Smokin' Armadillos

Smokin' Armadillos
Smokin' Armadillos
Origin	Bakersfield, California, United States
Genres	Country
Years active	1992–2023;
Labels	Gramac, MCG/Curb, Housekeeping
Past members	Aaron Casida; Josh Graham; Darrin Kirkindoll; Scott Meeks; Rick Russell; Jason Theiste;

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).

History

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]

Lead singer Rick Russell died on September 22, 2023 from heart complications.^[8] Josh Graham stated that due to the lead singer's death, the band had no plans to continue without him.^[9]

Discography

Albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	US Country^[10]	US Heat^[11]
Out of the Burrow (EP)	Release date: 1993 Label: Gramac	—	—
Smokin' Armadillos	Release date: March 12, 1996 Label: MCG/Curb Records	37	24
Strike the Match	Release date: August 19, 2003 Label: Housekeeping	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions		Album
Year	Single	US Country^[12]	CAN Country	Album
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
1998	"Waking Up Behind the Wheel"	—	—	Plan B
2003	"You Were a Mountain"	—	—	Strike the Match
2017	"The Other California"	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year	Video
1993	"Red Rock"
1996	"Let Your Heart Lead Your Mind"

References

^ Flippo, Chet (March 9, 1996). "Smokin' Armadillos Gather No Moss; More Companies Flock To Music Row" (PDF). Billboard. p. 37.
^ Leaver, Chuck. "Smokin' Armadillos biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
^ ^a ^b "New Artist Fact File" (PDF). Radio & Records: 47. January 26, 1996.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2012). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 312. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
^ Kuchar, Dan. "Smokin' Armadillos review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
^ Leaver, Jack. "Smokin' Armadillos review". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
^ Lay, Marissa. "Finding Fame: Lucky Ned Pepper". Bakersfield.com. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
^ Gutierrez, Jacequline (September 25, 2023). "Smokin' Armadillos lead singer dies at 53". KGET.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
^ Price, Robert (September 25, 2023). "'The six of us or not at all': Singer's death at 53 probably means the end for Smokin' Armadillos". KGET.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
^ "Top Country Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
^ "Country Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.

[1] Flippo, Chet (March 9, 1996). "Smokin' Armadillos Gather No Moss; More Companies Flock To Music Row" (PDF). Billboard. p. 37.

[2] Leaver, Chuck. "Smokin' Armadillos biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 February 2018.

[fact-3] "New Artist Fact File" (PDF). Radio & Records: 47. January 26, 1996.

[whitburn-4] Whitburn, Joel (2012). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 312. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.

[5] Kuchar, Dan. "Smokin' Armadillos review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved 26 April 2013.

[6] Leaver, Jack. "Smokin' Armadillos review". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 April 2013.

[7] Lay, Marissa. "Finding Fame: Lucky Ned Pepper". Bakersfield.com. Retrieved 25 August 2017.

[8] Gutierrez, Jacequline (September 25, 2023). "Smokin' Armadillos lead singer dies at 53". KGET.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

[9] Price, Robert (September 25, 2023). "'The six of us or not at all': Singer's death at 53 probably means the end for Smokin' Armadillos". KGET.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

[10] "Top Country Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.

[11] "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.

[12] "Country Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.

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