The Maines Brothers Band follows a musical tradition begun in the 1950s by the original Maines Brothers, Raymond (Son), James and Wayne Maines. Younger brother, Wayne began playing guitar while attending Roosevelt School in Acuff, Texas. Wayne would sometimes take his guitar on the school bus and happened upon another student by the name of Buddy Holley. Buddy's brothers recall Buddy learning some of his first guitar chords from Wayne.
The original Maines Brothers played throughout the West Texas area, appearing at VFW Halls, community centers and rodeo dances. During the 1950s, alcoholic beverages were not legally available in Lubbock County. People would drive to Post, Texas (about 40 miles to the southeast) to buy their beer and dance. James Maines would sometimes bring along his sons, Lloyd, Steve, Kenny and Donnie to sing for the crowds. That was the beginning of "The Little Maines Boys".
After a portion of Lubbock County legalized the sale of liquor, a number of nightclubs sprang up outside the City of Lubbock. During the 1960s, "The Little Maines Boys" began playing a Sunday Matinee Dance at the Cotton Club, one of the premier dancehalls of West Texas. The "Little Maines Boys" eventually became "The Maines Brothers Band" and carried on the tradition started by their dad and uncles. After high school graduation, the brothers went separate ways for several years. Kenny joined a show band in Las Vegas in 1974. Lloyd began working at Don Caldwell Recording Studios and later teamed up with a Lubbock singer/songwriter by the name of Joe Ely. Kenny returned to Lubbock in 1976 and began the process of bringing the band together again. Kenny, Steve and Donnie added Randy Brownlow on piano and Jerry Brownlow on bass guitar and vocals. Lloyd returned to the group in 1979 and the MBB released the "Route 1, Acuff" album in 1980. By this time, Richard Bowden had joined the band on fiddle, mandolin and trumpet.
The band's recording of Terry Allen's "Amarillo Highway" was getting substantial regional airplay and became one of the songs that defined the MBB style of West Texas Music. After two additional independent albums, "Hub City Moan" and "Panhandle Dancer", the band attracted the attention of producer Jerry Kennedy at Mercury/PolyGram records in Nashville. The MBB signed a record contract with Mercury/PolyGram in 1983. At about the same time, Cary Banks replaced Randy Brownlow on piano. The band released two albums with Mercury, garnering a "Top 25 Billboard Hit" with "Everybody Needs Love on a Saturday Night".
During the "Mercury Years", the MBB toured across the country, appearing with Alabama, Ronnie Milsap, Reba, Barbara Mandrell, Dr. Hook, The Judds, Brooks & Dunn, Steve Wariner, Jerry Jeff Walker and other artists. The band parted with Mercury in 1986 and released two more independent albums, "Red, Hot & Blue" in 1987 and "Wind Storm" in 1990.
The MBB now gathers once every year in Lubbock for the Annual MBB Reunion Concert. The Maines Brothers Band members are Lloyd Maines (steel guitar, electric guitar), Steve Maines (guitar, vocals), Kenny Maines (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Donnie Maines (drums), Jerry Brownlow (bass guitar, vocals), Richard Bowden (fiddle, mandolin, trumpet), Cary Banks (keyboards). Sister La Tronda "Maines" Moyers (the best looking Maines Brother) joins in with beautiful harmony vocals.
And the family tradition continues.........................