Brownsville Station

Brownsville Station
Brownsville Station, Charlotte, N.C., USA, 1972
Background information
Origin	Ann Arbor, Michigan, US
Genres	Rock, Hard rock
Years active	1969–1979
Labels	Warner Bros. Records, Palladium, Big Tree, Wounded Bird, Private Stock, Epic, Rhino, Atlantic
Former members
Cub Koda Mike Lutz T.J. Cronley Tony Driggins Henry "H-Bomb" Weck Bruce Nazarian

Brownsville Station was a band from Michigan that was popular in the 1970s. Original members included Cub Koda (guitarist/vocalist), Mike Lutz (guitarist/vocalist), T.J. Cronley (drummer), and Tony Driggins (bassist/vocals).

History

Early History and Yeah!

Brownville Station was formed in Ann Arbor in 1969. Brownsville Station's early albums included song covers from bands which had inspired them.^[1] In 1970, they released their debut studio album No BS on a Warners Bros. label. Their biggest hit, "Smokin' In the Boys Room", from their 1973 album Yeah!, reached #3 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #27 in the UK Singles Chart. The track sold over two million copies and was awarded a gold disc status by the RIAA on 15 January 1974.^[2] Smokin' In the Boy's Room" was covered by Mötley Crüe in 1985.

Late History

In 1977, Brownsville Station recorded the novelty song "Martian Boogie", which is played on Dr. Demento's radio show on occasion. Another song, "(Lady) Put the Light on Me" also received modest airplay in the Detroit area.

After T.J. Cronley left, he was replaced by Van Wert, Ohio, native Henry "H-Bomb" Weck, and in 1975 multi-instrumentalist and Detroit session musician Bruce Nazarian joined the band (it was Nazarian who sang lead on "(Lady) Put the Light on Me.)" Their second highest, Billboard charting single was "Kings of the Party" which topped out at #31 in 1974. Best known as a live act fired up by Koda's onstage antics, the band's name was chosen because it was so long that it took up most of the marquees that rock venues used in that era, thereby hogging the limelight from whoever Brownsville happened to be playing with.^{[citation needed]}

Brownsville Station disbanded in 1979 and their final studio album, Air Special, was released by Epic in 1980. Koda died of kidney disease on 1 July 2000 at the age of 51. Lutz still resides in Ann Arbor and works part time at a local music store called Oz's Music, teaching guitar and bass lessons. Nazarian is the owner of Digital Media Consulting Group in Nevada, and runs a popular digital media website "TheDigitalGuy.com" ^[3]

Trivia

Brownsville Station is the favorite band of Lucky, a fictional character on Fox's King of the Hill animated series.

Influences

Brownsville Station's early influences included Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and other 1950's rock & Roll icons. Cub Koda's onstage antics would influence many rockers including Peter Wolf and Alice Cooper.^[1]

Band Members

Former Members

• Cub Koda (1969 - 1979) - guitarist/vocalist
• Mike Lutz (1969 - 1979) - guitarist/vocalist/Bassist
• T.J. Cronley (1969 - 1971, 1977) - drummer
• Tony Driggins (1969 - 1972, 1977) - bassist/vocalist
• Henry "H-Bomb" Weck (1972 - 1979) - drummer/vocalist
• Bruce Nazarian (1975 - 1979) - guitarist/vocalist

Discography

Albums

• 1970: No BS
• 1971: Brownsville Station
• 1972: A Night On the Town
• 1973: Yeah!
• 1974: School Punks
• 1975: Motor City Connection
• 1977: Brownsville Station (a.k.a. 'The Red Album')
• 1980: Air Special

Compilations

• 1993: Smokin' In the Boys Room: The Best of Brownsville Station
• 2003: Smokin' In the Boys Room and Other Hits
• 2005: Smokin' In the Boys Room
• 2006: Rhino Hi-Five: Brownsville Station

References

External links

• Brownsville Station at Allmusic