Dan Hicks

With a distinct musical style described by some as "folk jazz," Dan Hicks became a cult musical icon beginning in the late '60s. Raised in California, Hicks began his musical endeavors playing snare drum in his high school marching band, and eventually began appearing regularly on the weekly San Francisco radio show "Time Out for Teens." After studying briefly at San Francisco State University, Hicks joined the folk band The Charlatans, and enjoyed a residency at The Red Dog Inn. By 1969, Hicks formed his own band, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, and released their first album, Original Recordings. By 1973, the band released their most successful album to date, Last Train to Hicksville, and Hicks appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. That kind of popularity was never Hicks' goal, however, and he dissolved the band soon thereafter. He would remain on musical hiatus until 1978, when he reemerged with It Happened One Bite. The album met with acclaim but Hicks was soon to duck out of public view again, this time for even longer. He wouldn't return to recording until 1994 when he released Shootin' Straight with his new band, The Acoustic Warriors. Eventually, he would reform the Hot Licks for 2000's Beatin' the Heat: Alive and Lickin', and later 2009's Tangled Tales. Hicks' last album would come the following year with the holiday themed Crazy for Christmas. Dan Hicks died on February 6, 2016. He was 74 years old.