Black Oak Arkansas is an American Southern rock band named after the band's hometown of Black Oak, Arkansas. The band reached the height of its fame in the 1970s, charting ten albums. Their style is notable for multiple guitar players and the raspy voice and on-stage antics of vocalist Jim "Dandy" Mangrum.

History

The Knowbody Else

Black Oak Arkansas, originally named "The Knowbody Else", was formed in 1963 by some "high school pals" living in the area around Black Oak, Arkansas. Original members included Ronnie "Chicky Hawk" Smith (vocals), Rickie Lee (alternately "Risky" or "Ricochet") Reynolds (guitar), Stanley "Goober Grin" Knight (guitar), Harvey "Burley" Jett (guitar), Pat "Dirty" Daugherty (bass), and Wayne "Squeezebox" Evans (drums). At some point the band and Ronnie "Chicky Hawk" Smith agreed that a mutual friend named James "Jim Dandy" Mangrum would make a better front man, while Smith agreed that he himself would make a better stage production manager.

The band's first PA system was stolen from Monette High School. The group cleaned out an old galvanized grain bin on the edge of town and began blasting out ear-piercing sounds that echoed their blend of music that came from rock, gospel, country and blues influences. Members of the group were subsequently charged in absentia with grand larceny and sentenced to 26 years at the Tucker Prison Farm, a sentence that was later suspended. This led to their retreat to the hills of rural north-central Arkansas where they lived off the land and refined their musical style. They also lived in Long Beach, Mississippi, and played at the local Lobe theater/dance hall and the short-lived venue, "The Black Rainbow". Some of their influences during this time were the Beatles and the Byrds.

The Knowbody Else moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1969 and signed a record deal with Stax Records. Their self-titled debut album (Hip Records #HIS-7003 [a subsidiary of Stax]) was largely ignored by the public. On September 22, 2023, the band released The Devil's Jukebox, a cover album, on Cleopatra Records.

In 2024, the new lineup for Black Oak Arkansas was unveiled, featuring Jim Dandy on lead vocals, Sammy Seauphine on duet vocals, Kinley Wolfe on bass guitar, Josh Decker on rhythm guitar, and Chris Craig on drums. The lineup debuted on March 1st as the opening act for Rickey Medlocke in Medina, Minnesota.

In 2025, the band embarked on a mini-tour of the West Coast, featuring an appearance the 53rd anniversary party for the Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood, California. On April 12th, Jim joined Michael Monroe onstage for a performance of the Black Oak Arkansas song "Rock N' Roll." Black Oak was joined by Monster Magnet guitarist Ed Mundell at the Rainbow anniversary party for a performance of "Space Lord," which the band covered on their album The Devil's Jukebox, as well as the Black Oak classic "Mutants of the Monster."

Members

Classic band members

  • James L. Mangrum (AKA Jim "Dandy" Mangrum) – lead vocals, washboard (1968–early 1980s, 1983–present)
  • Rickie Lee "Risky"/"Ricochet" Reynolds – rhythm guitar, 12-string guitar, vocals (1965–1977, 1984–2021)
  • Harvey "Burley" Jett – lead guitar, banjo, piano, vocals (1965–1974)
  • Pat "Dirty" Daugherty – bass guitar, vocals (1965–1977, 1996–2002)
  • Wayne "Squeezebox" Evans – drums (1965–1972)
  • Stanley "Goober Grin" Knight – lead guitar, steel guitar, organ, vocals (1969–1976)
  • Tommy Aldridge – drums (1972–1976) (who later joined the Pat Travers Band; he also played with Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, and Whitesnake, among others).

Current touring band members

  • James L. Mangrum (Jim "Dandy" Mangrum) – lead vocals, guitar, washboard (1968–1980, 1983–present)
  • Chris Craig – drums (1979–1982, 2023–present)
  • Kinley "Barney" Wolfe – bass guitar, backing vocals (1981–1983, 2021–present)
  • Sammy B. Seauphine ("Lil Bit") – duet vocals, backing vocals, washboard (2013–present)
  • Tim Rossi – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2021–2023, 2024–present)
  • Josh Decker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2024–present)

