Throwback Thursday: Chuck Mead sings Johnny Horton in BR5-49’s “‘Cherokee Boogie’ music video

Though hillbilly hitmakers BR5-49 were ostensibly based out of Nashville, the group’s frontman, Chuck Mead, was born and raised in Lawrence. The group came through the area time and time again, going all the way back to their self-titled debut full-length on Arista in 1996.

That recording featured this very excellent cover of Johnny Horton’s “Cherokee Boogie” as the lead-off single, and the video follows last week’s theme of “embarrassing video tropes of the ’90s.” In this case, you’ve got the band playing to an assortment of crowds, each increasingly weird. There are bikers, ska kids, something that looks like Hee-Haw… And it’s all so wonderful.

Chuck Mead and the Grassy Knoll Boys play the Folk Alliance International Conference Friday, February 20, at 7 p.m. in Century A, and as part of the Music Fair at 10 p.m. in Chouteau. More details on those shows can be found at the Folk Alliance website.

The band also plays the Bottleneck Saturday, February 21, with the Howlin’ Brothers. Details for that show can be found here.