Big Sandy & his fly rite boys

About

Also known as: Big Sandy & The Fly-Rite Boys

Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys have spent decades proving that rockabilly doesn't have to stay in one lane. The California band mixes in Western swing, bluegrass, Cajun, country, mariachi and folk rock, and somehow it all sounds like the same band. Robert Williams, better known as Big Sandy, started the group as a trio in 1988 after playing in neo rockabilly outfits around southern California, then expanded the line up and put out the debut Jumping from 6 to 6 in 1994. The records tell the story. Swingin' West leaned harder into Western swing, Feelin' Kinda Lucky went more eclectic, and the band even made an instrumental album and a Big Sandy solo set of R&B and doo wop covers before regrouping for the Radio Favorites EP. Later albums came out on Yep Roc and Razor & Tie, including What A Dream It's Been in 2013. They're in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, and in 2024 Williams voiced Romeo McGrowl in the revamped Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Walt Disney World.