The Boogie Kings began as a four-piece garage band in the city of Eunice, Louisiana, in 1955. Formed by Douglas

Ardoin of Eunice, the group, included Bert Miller, Harris Miller, and Skip Morris. The Boogie Kings' music is based on Rhythm and Blues music of the 50s and 60s and features the music of Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Bobby "Blue" Bland, James Brown, and Wilson Pickett, among others. The style is often referred to as "Blue-Eyed Soul.”

 

Following its humble beginnings, they recorded five

albums and grew to include as many as 14 players. The Boogie

Kings had several well-known vocalists through the years,

including original singer Bert Miller, G.G. Shinn, Clint West,

Duane Yates, and Jerry "Count Jackson" LaCroix. The band

also included local Port Arthur bass player Gary Dorsey.

They toured with the Righteous Brothers, Bobby Bland, Otis

Redding and B.B. King. Although they were courted by

almost every major label in Los Angeles, the band broke up

in 1969, playing only the occasional reunion over the years.

 

Two of the group's albums were produced by Huey Meaux,

who had trouble promoting the band in the North because of the word "boogie" in the band's name. The group appeared on two songs on the Stephen Stills/Neil young album Buffalo Springfield Again, and several members had successful careers outside the band. Drummer Bobby Ramirez played with White Trash and Three Dog Night. Singer and sax player Dale Gothia recorded his own songs under the name Dale Chantel and played with the Dominoes and Jerry "Count Jackson" Band. Sax player Jon Robert Smith also played with White Trash and on Toto's award-winning Toto IV album.

 

The Boogie Kings are an institution along the Gulf Coast. With the resurgence of soul music, the band experienced a renaissance in the early 1990s. In 1991, thirty-five years after its start, the band reformed and appeared at an anniversary show in Eunice. All in all, The Boogie Kings have released twelve studio albums, three compilations, and a double compilation album.