The Kentucky Headhunters consists of Anthony Kenney (bass, vocals), Doug Phelps (vocals), Fred Young (drums, percussion), Greg Martin (guitars), Richard Ripani (piano, organ), Richard Young (rhythm guitar).
The Kentucky Headhunters are an influential country rock group whose early albums were embraced by both country and rock fans, and maintain a cult following among alt-country fans to this day. One early review described their sound as " Bill Monroe meets Cream."
They are essentially a southern rock group that adapted their sound to country music. Their music has crossed a number of genre boundaries, at various times ranging from country and bluegrass to blues to hard rock that borders on traditional metal.
In 1968, Edmonton, Kentucky teenager Fred Young, his younger brother Richard, and their cousins Anthony Kenney and Greg Martin began performing together as Itchy Brother. The band was named after Fred Young's favorite cartoon character, from King Leonardo and his Short Subjects. They were later joined at various times by other musicians, among them lead singer Mark Orr, bass guitarist Tim Speck and organist Don Rissen. The band achieved considerable regional success in the 1970s, including at least one single: "Shotgun Effie" was released in 1973 on the King Fargo label.
Itchy Brother signed with Led Zeppelin's Swan Song Records in 1980, shortly before Zeppelin drummer John Bonham's death. They did not complete an album before Swan Song went out of business.
Itchy Brother broke up in 1982. Richard Young started writing songs for Acuff-Rose, Fred Young joined Sylvia's band, Greg Martin joined Ronnie McDowell's band, and Anthony Kenney dropped out of music.
Greg Martin attempted to reunite Itchy Brother in 1985; the Young brothers joined him, but Kenney declined. Martin invited Leachville, Arkansas native Doug Phelps, also a member of McDowell's band, to replace Kenney, and Doug brought his brother Ricky Lee to sing lead vocals. The newly assembled group named themselves after this band and the home state of most of the members. They began performing together the following year, playing twice monthly on the 90-minute Chitlin' Show, a radio program on WLOC in Munfordville, KY.
