The Mighty Manatees


The Mighty Manatees is an American band based in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Throughout a career spanning four decades, the band has performed in a wide range of styles including blues, reggae, country, folk, ska, funk, zydeco and rock 'n roll -- distilled into a genre described as Dreadneck, a term not easily defined. They have formerly been known by a variety of other stage names, including The Manatees, The Mighty Manatees Medicine Show, and Los Manatees.

History

Between 1985 and 1990 the group was named simply The Manatees, and its first show was on October 31, 1985. At the time, the band was a duo, consisting of Will Hodgson and Ray Adkins, which relied on drum machines and sequencers. During this time, they released two live cassettes and two videos, including the cult classic Manatees In Manhattan.
In 1990 bass player Roy Truax and drummer Myles Rothwell were added to the line-up. The following year, the studio album High Water was released.
In 1992 Truax left the band and was replaced by Rothwell's cousin Randy Wagner.
In 1993 Adkins left the band and Hodgson effectively took over. From then on, the group, renamed The Mighty Manatees, became a de facto musical co-operative which employed a steady stream of various musicians coming and going.
In January 2000, Karl Frick joined the band playing Hammond Organ and Wurlitzer electric piano.
On September 11, 2002 the band played alongside G.L. Brackett, an English professor and musician, in a tribute to those who died in the September 11 attacks.
In January 2007 Jim Cavanaugh, previously of Wanderlust, became the drummer for The Mighty Manatees.
In September 2011 Andrew Geltzer became the keyboard player and Karl Frick switched from Hammond/Wurlitzer to bass, replacing Randy Wagner.
In 2012 Jim Cavanaugh and Will Hodgson played in Belfast and Dublin, backing up Shana Morrison opening for father Van Morrison.
In 2014 Tim Hooper replaced Andrew Geltzer on keyboards.
In 2015 Jim Hines replaced Jim Cavanaugh.

Discography