Past members

  • Randy Ruff – lead vocals, piano, organ (1980–1982)
  • Rickie Lee "Risky"/"Ricochet" Reynolds – rhythm guitar, 12-string guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1965–1977, 1984–2021) <small>(died 2021)</small>
  • Ruby Starr – duet vocals, backing vocals (1973–1976) <small>(died 1995)</small>
  • Pat "Dirty" Daugherty – bass guitar, vocals (1970–1977, 1996–2002)
  • Andy Tanas – bass guitar (1977–1979)
  • Dave Wilson – bass guitar (1979–1981) <small>(died 2013)</small>
  • George Hughen – bass guitar (1985–1996, 2002–2016)
  • Johnnie Bolin – drums (1985–2024)
  • Jimmy "Soybean" Henderson – guitar (1975–1979) <small>(died 2016)</small>
  • Deke Richards – guitar, piano (1977–1978)
  • Greg Reding – guitar, keyboards, vocals (1977–1979)
  • Jack Holder – guitar (1977–1979) <small>(died 2015)</small>
  • Shawn Lane – guitar (1978–1982) <small>(died 2003)</small>
  • Dave Amato – guitar (1980)
  • Mick Chelsvig – guitar (1980–1981)
  • Tony Bullard – guitar (1981–1982)
  • Robert Gregory – guitar (1985)
  • Angelo Earl – guitar (late 1980s)
  • Buddy Church – guitar (1989–1994, 2013–2014) <small>(died 2016)</small>
  • David Flexer - lead guitar (1995-1996,2017-2018)
  • Harvey "Burley" Jett – lead guitar, banjo, piano, vocals (1970–1974)
  • Stanley "Goober Grin" Knight – lead guitar, steel guitar, organ, vocals (1970–1976) <small>(died 2013)</small>
  • Hal McCormack – lead guitar (2003–2013)
  • Kevin Rees – lead guitar (early 1980s)
  • John Roth – lead guitar (July 1986–October 1987, 1991)
  • Arthur Pearson – lead guitar, rhythm guitar (1989–2024)
  • Kevyn Williams – lead guitar (early 1990s)
  • Danny Leath – lead guitar (199?–????)
  • Rocky Athas – lead guitar (1996–2001)
  • Terry "Slydman" Powers – lead guitar (2000–2004)
  • Wayne "Squeezebox" Evans – drums (1970–1972)
  • Gary "GT" Taylor – drums (1970–1972)
  • Tommy Aldridge – drums (1972–1976)
  • Bobby "T" Torello – drums (1977)
  • Joel Williams – drums (1977–1978)
  • Darrell Miller – drums (1970s)
  • Cozy Johnson – drums (early 1980s)
  • Paul Simmons – drums (1985–1986)
  • Victor Lukenbaugh – drums (1987–1989, 2018–2020) <small>(died 2020)</small>
  • Johnny Monk Courville - drums (1989-1996, 2021)
  • Sammi Jo Bishop – drums (2022)
  • Marius Penczner – keyboards (1975–1977)
  • David "Dave" Mayo – piano, bass guitar (1976)
  • Gary D. Rollins – keyboards (1978)
  • Luke Williams – lead guitar, backing vocals (2024)
  • Ed Mundell – lead and rhythm guitar (2025)

Session members

  • Kenny Rodgers – guitar
  • Alex Among – guitar
  • Steve "The Axe" Nunenmacher – lead guitar, rhythm guitar (Ready As Hell) Later formed Lillian Axe as 'Steve Blaze'
  • William Lemuel – bass guitar (Ready As Hell)
  • Jon "J.R."/"Thunder Paws" Wells – drums (Ready As Hell)
  • Billy Batte – keyboards, violin (Ready As Hell)
  • Michael "Narley Dude" Martin – lead guitar (The Black Attack Is Back) <small>(died 2005)</small>
  • Biff "The Beast" Bingham – 2nd lead guitar (Ready As Hell, The Black Attack Is Back)
  • Mike Farriss – bass guitar (The Black Attack Is Back)
  • Jerry A. Williams – drums (Ready As Hell, The Black Attack Is Back)
  • Garrett Bearden – drums (1980s)
  • Mickey "Tricky" Smith – drums, road tech

Timeline

Discography

Albums

The Knowbody Else

  • The Knowbody Else (Hip Records #HIS-7003 [a subsidiary of Stax Records], October 1969; reissued 2008 on Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra Records)
  • Soldiers of Pure Peace (Arf! Arf! Music, November 13, 2012; demo material originally recorded in 1967)

