The Stray Cats

A History of Rock and Roll on Long Island

The Stray Cats

Another band, The Stray Cats, caused a resurgence in rockabilly during the early '80s. Under the vision and image of Brian Setzer, The Stray Cats ran the charts with "Rock This Town" (EMI America 8132), "Stray Cat Strut" (EMI America 8122) and "She's Sexy + 17" (EMI America 8168). You still hear these tunes, although mostly as commercial beds.

As a young boy growing up in Massapequa, the music that emanated from the Setzer garage was hot and every family on the block could vouch for that. Brian developed quickly as a guitarist and with only a simple metronome-type rhythm machine--"a beat box", he found work. "Brian Setzer, The Rockabilly Rebel" entertained nightly in the neighborhood corner bars. Just a few miles west of Massapequa, Jim McDonnell felt a primitive urge to beat the drums. His buddy, Lee Drucker, frustrated by his inability to rock out on a clarinet, switched to bass--first electric, then acoustic upright. The thirteen-year-olds teamed up as a rhythm section for local garage bands. Among their musician friends was Gary Setzer, Brian's kid brother. As the story goes, one day Jim walked onto the stage, set up a small kit and tossed the beat-box out the window. The Stray Cats gained quick reputations in the tough bars along the shore. One show saw Lee's bass fly out the window into a canal. In 1985, when Setzer joined Robert Plant's Honeydrippers for a one-off on Saturday Night Live, they spent a week rehearsing in the Setzer home. Each night, to amazed crowds, they played live at Heckle And Jeckle's.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra has been the home of big band rock and jazz-tinged boogie for the last few years. They have been featured in soundtracks and tribute albums.

Click Here for The Stray Cat's discography Click Here for Brian Setzer's discography Click Here To return to the Index

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