Skid Roper (born Richard Banke, October 19, 1954, in

National City, California National City is a city in the South Bay region of southwestern San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 56,173 at the 2020 United States census, down from 58,582 at the 2010 census. National City is the second-oldest c ...

, United States) is an American musician, most active in the 1980s and early 1990s. He has recorded with several groups including the surf band The Evasions but is best known for his work with

Mojo Nixon Neill Kirby McMillan Jr. (August 2, 1957 – February 7, 2024), known professionally as Mojo Nixon, was an American musician and actor best known for his novelty song "Elvis Is Everywhere", which was an alternative staple on MTV. His style coul ...

between 1985 and 1989. With Nixon, Roper was mainly a percussionist (playing washboard,

tambourine The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, thoug ...

maracas A maraca ( , , ), sometimes called shaker or chac-chac, is a rattle which appears in many genres of Caribbean and Latin music. It is shaken by a handle and usually played as part of a pair. Maracas, also known as tamaracas, were rattles of d ...

bongos Bongos (Spanish language, Spanish: ''bongó'') are an Afro-Cubans, Afro-Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of small open bottomed hand drums of different sizes. The pair consists of the larger ''hembra'' () and the smaller ''macho'' ...

, et cetera) and also played

mandolin A mandolin (, ; literally "small mandola") is a Chordophone, stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally Plucked string instrument, plucked with a plectrum, pick. It most commonly has four Course (music), courses of doubled St ...

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and in modern forms is usually made of plastic, where early membranes were made of animal skin. ...

harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica incl ...

and other instruments. Since parting ways with Nixon in 1989, Roper has released three solo albums. The first two albums had a much stronger

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...

influence and were considerably less raucous than his work with Nixon. Roper also formed a surf band called Skid Roper and the Shadowcasters. Roper's latest CD, ''Rock and Roll Part 3'', was released in 2010. Ten years in the making, Roper plays the guitar, mandolin, organ, harmonica, percussion and whistling, sings each track and wrote all but one song. In 2012 Roper contributed new music to volume ten (''One Way Ticket to Palookaville'') and in 2013 to volume eleven (''Hells Basement'') of the compilation album series ''Staring at the Sun''. In 2012 Roper became a member of the Hi-Tones, the backing combo for Andy Rasmussen, playing drums and mandolin on the 2013 album ''High & Lonesome: The Rise and Fall of Hilo''.

Discography

Solo * ''Trails Plowed Under'' (1989) * ''Lydia's Cafe'' (1991) * ''Rock and Roll Part 3'' (2010) With The Evasions£ * ''Son of Surf!'' (1981) With Mojo Nixon * '' Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper'' (1985) * '' Get Out Of My Way!'' (1986) * '' Frenzy'' (1986) * '' Bo-Day-Shus!!!'' (1987) * '' Root Hog Or Die'' (1989) * '' Unlimited Everything'' (1990) With Action Andy and the Hi-Tones * ''High and Lonesome: The Fall and Rise of Hilo'' (2013)

Charting singles

References

External links

Skid Roper official web site
* Skid Roper All Music Guide Entry 1954 births Living people People from National City, California American multi-instrumentalists Country musicians from California Surf musicians Cowpunk musicians Psychobilly musicians {{US-musician-stub