Blotto was a rock band from Albany, New York which mixed music and humor. They were formed in 1979 out of the remains of The Star Spangled Washboard Band, a post-hippie comedy jugband. Blotto walked a line between a New Wave pop combo and a soul/R&B bar band, but with comical songs. Their songs were played on the Dr. Demento Show and they appeared on television's Uncle Floyd Show. They toured frequently and were popular primarily in the northeastern United States, especially among the college student audience. The name Albany is an ancient and literary name for Scotland, north of the Firth of Forth (east) and Firth of Clyde (west). ... State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki (R) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... The term New Wave has been used to describe several movements in art. ... The soul according to many religious and philosophical traditions, is the ethereal substance — spirit (Hebrew:rooah or nefesh) — particular to a unique living being. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Dr. Demento Dr. Demento (born April 2, 1941) is the stage name of Barret (Barry) Hansen, who has made a successful career as a radio disc jockey specializing in novelty songs and pop music parodies. ...

After releasing two EP records on their own Blotto Records, they heard the siren song of the music video revolution early. They produced a video for their song "I Wanna Be A Lifeguard", working with video production students at a local Albany college. The video was played often during the early days of MTV due to its catchy tune and humorous appeal. This exposure lead to their album Combo Akimbo, which was released with assistance from Peter Pan Records, and a "Video 45" on VHS from Sony with three videos of their songs. Blotto worked with famed producer Bob Clearmountain on one of the songs on their album. . MTV (abbreviation for Music Television) is a cable television network which was originally devoted to music videos, especially popular rock music. ...

The group eventually broke up, with the members pursuing more profitable interests, but they still reunite occasionally for concerts in their home area of Albany. "Cheese Blotto" passed away in 2000. The group's material was issued posthumously on compact disc, including one CD of previously unissued material.

Members

The members of the classic line-up were:

• Broadway Blotto (guitar, vocals)
• Sergeant Blotto (vocals, percussion)
• Bowtie Blotto (guitar, vocals)
• Cheese Blotto (bass guitar)
• Lee Harvey Blotto (drums)

Other members

• Chevrolet Blotto (keyboards)
• Blanche Blotto (vocals)

Discography

• Hello, My Name is Blotto, What's Yours (EP, Blotto Records)(1980)
• Across and Down (EP, Blotto Records)(1981)
• I Wanna Be A Lifeguard (Single, Blotto Records)(1981)
• Combo Akimbo (LP, Blotto Records)(1983)
• Blotto (compilation) (LP, Attic Records of Canada)(1984)
• I Wanna Be A Lifeguard (PVC Records)(1988)
• Collected Works* (CD, One Way Records)(1992)
• Then More Than Ever (CD, One Way Records) (1999)(previously unreleased tracks)
• Metalhead (Sony Video 45, VHS)(1982)

The group also had a cover of Lou Christie's "Lightning Strikes" which appeared on a compilation LP called Hudson Rock. Lou Christie (born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco on February 19, 1943 in Glen Willard, Pennsylvania) is an American singer-songwriter best known for a string of pop hits in the 1960s. ...

External links

• Official site