The Green Blimp was originally launched from Tulsa, Oklahoma in the early ‘70s. The ship first touched down in Memphis, Tennessee. It next departed to Tupelo, Mississippi, where the crew learned that rock n’ roll was not created by The Beatles. They just made it better. With Captain Dwight Twilley at the helm, and Commander Phil Seymour, his friend and partner steadying the course, the clouds were only the beginning. Cruises between Tupelo and Tulsa were enjoyed as they soaked up the tutoring of early Sun Records artist/producer Ray Harris. Eventually, the Blimp was docked back in Tulsa for maintenance.

The Captain and crew feverishly worked to blend their new Memphis influences with their childhood British roots. With repairs completed, the Airship was ready for its most ambitious voyage, to the far away land of Los Angeles.

After landing, the Blimp was comfortably anchored while the Captain and crew, now calling themselves The Dwight Twilley Band, indulged in recording rock ‘n’ roll records. Their first effort was the top 20 hit, “I’m on Fire.” The San Francisco Chronicle called it, “The best debut single by an American rock band ever.” The now iconic LPs Sincerely in 1976 and Twilley Don’t Mind (1977) sailed into a storm of critical acclaim.

In late 1977, Seymour disembarked to pursue his own command of the USS Precious to Me, while Captain Twilley charted a course of classic albums. 1979 yielded the checker board Twilley and Scuba Divers surfaced in 1982. 1984’s Jungle navigated its way with the Top 20 single, “Girls,” and its accompanying hit MTV video. During those years, classic records like “Looking for the Magic,” “Out Of My Hands” and “Somebody to Love” stood the test of time and remain frozen in the hearts of fans worldwide.

The excitement was high surrounding the release of 1986′s Wild Dogs, the follow-up LP that was poised to surpass the success of Jungle. But it was not meant to be. The album was issued into the shockwave of a major industry payola scandal centered on the president of Twilley’s label. “It was like the lights were just turned out and the record simply disappeared.” The years that followed left the Blimp abandoned and rusting in a junkyard in Bakersfield. In 1987 and ’88, the discouraged Captain hit the road, but with little fanfare without a record to promote. In 1989, Twilley began several years working on a new studio album, but the major labels were no longer interested. “At the height of my career I felt blacklisted.”

Finally, there was a little light. In 1992, Twilley’s song, “Why You Wanna Break My Heart,” emerged from the platinum-selling Wayne’s World soundtrack. Then in 1994, the Captain authored the award-winning book, Questions from Dad. That same year, the Northridge earthquake struck and virtually destroyed Twilley’s house. The Captain decided it was time to return home to the red velvet sunsets of Tulsa. Obviously, there was only one way to travel, so the long lost Blimp was rescued and restored. Stepping back on board his trusted ship, the stars began to align. The newly bristol fashion craft landed at The Big Oak Ranch, where the Captain and his mates built the Big Oak Studio and returned to their old habits of burning out hot records with a new, determined confidence.

The Blimp, in its polished brilliance, felt at peace in its new hanger. Resting next to the studio, it could listen to the Captain and his old friends, like guitarist Bill Pitcock IV, crank out another flaming blaze of albums: XXI (The Best of Dwight Twilley -1996), the internationally acclaimed Tulsa (1999), The Luck (2001), 47 Moons (2004), Have A Twilley Christmas (2005) – a collection of new Twilley holiday songs, All Access (2006) Twilley’s live album, and Out Of The Box (2009), his first album of all cover songs.

Now in 2010 with a documentary film about the Captain’s exploits in production, everyone felt compelled to start looking up again at the sky. It was decided to dedicate our greatest effort to the vehicle that had sailed us through decades of life changing musical adventures, The Green Blimp.

We drew on all our skills to construct a record worthy of our ship’s name. With the Captain perched confidently again at the wheel and his First Mate Jan manning the controls, it seemed like a pirate’s party. Special guests like Rocky Burnette and Susan Cowsill were singing and toasting flagons of ale. It was a magical frenzy, with all hands buzzing around making musical noises.

Now, we find the ship’s cargo overflowing with all new signature Twilley songs, from hard driving rockers like “Get Up,” the melodic, harmony-filled “Me and Melanie,” to the haunting ballad, “Let it Rain.” We are now preparing to ascend again high above the purple clouds of Oklahoma with no course ever to be charted. “Sky’s are blue for me and you, in the Green Blimp.”….All Aboard!

One of the best American rock bands you’ve never heard of.

Mimi is best known as lead vocalist,singer/songwriter for the original power-pop group Pezband, for whom the phrase was coined.   In addition to critically acclaimed albums, his was the first US band to record a live EP at London’s famed Dingwall’s venue.

The Chicago-based singer/songwriter/guitarist enjoyed a modicum of fame and female adoration in the mid 1970s as he and his band mates were lauded internationally in magazines, newspapers and on TV by no less than Jane Pauley on “The Today Show.”

When marriage and family became a priority in his life, Mimi focused on another talent – fine art, which he taught in the Chicago Public School system.  The collage on the cover of “All That Glitters” is one of his creations.

“All That Glitters” marks Mimi’s long overdue return to music.  In addition to lead single “Love Is Just A Thin Veneer,” the 10-song CD includes Mimi’s heartfelt rendition of “Across The Universe,” his ode to John Lennon on what would have been the Beatle’s 70th birthday. His group is currently performing in the Chicago area.