Black Oak Arkansas

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Black Oak, Arkansas, USA (1970 – present)

Black Oak Arkansas is an American band named after the band’s hometown of Black Oak, Arkansas, USA. The band reached the height of its fame in the 1970s with ten charting albums released in that decade. Their style is punctuated by multiple guitar players and the raspy voice and on-stage antics of vocalist Jim “Dandy” Mangrum.

The group, originally called “The Knowbody Else”, was formed in 1965 in Black Oak, Arkansas, by Jim “Dandy” Mangrum (vocals), Rickie Reynolds (guitar), Stanley Knight (guitar), Harvey Jett (guitar), Pat Daugherty (bass), and Wayne Evans (drums). Their first PA system was stolen from a local high school. Members of the group were subsequently charged in absentia with grand larceny and sentenced to 26 years at the Tucker Prison Farm (this sentence was later suspended). This led to their retreat to the hills of rural northeast Arkansas where they lived off the land and refined their musical style. 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 debut album (and only album with Stax), The Knowbody Else, was largely ignored by the populace. During this time the band became interested in and Eastern spiritualism which, combined with their Southern Baptist upbringing, contributed to their sound.

After several trips to Los Angeles, California, in 1970, the band was signed by Atco Records and rechristened “Black Oak Arkansas”. Their new debut album, Black Oak Arkansas, was released in 1971 while the band toured extensively, gaining a reputation as a live act.

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  • I_Love_Chocolat

    good music

    31 May 9:31am Reply
  • jazzthieve

    Spotify playlist: Rock University: 60 years of Rock Music

    24 May 6:55pm Reply
  • joecubbie

    Jim Dandy to the rescue!

    1 Feb 10:45pm Reply
  • holyrebels

    Jim Dandy to the rescue!

    16 Nov 2012 Reply
  • euouvo

    Go, Jim Dandy! Go, Jim Dandy! ♥

    14 Nov 2012 Reply
  • frijidblue

    my dad's favorite band when he was living. i hated em then. then he died and i got all his lp's of them (he had them all) and now i love them. if only i had shared his love with them when he was alive. rest easy father

    19 Feb 2012 Reply
  • lottadogs

    Uhhh yeah. Black Oak been around waaaay before Van Halen. Thanks to Phatbasta for keepin it real..!

    30 Jan 2012 Reply
  • PhatBasta

    Pjfan320....Lets drop some knowledge on you..You got that backwards...David Lee Roth copied Jim's style...Here's a quote for ya to read...."Jim Dandy is credited with inspiring Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth’s image and onstage persona as well."...Get your facts straight..Jim Dandy to the rescue....again!!

    18 Jan 2012 Reply
  • pjfan320

    Jim "dandy" mangrum copped David Lee Roth's Style!!! ......in both dress, and appearance....if you look closely, at J.M.you can see an uncanny resembelance to D.L.R!!!

    3 Jan 2012 Reply
  • tiagohardrock

    banda espetacular ! é uma pena que quase ninguém ouça ;/ [2]

    13 Dec 2011 Reply
  • athaiya

    They are great! I love them

    18 Sep 2011 Reply
  • CoyoteJerry

    La Grange!!! Fuck yea!

    17 Sep 2011 Reply
  • plagueship

    always wrong scrobbles from band black oak

    4 Aug 2011 Reply
  • rick-roll

    Rebel not a top song?????

    1 Aug 2011 Reply
  • rok2slayr

    interested in this band. can someone give me two albums to start with?

    10 Jul 2011 Reply
  • Color_Of_Sound

    Beautiful stranger........and awesome !!!

    30 Apr 2011 Reply
  • kirilitza

    южнее не бывает

    8 Apr 2011 Reply
  • CaseyDeAnn

    My hippie-at-heart English teacher told me she saw this band live and was horrified lol

    4 Apr 2011 Reply
  • OneDayAsRobot

    17 Mar 2011 Reply
  • Cryptic_Fiend

    Black Oak Arkansas is the fucking best. True Southern Rock. Very underrated, though.

    31 Dec 2010 Reply
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