Cuby + Blizzards
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Founder | Harry Muskee, Eelco Gelling |
| Headquarters | Grolloo , Netherlands |
| Products | Blues rock music, albums, singles |
Cuby + Blizzards, alternatively known as Cuby & the Blizzards, was a Dutch blues rock ensemble established in 1964 by singer Harry Muskee and guitarist Eelco Gelling. Their innovative blend of blues and rock set them apart from contemporaneous Dutch groups during the 1960s. Early releases often featured the name styled as 'Cuby + Blizzards'.
Career
Hailing from the village of Grolloo in Drenthe, the original members were Harry Muskee, Eelco Gelling, Nico Schröder, and Hans Kinds.[1] Their debut single, "Stumble and Fall" (1965), showcased a pronounced blues influence. The band scored their first Dutch top 40 success with "Back Home" in 1966. In 1967, they supported Van Morrison following his time with Them, collaborated on Praise the Blues with American bluesman Eddie Boyd, and attained a Dutch top 10 hit with "Window of My Eyes".[1]
Throughout their career, they worked alongside British blues legends including John Mayall and Alexis Korner, with Korner appearing on their 1968 release Live in Düsseldorf. Founders Muskee and Gelling remained the core members until 1976 amid several personnel changes. Pianist Herman Brood was part of the lineup between 1967 and 1969 and returned in 1976 prior to Gelling’s departure to join Golden Earring. Subsequently, Muskee formed the Harry Muskee Band, which produced one album before he briefly stepped away from performing. In 1980, he launched the Muskee Gang featuring former C+B members Herman Deinum and Hans la Faille, along with saxophonist Rudy van Dijk, guitarist Paul Smeenk, and trumpeter Jeff Reynolds.
Notable songs include "Another Day, Another Road", "Distant Smile", "Window of My Eyes", and "Appleknockers Flophouse".[1]
The group reunited in 1996 without Gelling, who was succeeded by Erwin Java on guitar. They toured theaters in 2004 paying tribute to John Lee Hooker. The band disbanded following Muskee’s passing from cancer on 26 September 2011.
Their first album Desolation received an Edison award, while "Window of My Eyes" was featured in the end credits of the 2010 film The American.
Line-ups
- Initial formation
- Harry "Cuby" Muskee, lead vocals
- Eelco Gelling, guitar
- Hans Kinds, guitar (later replaced by Herman Brood, piano)
- Willy Middel, bass (later succeeded by Jaap van Eik)
- Hans Waterman, drums (later replaced by Dick Beekman)
- Late 1960s roster
- Harry Muskee, vocals
- Eelco Gelling, guitar
- Herman Deinum, bass guitar
- Hans la Faille, drums
- Helmig van der Vegt, piano
- Line-up in 1983
- Harry Muskee, vocals
- Rudy Van Dijk, tenor saxophone
- Paul Smeenk, guitar
- Herman Deinum, bass
- Hans Lafaille, drums
- Jeff Reynolds, trumpet
- Reunion ensemble (1996–2011)
- Harry Muskee, vocals
- Erwin Java, guitar
- Herman Deinum, bass guitar
- Hans la Faille, drums
- Helmig van der Vegt, piano
Albums
- Desolation (1966)
- Praise The Blues (with Eddie Boyd) (1967)
- Groeten Uit Grollo (1967)
- Trippin' Thru' A Midnight Blues (1968)
- Appleknockers Flophouse (1969)
- Too Blind To See (1970)
- Simple Man (1971)
- Sometimes (1972)
- Red White & Blue (1975)
- Kid Blue (1976)
- Forgotten Tapes (1979)
- Dancing Bear (1998)
- Hotel Grolloo (2000)
- Boom Boom Bang: In the Spirit of John Lee Hooker (2003)
- Cats Lost (2009)
Live albums
- Live '68 (released in 1968)
- Afscheidsconcert (issued in 1974)
- Old Times, Good Times (from 1977)
- Live' Featuring Herman Brood Live (published in 1979)
- Travelling with the Blues (came out in 1997)
- Live in het Oude Luxor (recorded in 2005)
- Grollo Blues (launched in 2021)