Hank Flamingo
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Tennessee , United States |
| Products | Country music |
Hank Flamingo was a country music group from the United States, established in the late 1980s. The lineup included Trent Summar as lead vocalist, Philip Wallace on guitar, Eddie Grigg handling guitar and vocals, Ben Northern playing bass guitar and providing vocals, Stuart E. Stuart on fiddle and vocals, and Roy Watts on drums. The band produced a single studio album under a major label in 1994 before parting ways. By the year 2000, Trent Summar had launched a new project called Trent Summar & The New Row Mob, which featured former member Philip Wallace on guitar.
Biography
Originating in Tennessee in 1989, Hank Flamingo was formed after Trent Summar and Eddie Grigg began their musical partnership at a farmhouse located in Lascassas. The band's name was inspired by a plastic flamingo that Summar received as a gift; this ornament was displayed next to an image of country music icon Hank Williams.
By 1993, the group secured a recording contract with Giant Records Nashville and released their eponymous debut album the following year. To support this release, Hank Flamingo made an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The album included a rendition of George Jones' classic "White Lightning" as well as compositions by songwriters John Hiatt and Al Anderson. The primary single from the album was titled "Baby It's You."
In a Billboard article, Melinda Newman characterized the band’s sound as a fusion of country and alternative rock elements but remarked that much of their repertoire was too unconventional for mainstream country radio formats; tracks such as "Redneck Martians Stole My Baby" gained attention mainly on college and alternative radio stations. Another review from Billboard observed that while the album appealed to fans of new country music, it did not deliver unexpected elements. Critics like Susan Beyer from The Ottawa Citizen applauded the group’s spirited performances and sense of humor but noted that their slower songs lacked impact. Similarly, Mario Tarradell of The Miami Herald emphasized their distinctive style and favorably compared them to Confederate Railroad.
Following the release of their sole album, Hank Flamingo dissolved. Subsequently, Trent Summar went on to establish Trent Summar & The New Row Mob, which included former guitarist Philip Wallace among its members.
Albums
| Album Title | Release Information |
|---|---|
| Hank Flamingo |
|
Singles
| Year | Track |
|---|---|
| 1993 | "Baby It's You" |
Music videos
| Year | Video Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Baby It's You" | John Lloyd Miller |