finetune artist: Dr. Hook

Sporting denims and buckskin, Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show epitomized much of the countrified and "laid-back" style that was in vogue during the early 70s, but though their material was sung in a Dixie drawl and three members were genuine southerners, they began in 1968 as a New Jersey bar band with one-eyed Dr. Hook (b. Ray Sawyer, 1 February 1937, Chickasaw, Alabama, USA; vocals), Denis Locorriere (b. 13 June 1949, New Jersey, USA; guitar/vocals), George Cummings (b. Meridian, Mississippi, USA; lead/slide guitar), Billy Francis (b. William Francis, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, USA; keyboards) and Jay David (b. Bayonne, New Jersey, USA; drums). One evening they impressed a talent scout looking for an outfit to record Playboy cartoonist Shel Silverstein's film score to Who's Harry Kellerman And Why Is He Saying These Terrible Things About Me? (1970), and later backed Silverstein's singing on record. As a result, the band was signed to CBS Records. Almost immediate international success (US number 5/UK number 2) followed with "Sylvia's Mother" from their debut album. With the line-up augmented by Rik Elswit (guitar) and Jance Garfat (bass), the follow-up, Sloppy Seconds, was also penned entirely by Silverstein, and was attended by a US Top 10 hit that cited portrayal on "The Cover Of 'The Rolling Stone'" (which was dogged by a BBC ban in the UK) as the zenith of the band's ambition - which they later achieved in March 1973.

Listen to Dr. Hook at Finetune.

(2007) Greatest Hits
(2007) Making Love And Music - The 1976 - 79 Recordings
(2007) Bankrupt
(2007) Pleasure & Pain
(1987) Greatest Hits (And More)
(1987) Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show Revisited

Sharing The Night Together
When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman
Sexy Eyes
The Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Sylvia's Mother