aka: Crayhawks, Double Trouble
Active Years: 1974-1977
Genre: Blues
Base Location: Eugene, Oregon
“When Steve Mosher left Three Fingered Jack, he was replaced by a bassist named Harold. The group was re-named Harold and the Nighthawks. When Harold was replaced by Richard Cousins and Robert Cray became a member, the group became The Nighthawks. When Robert Cray became dominant (with other personnel changes) it became the Crayhawks. With further alterations, it became the Robert Cray Band (Cray, Peter Boe, Cousins and Dave Olson), and left Eugene as such.” -Steve Moser
Harold and the Nighthawks
- Jim Cochran – Guitar (also played in The Following Year)
- Harold – Bass
- Dave “Thor” Olson – Drums (also played in Robert Cray Band)
- Curt Salgado – Harp, Vocals (also played in Robert Cray Band)
- Frank Spiecker – Guitar (also played in The Palace Meat Market)
- Dave “D.K.” Stewart – Piano, Vocals (also played in Robert Cray Band)
The Nighthawks
- Curtis Salgado – Harp, Vocals (also played in Robert Cray Band)
- Robert Cray – Vocal, Lead guitar
- Jim Cochran – Guitar (also played in The Following Year)
- Richard Cousins – Bass
- Dave “Thor” Olson – Drums (also played in Robert Cray Band)
- Frank Spiecker – Guitar (also played in The Palace Meat Market)
- Dave “D.K.” Stewart – Piano, Vocals (also played in Robert Cray Band)
Crayhawks (1974-1977)
- Richard Cousins – Bass (also played in Foghorn Leghorn from Tacoma)
- Robert Cray – Guitar, Vocals
- Dave “Thor” Olson – Drums
- Curt Salgado – Harp, Vocals
- Dave “D.K.” Stewart – Piano, Vocals
Robert Cray Band
- Robert Cray – Guitar, Vocals
- Dave “Thor” Olson – Drums
- Curt Salgado – Harp, Vocals
- Dave “D.K.” Stewart – Keyboards Vocals
- Peter Boe – Keyboards
- Richard Cousins – Bass
Their run was about ’74 to ’77. They were a s$#* hot outfit of equal parts of finesse and fiery energy. On a good night nobody could touch them. Besides playing twin bills as Double Trouble, they had gigs as the Crayhawks with Cray, Richard Cousins, DK Stewart, Curt Salgado and Dave Olson on drums.
Salgado befriended John Belushi while Curt was still in the Nighthawks (and Belushi was in Eugene filming “Animal House”) and turned him onto blues and R&B. This was the inspiration for the Blues Brothers which had its start as a skit on SNL.
Besides Salgado, both Stewart and Dave Olson would go on to play in later line-ups of the Robert Cray Band. Stewart would also play in the Paul DeLay Band for a spell before launching a successful regional career.
-Bruce Partridge, April 2007
Source: PNW Bands