| Smokin' Armadillos | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Bakersfield, California, United States |
| Genre: | Country |
| Label: | Gramac, MCG/Curb, Housekeeping |
| Past Members: |
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Smokin' Armadillos were an American country music group formed in Bakersfield, California in 1992. Its members were Rick Russell (lead vocals), Josh Graham (guitar, vocals), Scott Meeks (guitar, vocals), Jason Theiste (fiddle, mandolin), Aaron Casida (bass guitar, vocals), and Darrin Kirkindoll (drums).
Smokin' Armadillos was founded in 1992 by guitarist Josh Graham, who created a country rap song called "I'm a Cowboy" which he performed at various talent shows before recruiting the rest of the band members.[1] The band recorded a five-song EP called Out of the Burrow in 1995 and after selling more than 150,000 copies of this disc, they signed to Curb Records in 1995.[2] At the time of signing, the band's members ranged in age from 18 to 26.[3]
The group recorded one album for Curb in 1996, which included the chart singles "Let Your Heart Lead Your Mind" and "Thump Factor". A third single, "I Don't Want No Part of It", did not appear on an album.[4] Chuck Howard produced their debut album, and encouraged the band to record some of their own material, including "Let Your Heart Lead Your Mind", which Meeks wrote.[3] The album received mixed-to-positive reviews from Country Standard Time and Allmusic, both of whom praised the musicianship.[5] [6]
In 2005 after 13 years together, the Armadillos went on hiatus, playing their last show together on March 25 at Rabobank Theater in Bakersfield, CA. They reconvened in 2017, releasing "The Other California" in September of that year.[7]
Rick Russell, passed away peacefully at the age of 53, in 2023. He had been having heart issues and was scheduled to see a cardiologist.
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country[8] | US Heat[9] | ||
| Out of the Burrow (EP) |
| — | — |
| Smokin' Armadillos |
| 37 | 24 |
| Strike the Match |
| — | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country[10] | CAN Country | |||
| 1993 | "My Girlfriend Might" | — | — | Out of the Burrow |
| "I'm a Cowboy" | — | — | ||
| "Red Rock" | — | — | ||
| 1996 | "Let Your Heart Lead Your Mind" | 53 | — | Smokin' Armadillos |
| "Thump Factor" | 68 | — | ||
| "Miracle Man" | — | — | ||
| 1998 | "I Don't Want No Part of It" | 64 | 90 | Plan B |
| "Waking Up Behind the Wheel" | — | — | ||
| 2003 | "You Were a Mountain" | — | — | Strike the Match |
| 2017 | "The Other California" | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
| Year | Video | |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Red Rock" | |
| 1996 | "Let Your Heart Lead Your Mind" |