These are the liner notes for the first release from Pat Boyack and the Prowlers. This version of the band released a second CD before splitting up. Jimmy Morello has gone on to release his own solo CD for JSP Records and has helped produce several other CDs for the label. The original Prowlers rhythm section is now with Holland K. Smith. Boyack reformed the band and cut a third CD, Super Blue and Funky, for Bullseye. He is currently touring nationally assisted by new vocalist Spenser Thomas.
Prowlers Liner notes-Version 1.0, 5/13/94
Don O.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area is one tough place to be a blues musician. While Austin is usually hyped as the blues capital of Texas, it's a fact that many of the top Austin players originally came from DFW. It's harder to be a blues player in north Texas because this area does not have the supportive press or a Clifford Antone like Austin. Despite that lack of support, there are surprising number of first rate players that haven't moved to Austin. Anson Funderburgh, Joe Kubek, Bnois King, Mike Morgan, Jim Suhler, Hash Brown, and Tutu Jones are just the exposed tip of a very large blues iceberg that is on the rise. The competition is tough but it's friendly, not cutthroat. The best players get the paying gigs, the rest hang out at the dozens of blues jams that happen each week at places like The Bone, J & J Blues Bar, The Blue Cat, Schooners, The Greenville Avenue Bar and Grill, and Fatso's. You either get damn good or you keep your day job.
I first came across guitar player Pat Boyack at Hash Brown's Sunday jam session down at Schooners. He was new in town, having just relocated from his home state of Utah, and I was immediately impressed by his tone and originality. Even among the gaggle of blues guitarists that took the stage that evening he stood out as someone who played with authority, presence, and more than a little flash. I was disappointed when he relocated to Phoenix in March of 1993 to join the Rocket 88's. After several months in Arizona, playing more than he ever had in his life, he returned to Dallas in June ready to start his own band and join the battle for paying gigs. He came back at just the right time. By July he was playing gigs with four different working blues bands--at the same time! In late July a promising band broke up after the guitar player "found religion" and gave up the blues. That made available one of the rare commodities on the DFW blues scene, a first rate blues bass player, John Garza. John had his pick of any number of gigs but Pat offered him a chance to show off his vocal and song writing abilities. John was in. Then drummer Doug Swancy became available. A native of Weatherford, Texas, "Duggie" is a solid blues drummer who has played behind the likes of Larry Davis and Monte McClinton (Delbert's brother). He also has years of road experience working for Dallas legend Bugs Henderson, Asleep at the Wheel, and a one year stint with Anson Funderburgh during which he logged over 60,000 miles on the blues circuit. He also owns a tour bus and a warehouse full of bus parts. Doug was in and The Prowlers were born.
Right from the start this band did things different. Before playing hardly any gigs they went in the studio and cut a demo tape of originals and deep covers. Anson Funderburgh became interested in their studio work and helped with mixing and production of the tape. The tape was good enough to land a management contract at CAI Entertainment and a steady stream of gigs, but that elusive recording contract remained just out of reach, despite the encouragement and interest of several important blues labels.
In April 1994 Pat called Jimmy Morello and asked him to come out and cut a new demo as vocalist with the band. Originally from Pittsburgh, Jimmy started out as a drummer at age 11. In 1980, after three years of backing Louisiana Red, he moved west to Sacramento and started his own band, The Blue Flames. The Flames made quite a name for themselves with Jimmy as drummer and vocalist and it was with this band that he had the opportunity to back many famous West Coast artists including Pee Wee Crayton and Cleanhead Vinson. Later, Jimmy moved on to Phoenix where he joined the Rocket 88's and first met Pat. Both later quit the 88's, with Pat returning to Big D and Jimmy starting his own band in Phoenix, The Stingrays. Eight months after the birth of The Prowlers, Jimmy got an invitation to join the band as lead vocalist and the rest will be history. I say will be history, because at the time of writing these notes they've only played a handful of gigs as a group.
I sat in as they cut the new demo with Jimmy on vocals and was awed. They cut 15 original tunes in just 4 1/2 hours of studio time. Jimmy sounded like he had been with this group for years instead of just a few days. Things clicked in a way that was absolutely uncanny. Jimmy brought a catalog of over 200 original songs and a voice that Joel Foy once described as "the Mel Blanc of the blues." His originals fit perfectly with John and Pat's songs, the band was playing tighter than ever, and Pat's guitar work was as effortless as the grin spreading across my face. Three weeks later they had cut a deal with Bullseye Blues. A week after that they were in the studio in Memphis cutting their first album. Jimmy wrote three new songs in Memphis, one of which "She's a Devil" appears on this collection.
The music you hear on this album is just a small sampling of The Prowlers. To experience the full effect you have to see these guys live. I don't know what it is, but they drive the women crazy. Something about this band makes the ladies NEED to dance. Gentlemen, you have been warned.
"Breaking In" is the perfect title for this release as that's just what The Prowlers are doing. No alarm system, guard dog, lock, chain, or security guard can keep these Prowlers off the national blues scene. They're armed, dangerous, and on the loose and we can thank Bullseye Blues for any and all damage to an unsuspecting public.
Don O.
May 13, 1993