Are you 'Tuff Enuff'?

It's another packed weekend at McMinnville's historic Park Theater as Friday night's appearance by gospel legend Terry Blackwood and the Imperials will be followed by a Saturday night show by The Fabulous Thunderbirds April 11 at 7 p.m.

The Fabulous Thunderbirds, founded in 1974, are perhaps best remembered for their 1986 album "Tuff Enuff" which sold over a million copies and featured the title track and another hit, "Wrap It Up." The band, whose sound could best be described as Chicago blues, has undergone multiple lineup changes but one constant has remained throughout the group's history – lead singer Kim Wilson.

Wilson appeared on WBMC's "Town Talk with Raven and Rob" Friday morning to talk about the upcoming show and his commitment to the blues.

"I'm seeing a surge in the popularity of blues music right now, which is great for me because that's what I love," Wilson said. "In my opinion, it's the best music ever recorded. When we do it, we have our own take on traditional music, and I just love doing it."

As any band changes and evolves, there exists a risk of losing the sound that made the band what it is, but the secret to The Fabulous Thunderbirds has been Wilson's careful stewardship of what makes the Thunderbirds the Thunderbirds.

"You just have to get professional musicians who can really play," Wilson said. "People who are on the same page as you are. A lot of them are younger than me. Some of them even had their moms bring them to the shows. That was their first exposure to us. They are hand-picked guys that I've known for quite a while or people I've taken an interest in over the years. When the time comes and I need someone to fill in or take on a full-time role, they are right there for me."

The love of music, and blues music in particular, is what has kept Wilson going for over 50 years, even in the face of a taxing tour schedule which sees the 75-year-old singer regularly criss-crossing the country performing up to 300 dates a year with The Fabulous Thunderbirds or his other band, Kim Wilson's Blues All-Stars.

"This kind of music is a lifetime," Wilson said. "You're always learning, and it's always exciting. Everything I do is improvised, even the set list. That's what keeps it exciting for me. We've had hit records, and of course we'll be playing those, but if I had to play the same things every night, I don't think I'd be playing in this band anymore. It's very important to me to keep it fresh."

When asked to choose his favorite song, Wilson sounded like a diplomatic parent being asked to choose their favorite child.

"No," Wilson replied simply when asked if he had a favorite. "I love them all. Sure, you can say 'Tuff Enuff' is a great song because it made me a lot of money. 'Wrap It Up' is another of those. Those two have to be in there, but after that, everything else is fair game. It's fun to mix it up."

The Fabulous Thunderbirds' latest album, "Struck Down," released in 2024, featured an all-star cast of contributors including Bonnie Raitt, Billy Gibbons, Taj Mahal, Mick Fleetwood and Keb' Mo'. What would seem to most people to be a chance to rub elbows with some of the biggest names in music is, to Wilson, just an opportunity to play with his buddies.

"The thing about it is they're my friends," Wilson said. "We're all kind of each other's fans. It's very easy to work with people when you love what they do. Taj Mahal was a huge inspiration for me when I was a kid. And Bonnie is a friend and just an incredible talent."

As for what attendees at the Park Theater show can expect, Wilson encourages the crowd to be ready to have fun and to catch the blues bug.

"I would call it contagious," Wilson said. "You're going to be watching and listening to a bunch of guys who really love what they do. Even though some of them are quite a bit younger than me, they are still veteran musicians and experts at what they do. When people see the show, they always leave the room saying, 'That was unbelievable,' and we're happy to bring it to them."

Park Theater Manager Joe Harvey is proud to be able to bring another accomplished act with a rich history to the local stage and is looking forward to a great night of music.

"On this tour, The Fabulous Thunderbirds will be playing their hits like 'Tuff Enuff' and 'Wrap It Up' while also celebrating Chicago blues greats like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker," Harvey said. "This will be a great show for anyone who enjoys the blues and classic rock."

Tickets start at $35 plus tax and are available at the Park Theater website or at the door before the show. Doors open at approximately 6 p.m. for the concert which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.