THUNDERGYPSY

THUNDERGYPSY was conceived during a chance encounter in 2013. One year later, the stars aligned and these 4 musicians with similar tastes in music and attitude toward performance formed THUNDERGYPSY.  And they have been captivating audiences ever since! 

THUNDERGYPSY plays Soul Stirrin', Blues Rockin' music - an eclectic mix that spans the decades. The spirit of the Gypsies is evident in their music as they take you on a musical road trip from Atlanta’s Southern Soul to the rockin’ Blues in Macon, Ga., from the classic sound of the Memphis Blues along the streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter and even up to Chicago and St. Louis for their rocking electric Blues. By taking many familiar songs and intensifying the arrangements, THUNDERGYPSY has been mesmerizing Atlanta audiences since its inception.  

Much of the THUNDERGYPSY  song list is derived from the time between the mid-60s and mid-70s. So much great music was created during those years and it remains a continual inspiration. THUNDERGYPSY'S mission is to continue the traditions that were created by the musicians of this era. Not by imitating any one band but by exploring and expanding on the great songs from those times. They hope to inspire memories for folks who lived in these times and spark the interest of those who have not yet discovered this great music.  

In August 2017, THUNDERGYPSY competed in and won the Atlanta Blues Challenge!  From there, they went on to participate in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN where they played on the legendary stage at B.B. King's Blues Club.  Between the Atlanta challenge and the IBC in Memphis, they moved into the recording studio and pumped out their self-titled debut album.  

"This CD proves that THUNDERGYPSY is a force to be reckoned with and that you need this in your collection. They can handle a variety of styles with ease and Atlanta can be proud to have them represent the city, but no matter what happens with the Challenge, this is a CD to savor." - Rhetta Akamatsu, Making a Scene.org

In 2019, their participation in the Ida Cox Music Festival in Toccoa, Ga., inspired them to find out more information about Ida Cox, the "uncrowned Queen of Blues" and a Toccoa native.  Their research about Ida Cox led them to a trove of female blues artists whose songs and stories were being forgotten, and thus, "Ladies of the Blues" was born.  This 90-120 minute show takes you through the songs and stories of many of the great female trailblazers - Bessie Smith, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and of course Ida Cox and moves through to the contemporary artists that carry on their legacies such as Susan Tedeschi, Janis Joplin, Shemekia Copeland, and Bonnie Raitt.  It's a great evening of music, history, and storytelling! 

THUNDERGYPSY is comprised of Heather Statham on vocals, Paul Allison on Keyboard/Organs, Richard Price on Guitar, and Ken Williams on Drums.  

Heather Statham is Singer and Frontwoman for the band. A Georgia native, her love of the performing arts was nurtured at an early age on stage in dance and musicals. Her training continued while in school at Brenau Women's College and later took her to New York City and the CAP21/NYU Program. After several years in regional theatre, she turned her attention to live music and the formation of THUNDERGYPSY.  

Paul Allison is a multi-instrumentalist. In addition to Keyboards and Organ, he handles the bass lines for THUNDERGYPSY. Paul has been a fixture in the live music scene in Atlanta for many years and has the respect of the music community.  

Richard Price plays Guitar, sings background, and occasionally a bit of saxophone, too. Richard grew up in Texas under the spell of the great players from there such as Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughn, Eric Johnson as well as the LA cats like Larry Carlton and Robben Ford. He graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Music Composition, after which he spent many years in the Home Entertainment business before resuming Guitar playing and teaching in the Atlanta area. 

Ken Williams plays drums, sings background vocals and in the studio even plays a little saxophone. Ken grew up playing in the church, in jazz groups, and in various Rock, R&B, and Funk projects. He brings all of those influences to THUNDERGYPSY, lighting a rhythmic fire under the band that is infectious.  

This quartet delivers a full sound guaranteed to delight your ears and keep you dancing and grooving all night long.  Folks often say they’ve never seen a band having so much fun playing together as THUNDERGYPSY does. If you haven't seen THUNDERGYPSY live, do yourself a favor and get to the next show!  

In November 2022, Paul Allison departed the band.  Heather, Ken, and Richard will be on hiatus while they spend time refocusing their sound and writing new tunes - so stay tuned!!

THUNDERGYPSY Unplugged was launched as an acoustic duo and will be booking  dates for 2023