Artist:The Cash Box Kings
Song:Tried So Hard
Album:I-94 Blues
Though they write original songs, The Cash Box Kings are clearly a tribute to 50s Chicago blues. Joe Nosek was teaching at the University of Wisconsin when he started The Cash Box Kings in 2001. Nosek sings, plays harmonica and writes a lot of the songs. The band is named after the defunct music industry publication Cashbox. Nosek released four albums on his own label. But the turning point was when Oscar Wilson was brought in to split lead vocals with Nosek. The 2010 album I-94 Blues on Blue Bella was Wilson's first album as a full time member of the band. He sings lead on Tried So Hard. That was written by lead guitarist Billy Flynn. He plays bottleneck guitar in the video. Other band members are Barrelhouse Chuck Goering on piano, Chris "CB" Boeger on bass and Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith on drums. There are a couple of classic blues covers. But Nosek wrote most of the songs. Since then The Cash Box Kings recorded for Blind Pig and their last two albums are on Alligator. Their latest album Hail To The Kings! was released in 2019. Wilson does most of the singing so Nosek can concentrate on the harmonica. Wilson is also more involved in the songwriting. Flynn and Smith are still in the band. They are probably due for a new album. Here's The Cash Box Kings performing Tried So Hard 2010.
Love them. Local heroes to me. I have to support the home grown bands. Thanks Frank.
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