From the soulful hits of Otis Redding to such classics as Summertime, the music of Boys’ Night Out has been putting East Tennessee audiences on their feet for more than thirty years.
Boys’ Night Out was organized in 1983 with the goal of recreating the authentic performances of the rhythm and blues (R&B) music that had been extremely popular with teenagers in the South during the late 1960s. Boys’ Night Out's first public performance was at the Oak Ridge Azalea Festival on May 5, 1984, and they have played a busy schedule ever since.
The 13-member group brings a new richness to the classics of the mid-1960s with their original arrangements of the hits of such superstars as James Brown, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Blues Brothers, Sam & Dave, legendary roadhouse rocker Delbert McClinton, and the late great Otis Redding, to name a few. The band features three lead vocalists, and the group’s horn section includes three trumpets, three saxophones, and a trombone.
During Knoxville's 1989 Dogwood Arts Festival Patron's Party, Boys’ Night Out was invited to perform with the legendary Platters. When Knoxville held its first Festival on the River, Boys’ Night Out was chosen to perform with California greats Jan & Dean. When a new outdoor amphitheater was constructed alongside the Knoxville Civic Coliseum, christening the new facility were Eddie Rabbitt, the Judds, and Boys’ Night Out. They've also performed with R&B stars Archie Bell and Percy Sledge at the Hooray for Harriman festivals, and with Barbara Lewis. They have opened shows for Nell Carter, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Impressions, Marcia Ball, B.J. Thomas, The Chairmen of the Board, The Tams, and Lee Greenwood.
Boys’ Night Out consists of an eclectic group of professionals by day. Among the dozen or so members are business owners, engineers, physicists, lawyers, college professors, artists, and consultants. Several members played together in local high school bands during the great music decade of the 1960s. Two members of Boys’ Night Out were playing with Knoxville-born Beach Music icon Clifford Curry when his beach music standard She Shot a Hole in My Soul was released in 1967.
To maintain a high level of energy and excitement during their performances, and to cut down on time away from professional pursuits and their families, the group limits appearances to no more than twice a month. Bookings are often made months in advance.
The band’s first CD, Beach Music in my Soul, features eighteen songs, including two original tunes – the album's upbeat title song, and a slow ballad entitled Like Me. In 2004, the Travel Channel chose the band's performance of Mustang Sally from their CD to use as theme music for an episode of the channel's popular Road Trip series. In 2010, the band released a second CD, entitled My Tennessee, a two-song album that also features Clifford Curry. In 2016, the band was asked to perform on screen with Burt Reynolds for his new feature film The Last Movie Star.
In 2017, following the passing of original lead vocalist and founding member C. Vaughn Leslie, Bill Capshaw and Kathy Hill joined the band as new lead vocalists. Guitarist David Freeman also sings lead vocals.
Boys’ Night Out have established a loyal following among audiences looking for the very best in Soul, Rhythm & Blues, and Carolina Beach Music.
