Blackfoot: Southern Rock's Hard-Hitting Outfit

Blackfoot is an American Southern rock band renowned for its potent blend of blues, hard rock, and Native American heritage. Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, the group achieved its greatest commercial success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, most notably with the gold-certified album Strikes.

Early career

Formed in 1969, the band's original lineup featured guitarist and vocalist Rickey Medlocke, a musician of Lakota and Cherokee descent. The group's name was a tribute to this heritage, and they initially built a reputation as a formidable live act throughout the Southeastern United States. After several early singles and a self-titled album for Island Records in 1975, the classic lineup solidified with Medlocke, guitarist Charlie Hargrett, bassist Greg T. Walker, and drummer Jakson Spires.

Breakthrough

Blackfoot's breakthrough arrived in 1979 with the release of their third album, Strikes, on Atco Records. Fueled by relentless touring and a harder rock edge than many of their Southern contemporaries, the album eventually earned RIAA gold certification. It spawned the signature hit Train, Train and the FM radio staple Highway Song, cementing their place in rock radio history.

Key tracks

Train, Train — This driving rocker became the band's signature song, featuring a memorable harmonica intro and a relentless rhythm that defined their sound.

Highway Song — A soaring, epic anthem that showcased their dual-guitar harmonies and became a permanent fixture on classic rock playlists.

Fly Away — A key track from the Tomcattin' album that highlighted their ability to blend melodic sensibility with hard rock power.

Diary of a Workingman — This song from Marauder demonstrated the band's storytelling prowess and connection to blue-collar themes.

Following the success of Strikes, Blackfoot released a string of successful albums including Tomcattin' (1980) and Marauder (1981). The band's intense touring schedule and consistent output solidified their fanbase, though internal tensions and shifting musical trends led to lineup changes and a disbandment by the mid-1980s. Rickey Medlocke later revived the Blackfoot name with new musicians in the late 1990s and continues to perform, while also finding major success as a guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Fans of Blackfoot's gritty, guitar-driven Southern rock should also explore the sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the definitive band of the genre with whom they shared a deep Florida roots and brotherhood. The raw, blues-infused rock of Molly Hatchet offers a similarly aggressive and dual-lead guitar approach. For the boogie-oriented side of the scene, listen to The Allman Brothers Band, whose improvisational jams influenced the entire movement. The hard-rocking swagger of 38 Special, another Jacksonville act, also shares a close musical kinship with Blackfoot's radio-friendly anthems.

The music of Blackfoot remains a staple on classic rock FM stations and dedicated online rock radio streams, where their anthems are celebrated for their raw energy and guitar prowess. Independent music radio stations with a focus on rock history frequently feature deep cuts alongside their well-known hits, ensuring their legacy endures on the airwaves.

You can hear the powerful Southern rock of Blackfoot on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover their essential tracks and high-energy albums by tuning into the classic rock and hard rock stations available on onairium.com.