Gairrett Brothers band

The Gairrett Brothers Band of Billings, Montana began as a country-rock band in 1968 playing at the Horseshoe Club in Billings, MT. John Wade, Jim Bob and Darrell were like the Gatlin brothers of Texas in that they could sing well together and harmonize. They also learned to play guitar, bass guitar and steel guitar well so with an outside drummer Shorty Spang, they could play gigs around the Billings area.

By the late seventies the band had an opportunity to play a trio of Caravan Clubs in New Mexico and Amarillo, Texas. By 1981 (or possibly before) they were popular enough to began making records. So, at the Stull Studio in north Amarillo they recorded a number of songs that John had a hand in writing and also a song by west Texan Robert Robin Brown titled "Sleepless Night with You". This song and Gypsy Rain were released as a Single and also on the resulting album "Lovers and Warriors" by the Gairrett Brothers Band.

The band continued as a group until John and Darrell decided to move back home to their families. Jim Bob had become an excellent 'steel guitarist' by this time and traveled with Doug Kershaw after this and for a long while. Then, in 1996 he became part of Kenny Chesney's band and also recorded with Chesney. In 2002 the Gairrett brothers had a reunion performance at the Montana State Fair. At the time Jim Bob was still playing with Chesney, and Charley Gairrett had joined the performance.

John, possibly the oldest brother who was born in 1956 died in Feb. 2009 in Utah. Then in 2012 there was an annual Chords for Kiddos Jam held in the Billing's area to honor John Wade Gairrett, the first band member to die. One of the other brothers Darrell had been badly injured in a car or van wreck in c.1985 and it is said that he no longer wanted to travel and play. So, his accident may have led to the combos disbanding.

Discography

• Lovers & Warriors LP (Black Gold label, Amarillo, TX /record #720-81): songs include: Lovers & Warriors / Never Thought You'd Go / Lady (I [...] Near Drove You Crazy) / Whispered Words & Lonely Places / On The Run Again / Waltz Dance Barn Dance / Bluebird / More Than Anything / Gypsy Rain / Sleepless Night With You / Raining On The Ocean [1981]
• The Garrett Brothers Band LP The songs include: Last Night (The Sun Didn't Shine)/ Hung Over On Love / I'm Going For What You've Got / I Have A Lady, Doctor / Old Tennessee / Happy Love Song / That's A Good Woman / Margaritaville / Second Time / Leave Us Alone / This album was recorded at Pantego Studio in Arlington, TX, c.1977, Producer: Jerry Abbott /