Hey Gringo is the creation of multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter Daryl Roberts who has previously performed in original bands in the 1970's such as Photo, Bandit & ex Blackfeather vocalist Neale Johns' Fingerprint as well as playing in US Blues legend Jimmy Witherspoons backing band to performing with Oz Legends SPECTRUM & good-time folksters Bobsy-Die. Hey Gringo has at times included guest appearances by some of Australia's most legendary performers.The band's relaxed and funky attitude and sound is characteristic of the influences that make Hey Gringo so different.
Hey Gringo started out around 1993 as an acoustic duo with Daryl and Paul Gadsby(ex Paul Kelly & The Dots, The HotClub, Bouncing Checks, Men at Work, Colin Hay Band etc) playing tongue in cheek original and selective blues/countryish material . With a bagful of songs Daryl was hungry to promote and perform original music. Around 1998 forming a band line-up with Iain McLennan(ex Ariel, Richard Clapton Band, Mondo Rock, Sports) on drums & Steve Hoy on guitar & vocals.
In 2000 with original material spanning the past ten years the first Hey Gringo album "I WAS THERE" was recorded including such notable musicians as Ross Hannaford(Daddy Cool, Mighty Kong, Dianna Kiss, Big Bamboo) on guitar, Nicky Bomba(Banana Oil, The Truth, Bomba, John Butler Trio) on drums & percussion, David Williamson(Banana Oil, Yo Yo) on Sax along with Gadsby & Roberts. Described as "thought provoking and striking a balance between punchy & relaxed grooves, something Hey Gringo do extraorinarily well" by Terry Reilly of the Melbourne Age Newspaper's Entertinament Guide Album Review.
This album met with much positive reviews and airplay across Australia and as far as Argentina, Germany, Denmark, Canada, Netherlands & Belgium. (Check out the Reviews page)
Les Oldman (Fox, Running Trees, Blue Horizons, Eris O'Brien, Andrea Marr's Blues Train) joined on drums in 2002 and Hey Gringo performed as a trio around Melbourne pubs & clubs. Laurie Bongailas(Wild Style, Cold Sweat, Hoodoo King & The Impossibles) blew in on sax in 2003. Wayne Burt(Black Sorrows, JoJoZep, Rock Granite, The Giants, Fabulaires, The Hornets), Brian Strafford, Kelvin Flemming & Bill Putt have all featured on guiatr and Stuart Orr, Brian Strafford, Sean Vagg & Gene Shill also kick in with Sax. With heaps more new material and developing an original reto groove injected funky blues/roots style influenced by the Oz bands of the 70's Hey Gringo commenced work on their second album "Funky Car". Engineered by Nicky Bomba as with I WAS THERE @ Noahs Ark Studio Melbourne.
Although Hey Gringo's major influences are the Australian bands of the 70's, their music is fresh and vibrant & NOW. Described by audiences as "one of the best live original bands they have seen in ages"
Hey Gringo's consistent creative spirit and depth of songwirting skills helps produce such a diverse but characteristic output, hence the the release of their third album in June 2005 "three" with guests including Ross Wilson, SPECTRUM, Kevin Borich,Nicky Bomba, Lil'Fi and taking the Gringo Machine to further popularity & success. Ivan Frost replaced Les Oldman on drums in Sept 2005 , Peter Etheridge replaced Sean Vagg on Sax in March 2007. March 2007 "Live From The Vault" released with guests Spectrum, Neale Johns & Marcus Alexander.
