-29)
• Roy Estrada (from 1971 until 1972)
• Richie Hayward (from 1971 until 2010-08-12)
• Bill Payne - keyboard (from 1971)
• Paul Barrère (from 1972 until 2019-10-26)
• Sam Clayton (from 1973)
• Kenny Gradney (from 1973)
• Fred Tackett (from 1973)
• Craig Fuller (from 1988 until 1996)
• Shaun Murphy (from 1988)
• Phil Brown - guitar

Original Members

• Bill Payne - keyboard
• Sam Clayton
• Kenny Gradney
• Fred Tackett
• Shaun Murphy

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Frank Zappa - Fired George from Mothers of Invention and encouraged him to form Little Feat; indirect influence via shared members Estrada and auditionee Payne (Mothers of Invention) [1969]
• Jimmy Carl Black - Mothers of Invention drummer whose comment on George's 'little feet' inspired the band name (Mothers of Invention) [1969]

Key Collaborators

• Lowell George - Founder, singer, songwriter, slide guitarist (Little Feat (1971), Sailin' Shoes (1972), Dixie Chicken (1973)) [1969-1979]
• Bill Payne - Founding keyboardist, primary continuous member (All albums from 1971-present) [1969-present]
• Richie Hayward - Original drummer (Early albums including Sailin' Shoes; reformed lineup) [1969-2010 (died)]
• Paul Barrere - Longtime guitarist (Dixie Chicken onward; reformed 1987) [1973-2019 (died)]
• Kenny Gradney - Longtime bassist (From 1973-present) [1973-present]
• Sam Clayton - Longtime percussionist (From 1973-present) [1973-present]
• Roy Estrada - Original bassist from Mothers (Little Feat debut (1971)) [1969-1973]
• Fred Tackett - Guitarist in reformed lineup (Let It Roll (1988)-present) [1987-present]

Artists Influenced

• Linda Ronstadt - Covered 'Willin'' which became a standard (Heart Like a Wheel (1974)) [1970s]
• Dave Matthews - Guest vocalist on tribute album (Join the Band (2009) - 'Fat Man in the Bathtub') [2009]
• Emmylou Harris - Guest vocalist on tribute album (Join the Band (2009) - 'Sailin' Shoes') [2009]
• Jimmy Buffett - Guest vocalist on tribute album (Join the Band (2009) - 'Champion of the World') [2009]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Spanish Moon (Feats Don't Fail Me Now)
2. Willin' (Sailin' Shoes)
3. Dixie Chicken (Dixie Chicken)
4. Long Distance Love (The Last Record Album)
5. Skin It Back (Feats Don't Fail Me Now)
6. Two Trains (Dixie Chicken)
7. All That You Dream (with Linda Ronstadt) (The Last Record Album)
8. Roll Um Easy (Dixie Chicken)
9. On Your Way Down (Dixie Chicken)
10. Oh, Atlanta (Feats Don't Fail Me Now)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #blues-rock, #boogie-rock, #classic-pop-and-rock