The Outlaws To Be Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Founded in 1972, Florida's Outlaws released their self-titled debut in 1975.

The band took elements from other Southern rock bands - the tight harmonies of the Eagles, the free-form feel of the Allman Brothers Band and the hard-rocking punch of Lynyrd Skynyrd - and incorporated them into their own unique sound.

Longtime Eagles producer Bill Szymczyk, who also produced the "Hurry Sundown" album, made a nonmusical contribution by coining the nickname that's long been associated with the Outlaws - "Guitar Army."

"He came into the studio one day, listened to us doing some guitar work and said, 'You guys like sound like a guitar army,' and it stuck with us," Thomasson said.

After a string of successful albums in the late '70s and early '80s, frequent line-up changes and a changing musical climate halted the band's hot streak, though they periodically continued to tour and release albums. Founding member Henry Paul resurfaced as a member of contemporary country group Blackhawk, while Thomasson spent a decade as part of the reformed Skynyrd.

The Outlaws reconvened last year to mark the 30th anniversary of the release of their first album and decided to keep going. The current roster consists of Thomasson, guitarist Chris Anderson, bassist Randy Threet and original drummers Monte Yoho and David Dix.

"I put the band on vacation in 1995 after I got a call to come and play with Skynyrd," Thomasson said. "I knew the original line-up of that band, and it was an honor to have been a part of what they do, but I'm also glad to be back playing with the Outlaws. It took a while to build up a head of steam, but we did and we're not going away."

While the Outlaws were originally firmly entrenched in the rock world (they frequently toured with acts like the Eagles and Foghat), their Southern rock sound helped inspire "New Country" artists like Garth Brooks, Rascal Flatts and Brooks and Dunn. "Green Grass and High Times" was recently featured on Country Music Television as one of the Greatest Southern Rock Songs of all time.

The Outlaws recorded over 13 albums, three (3) going Gold. Hughie Thomasson was a founding member of the southern rock band and was inducted into the Forida Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as well as, the Fender Hall of Fame. Hughie died on 9 Sept 2007, at the age of fifty five (55). Hughie wrote, performed, and produced music for the last 38 years, as an Outlaw and as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd (1996 - 2005).