Artist description Two original members of The Knights (Dick Stewart - '66 Jazzmaster and Gary Snow - late issue Jazz Bass)recently "reuknighted" with new drummer Steve Hudgins, who is considered one of the best in the Southwest. Currently, The Knights are performing their Southwest-style instrumental guitar surf rock tunes actively throughout New Mexico and are receiving excellent reviews for their tight, melodic, well-structured efforts. The band spends a lot of time in the studio.

Music Style Presently, guitar rock instrumentals of the early '60s traditional style with a Southwest flavor of surf dominate The Knights' playlists; however, mid-'60s and '80s frat and classic rock with vocals are also included in the band's genre.

Musical Influences Chuck Berry, The Ventures, The Fireballs, The Kingsmen

Similar Artists The Ventures, The Fireballs, Chuck Berry, The Kingsmen

Artist History King Richard and the Knights had their beginnings in 1961 in Albuquerque, New Mexico during a time when instrumental rock ruled the nation with The Ventures and The Fireballs leading the way. Thus, the band (or combo as they were called back then) became a Ventures/Fireball clone playing 40 to 50 instrumental guitar songs per gig with no vocals other than a Chuck Berry tune here and there to break the monotony. By 1964, the band finally developed an identity and released "Precision" on a little label called Red Feather Records. This guitar instrumental with a classical piano accompaniment became a regional hit (chiefly due to the unique combination of these two musical styles) and set the record for the most time at number one for a local release on the then ruling Albuquerque, N.M. AM rock station, KQEO. But when the Beatles invaded the U.S. in Feb 1964, it was a bad omen for The Knights. They just couldn't give up their beloved guitar rock instro efforts and after a few notable vocals on the Delta Label, "threw in the towel" in 1967. King Richard (Dick Stewart), however, jumped on the psychedelic rock band wagon, not as a guitarist, but as a promoter, fanzine publisher ("The Lance"), and a record label owner (Lance Records). Although Stewart had a successful two-year run with those companies that included a number of pyschedelic and R&B 45-rpm releases by Albuquerque artists who became well known in the Southwest during the mid-'60s, he, nevertheless, turned his back temporarily on rock'n'roll and directed his attentions to another taste in music: Mexican/American. Thus, Dick replaced Lance Records with another label (Casanova Records) ultimately releasing numerous vinyl albums and singles from 1968 to 1972. Many were hits in the Hispanic market around the Country including some guitar instrumental efforts by Stewart himself who was also a Casanova artist. After two decades of performing with his two sons (Jason and Richard) in groups Dick named, Knee Deep, The Mountain Riff-Raff, and The Jyck Monkey Band (pronounced "jick"), the boys burned out on their old man's genre of music and moved to Austin, Texas in 1994 to further their own musical careers as well as develop their own identity in music. (Go to: MP3.com/jasonstewart) Dick Stewart likewise, being relieved of his sons' musical influences, shortly thereafter contacted one of the original bass players of the '60s Knights (Gary Snow) and asked him if he would be into taking a trip back to their '60s instro roots. He jumped at the chance and beginning in late 1997, they both dedicated a year of intense, one-on-one practices relearning early '60s Ventures' and Fireballs' covers. From 1998 to the present, Dick Stewart has written more than twenty instrumentals as well as create a number of guitar instrumental arrangements to some choice melodious popular songs of the early '60s that were originally released as vocals. At the close of 1998, Gary and Dick scored big with a very talented Albuquerque drummer (Steve Hudgins) with a good attitude and who owns a garage sound studio. Although he was only 2-years-old when the Knights originally formed, he picked up on the early '60s guitar instrumental style with ease and great interest. So as a follow up to Collectables Records' 1996 CD release ("Precision") which includes most of King Richard and The Knights' '60s recordings, the band is in the studio once again this time for Lance Records which was recently brought back from the dead. And now since there's only three of them and Dick Stewart is no longer on an ego trip, they all decided to drop the King Richard bit in the title. Dick Stewart's wife Judi of 36 years affectionately said something interesting to him not too long ago . . . "Old musicians never die, they just go on and on and on . . . That's certainly true in his case, however, she admits that he is inspired more now than anytime during his nearly 40-year music career.

Group Members Dick Stewart (Guitar)Gary Snow (Bass)Steve Hudgins (Drums)

Instruments 1966 Fender Jazzmaster, Fender Jazz Bass, Ludwig Drums

Albums - Surfin' the Web - Precision - I Don't Need You - Surfin' the Southwest (Santa Fe Style) -

Press Reviews October 1998 video news release on the reformation of The Knights and their humble legacy by KOAT-TV in Albuquerque as well as more detailed historical accounts of the group that were published in the Albuquerque Journal, the East Mountain Telegraph (Tijeras, New Mexico) and The Observer (Rio Rancho, New Mexico) from 1997 through 1999. . . . Nationally known fanzines, the "Ugly Things" and the "Goldmine" will have write-ups on The Knights and "The Lance" '60s newsletters in their 1999 early summer issues.

Location Sandia Park, NM - USA

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