After paving the way for the San Francsico '60s rock scene with the Charlatans, singer/guitarist Dan Hicks decided to channel his interests in American roots music into a band where he wielded the baton himself, Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks. Combining folk, Western swing, hot jazz, and old-time string-band music, the Licks released their debut album, ORIGINAL RECORDINGS, in 1968. Hicks's musical chemistry with fiddler Sid Page was a trademark of the band, which released three more acclaimed albums before Hicks closed down the shop after 1973's appropriately titled LAST TRAIN TO HICKSVILLE. Hicks went on to front other bands, but he reunited the Hot Licks a couple of times in subsequent decades.