Black Oak Arkansas

  • Black Oak Arkansas (Atco Records, March 1971) US No.&nbsp;127, RIAA Gold
  • Keep the Faith (Atco, January 1972) US No.&nbsp;103
  • If an Angel Came to See You, Would You Make Her Feel at Home? (Atco, June 1972) US No.&nbsp;93
  • Raunch 'N' Roll Live (Atco, February 1973; recorded December 1 & 2, 1972) US No.&nbsp;90, RIAA Gold
  • High on the Hog (Atco, September 1973) US No.&nbsp;52, RIAA Gold; Can. No. 81
  • Early Times (Stax Records, March 1974; demo material originally recorded in 1968/1969 as The Knowbody Else)
  • Street Party (Atco, July 1974) US No.&nbsp;56; Can No. 52
  • Ain't Life Grand (Atco, April 1975) US No.&nbsp;145
  • X-Rated (MCA Records, September 1975) US No.&nbsp;99
  • Live! Mutha (Atco, January 1976; recorded May 11, 1975) US No.&nbsp;194; Can No. 90
  • Balls of Fire (MCA, May 1976) US No.&nbsp;173; Can No. 71
  • 10 Yr Overnight Success (MCA, October 1976)
  • Rebound (Goldwax Records #GW-5003, 1991)
  • King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: Black Oak Arkansas (King Biscuit Flower Hour Records/BMG, March 10, 1998; recorded November 21, 1976, at the Reading Festival in England)
  • Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour (King Biscuit Entertainment/Pinnacle, September 27, 1999; reissue of the KBFH material...all 12 songs)
  • Jim Dandy To The Rescue (DVD Documentary) (Cabal Records, 1999/2023)
  • Live (EMI-Capitol Special Markets [a subsidiary of Capitol-EMI Records], May 4, 2000; another reissue of the KBFH material minus 2 songs)
  • Keep the Faith: Live Concert Performance (Disky Communications, 2001; yet another reissue of the KBFH material...all 12 songs)
  • Live at Royal Albert Hall (S'More Entertainment, November 25, 2005; recorded 1975)
  • The Complete Raunch 'N' Roll Live (Rhino Handmade Records, 2007) 2CD
  • Black Oak Arkansas...The Knowbody Else '69 (Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra Records, 2008; reissue of Hip Records #HIS-7003)
  • Back Thar N' Over Yonder (Atlantic/Atco Records, October 15, 2013; includes 5 new songs with 10 previously unreleased studio out-takes from 1972/1973/1974)
  • Underdog Heroes (Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra Records, May 24, 2019)
  • The Devil's Jukebox (Cleopatra records 2023)

Note: all of BOA's original Atco albums have been reissued on CD by Wounded Bird Records in 2000/2001,

except High On The Hog, which has been reissued by Rhino Records; also note that in 2013, the first

five Atco studio albums (BOA, Keep the Faith, If an Angel Came to See You, High on the Hog, and Street Party) were collected/reissued in a slipcase box set, titled Black Oak Arkansas: Original Album Series [UPC: 081227968373] by Rhino Entertainment; and in 2021, seven albums (X-Rated, Live! Reading '76 [=KBFH Presents: BOA], Race with the Devil, I'd Rather Be Sailing, Ready as Hell, The Black Attack is Back, and Rebound) were collected/reissued in another slipcase box set, titled Jim Dandy to the Rescue [UPC: 889466206726] by Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra Records.

Jim Dandy (without BOA)

  • Flash Fearless Vs. the Zorg Women, Pts. 5 & 6 (Chrysalis Records, 1975) -note: Jim Dandy sings 2 songs..."Country Cooking" and "Blast Off" on this various artists/original studio cast "comic book hero/rock opera" album.

Black Oak

  • Race with the Devil (Capricorn Records, November 1977)
  • I'd Rather Be Sailing (Capricorn, June 1978)

Jim Dandy's Black Oak Arkansas

  • Ready as Hell (Hacienda Records, 1984)
  • The Black Attack is Back (Heavy Metal America Records, 1986)
  • The Wild Bunch (Deadline/Cleopatra Records, November 2, 1999)
  • Top Musicians Play ZZ Top (Sleeping Giant Records, 2010) -note: Jim Dandy's BOA do just one song..."La Grange" on this various artists "tribute" album.
  • Underdog Heroes (Cleopatra Records) May 24, 2019
  • The Devil's Jukebox (Cleopatra Records) 2023

Compilations

  • Hot and Nasty (The Best of Black Oak Arkansas) (Atlantic/WEA [UK], 1974) -note: single LP with 12 tracks
  • The Best of Black Oak Arkansas (Atco, April 1977)
  • Hot & Nasty: The Best of Black Oak Arkansas (Rhino Records, 1992)
  • 'Hot And Nasty' And Other Hits (Flashback/Rhino Records, 1997)
  • The Definitive Rock Collection (Atlantic/Rhino Records, October 17, 2006) 2-CD set

Charted singles

  • "Jim Dandy (To the Rescue)" (Atco, December 1973; from the High on the Hog album) US No.&nbsp;25; Can No. 12
  • "Strong Enough to Be Gentle" (MCA, January 1976; from the X-Rated album) US No.&nbsp;89

Books

  • An Analysis of the Southern Rock and Roll Band 'Black Oak Arkansas' by Cecil Kirk Hutson (1996, Publisher: The Mellen, Edwin Press)
  • Evil Thingies by Rickie Lee Reynolds of Black Oak Arkansas (2016, Publisher: Cowboy Buddha Publishing, LLC)

References

  • Official Black Oak Arkansas Website
  • Black Oak Arkansas Discography Images
  • Full list of musicians who played with Black Oak Arkansas
  • Black Oak Arkansas Live at the University of Reading on August 9, 1976
  • Atlantic Records Black Oak Arkansas Sign With Atlantic – News – Atlantic Records