The Delta Kings formed 17 years ago and Terry Hawkins, Bill Humphrey, Cody Sokolski & Matt Stewart remain steadfast to the cause of rock'n'roll. Together, they have played over 1,500 gigs. From funky Central Illinois roadhouses and Summer Street Festivals to the prestigious Krannert Center For The Performing Arts. They have opened for more names than can be mentioned here, but some of the most noteworthy are The Bottle Rockets, Southern Culture On The Skids, Heartsfield, Foghat, Edgar Winter, Tommy Castro, Webb Wilder, Robbie Fulks, Rev. Horton Heat, Tinsley Ellis, Sonny Landreth and Delbert McClinton (3 times!). In addition, the band has performed at two Wall to Wall Guitar Festivals.
Terry, Matt and Bill were all raised in Central Illinois. Terry's musical odyssey led him to Milwaukee and Atlanta, where he played & recorded with Think Jet. Matt was a key member of Epic recording artist, Starcastle, and has played with numerous other bands and artists. He is the go to studio guitarist in Central Illinois. He has recorded and performed Celtic music and is involved in a Chinese music project. There is not a riff that he can not play (at least, none we have found yet). Electric, acoustic, slide, if it’s got strings, he can play it.
Bill came up through the blues, playing the Chitlin Circuit with Eddie Snow, Jimmy Manello and countless others over the years. Lastly, Cody moved from New York City, where he played with the Dictators. He was in bands with Michael Monroe (Hanoi Rocks) and Lee Crystal & Gary Ryan (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts), as well as appearing on MTV under his own name (well, his old stage name anyway, Cody Lee & the Walk).
Early 2010 saw the release of the band's new long player titled 4 Chords & The Truth and summer 2011 will see their first ever digital only release of the 4 song EP Aging Disgracefully. This new record will showcase the tremendous growth of the songwriting of the band over the last year, as well as the changes brought on by Matt's fantastically inventive & creative playing and harmony singing. The DK's have never been more proud of a record and can not wait to spring it on the loving public.