The Dusty Chaps

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The Dusty Chaps were a Tucson, Arizona-based country rock band active from 1969 to the early 1980s. They released Honky Tonk Music in 1975 on Bandoleer Records, then re-recorded it with Capitol Records in 1977 with an extra track. Their next album, Domino Joe, came out in 1978 on Capitol.

Band members included Peter Gierlach (vocals, accordion), George Hawke (bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Pat McAndrew (electric guitar), Leonardo Lopez (drums), Steve Solomon (keyboards, saxophone, clarinet, vibraphone), Bill Emrie (violin), Red Davidson (piano, accordion, vibraphone, marimba), and Ted Hockenbury (pedal steel guitar). The Chaps were the house band at Tucson clubs Stumble Inn and Poco Loco for a time.

Steve Solomon (1949–2005) was a longtime musician who played saxophones, keyboards, and flute with the Dusty Chaps in the late 1970s. On Honky Tonk Music he appeared on “Juke Joint Daddy,” “Invisible Man,” and “Rounder,” and he contributed to Domino Joe as well. His composition “Houd-Da” was used as the intro to the song “Domino Joe” (not credited on the album), and he wrote the intro sections of “Annabelle Walker” (“The Kool School”) though not credited in the liner notes. Peter Gierlach later became a horticulturist in Cochise County, Arizona. Concert pianist David Syme played on several tracks on Domino Joe and has lived in Houston and Ireland.

Domino Joe is noted for being a concept album, with all songs flowing into two continuous suites (sides A and B) and maintaining a connected feel throughout. The songs are well written and performed, with witty lyrics that include puns like “chili today” and “hot tamale.”