Western Kentucky University - Talisman Yearbook (Bowling Green, KY)

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greasy-looking bunch with slicked back hair and tattoos-not the kind of guys you would take home to Mom. But kids of all ages turned out to listen to the timeless music that the Fabulous Thunderbirds pounded out at the Sept. I4 concert sponsored by University Center Board in Garrett Ballroom. Girls sat on boyfriends' shoulders tor a better view while fathers carefully held drowsy children throughout the concert. Playing a sound that appealed to a variety of age groups, the band called it T-bird music and its audience called it great It's anything you want to make it, said the band's lead singer, Kim Wilson, in an interview before the show. About 1,000 students and local residents bopped and bounced to the driving 50s beat which showed the influence of old-time rhythm and blues. Wilson said he likes to listen to old music by black artists, all the way back to the doo-wop acappellaf' Some of today's popular musicians, try to be so original but they're not doing anything, Wilson said. I hear some guy screaming like a cat that's been hit by a brick, That's original, but it's terrible. T-bird music seemed to agree with Western's audience. Waving signs and fists in time with the music, the crowd demanded, and received, an encore after the band played the hit song Tuff Enufff' We knew if we showed the band we loved them, they'd give us a good show, said Mel Taylor, a Bowling Green fireman who led the sign waving, confetti-spraying brigade. It was really r0ckin',', said Eva jinks, a sopho- more from Fort Wayne, Ind. I loved it. Although the show at Western was the 25th in a row for the Thunderbirds, who were also touring with Bob Seger, they held nothing back. In a world of his own, lead guitarist Jimmie Vaughan ripped through complex guitar licks with- 2 2 Student Life out flinching, oblivious to the audience's screaming response. Smiling mischievously, bassist Preston Hubbard twirled the mammoth, white upright bass on its end during the upbeat songs. Always dancing, playing the harmonica, or belt- ing out lyrics in the foreground, Wilson rarely got a chance to rest. That's nothing new to him. Since the band's national success, 'Tve been working too hard to enjoy it, Wilson said. When he gets a chance, Wilson said, I go fish- ing, hang around, generally screw off. There's no set schedule. When they weren't on the road, the band mem- bers rarely saw each other because for the past five years they've spent about 300 days a year on the road, five or IO feet away from each other, Wilson said. They got along well, though. We're all kind of sick, you know, Wilson said. With songs on the charts and in the movies, the Thunderbirds have come a long way from playing Texas bars during the band's 12-year history. But, We've always been successful among our peers, he added. When the audience goes crazy thatis what we want. But the glamour's great too. Wilson said he might even like to get into acting sometime. 'Td love that, he said. 'Tm still just a juvenile delinquent. I was an old man when I was a kid. I'm just digressingf' If the success disappeared tomorrow, they wouldn't fall apart, drummer Fran Christina said. We've been there before. It doesn't make any differencef' he said. One thing you learn in this business, there are no guarantees. It's here today and gone tomorrow. I -Story by Leigh Ann Eagleston -Photos by Gary Clark The Fabulous Thunderbirds perform before an estimated crowd of 1,000 fans. The concert took place in the Garrett Ballroom. Modern girls have no problem listening to the Thunderbirds' old-time rhythm and blues. The concert was the 35th in a row for the band.

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.f Swimming instructor Mary Anna Lowe tries to persuade 4-year- old Emily Patterson to get into the pool. Each child was assigned his own teacher on a one-on-one basis. Helping with the students, Luis Santiago, a Terre Haute, Ind., freshman, teaches one of the children how to move his arms. Santiago was a swim team member. gmail ff 14. :,, ' , '-Al. - ' i' A,-36 L , - i. k,.tg,w- 5 , - ' , --1 fi, . -V . '. 'fr'- ' . . ,, . , ' J' . ,.i.4',.1 1'v Q, .gp f gym' 'iff-1' :..,fA lily, .- ,. f 1 Html: .Jf f3 . W f,--,ft w e ,ez in .1 - -- . v.-. 5 - as 1 . , . ...za f 4 1 ,fkiii A rlff? www! N .. ,, ,.f.j,1gx,.1e?' 'Wa ni-Y

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