In the late 1960s, amid the rise of psychedelic rock and garage bands, a group from Memphis, Tennessee, captured lightning in a bottle. Known as The Hombres, they shot to fame with their 1967 single “Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)”—a track that embodied the wild, free-spirited energy of the era. Although their time in the spotlight was brief, that one hit left a lasting mark on rock history.
| Artist Profile: The Hombres | |
|---|---|
| Band Name | The Hombres |
| Origin | Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| Genre | Garage Rock / Psychedelic Rock |
| Years Active | 1966–1969 |
| Label | Verve Forecast |
| Notable Members | B.B. Cunningham (vocals, organ) Jerry Lee Masters (bass) Gary Wayne McEwen (guitar) John Will Hunter (drums) |
| Biggest Hit | “Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)” (1967) |
Formation and Early Days
The Hombres formed in 1966. All four members—Cunningham, Masters, McEwen, and Hunter—were high school classmates from Memphis. Before starting their own project, they played backup as a touring version of Ronny & The Daytonas.
They wanted more than life on the road. The band members set their sights on making original music. Their first opportunity came when they signed with Verve Forecast Records.
The Hit That Defined Them
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In 1967, the band released “Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out),” a punchy, tongue-in-cheek anthem with talking-blues verses, honky-tonk piano, and psychedelic overtones. The song was co-written by B.B. Cunningham and Gary McEwen.
It quickly gained radio play. By the fall of that year, the single had peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. With its quirky spoken intro—“A preachment, dear friends, you are about to receive…”—the song stood out in a sea of pop ballads and rock riffs.
Its B-side, “Go Girl, Go,” didn’t make waves, but the success of “Let It Out” was enough to give The Hombres national recognition.
Critical Reception and Cultural Impact
The single was embraced by garage rock fans and gained cult status in later decades. It was included in the 1972 compilation Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, which preserved some of the best underground rock from the 1960s.
In 1989, John Mellencamp covered the song, using it as a hidden track on his album Big Daddy. That same year, the track reappeared on The Butterfly That Stamped compilation.
More recently, it was featured in the 2005 Cameron Crowe film Elizabethtown, exposing it to a new generation. Foster’s Lager even used it in a U.S. advertising campaign, proving the song’s staying power.
Life After the Spotlight
After “Let It Out”, the band released several more singles, including:
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“It’s a Gas” / “Am I High” (Dec 1967)
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“The Prodigal” / “Mau Mau Mau” (March 1968)
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“Pumpkin Man” / “Take My Overwhelming Love (And Cram It Up Your Heart)” (Sept 1968)
These releases, though creatively bold, failed to match the success of their debut. By 1969, the group had disbanded.
Jerry Lee Masters later found success as a producer and session bassist, working with country and pop artists throughout the 1970s and 1980s. B.B. Cunningham continued his music career and became a security guard in his later years. Tragically, he was killed in the line of duty in 2012 in Memphis.
The Hombres’ Legacy
Despite having only one hit, The Hombres remain an essential part of the garage rock movement. Their music, especially “Let It Out,” is often cited in retrospectives and music anthologies.
They captured the spirit of the 1960s with humor and grit, standing alongside other one-hit wonders who made a lasting impression with a single, unforgettable track.
The Hombres’ Discography (Partial)
Verve Forecast
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Let It All Hang Out / Go Girl, Go – July 1967
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It’s A Gas / Am I High – Dec 1967
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The Prodigal / Mau Mau Mau – Mar 1968
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Pumpkin Man / Take My Overwhelming Love… – Sep 1968
Sun Records
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If This Ain’t Loving You Baby (It’ll Have to Do Till I Get Some Sleep) / You Made Me What I Am
Verve Sounds of Fame
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Let It All Out / Go Girl, Go
Eric Records (1986)
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Split single with Five Man Electrical Band
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Signs / Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)
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Final Thoughts
The Hombres may not have had a long list of chart-toppers, but their short burst of success created a rock classic that still gets airplay and nods in pop culture. For a band from Memphis looking to break free from backing others, one unforgettable track was enough to carve their name into music history.
Letting it all hang out, after all, was exactly what they did best.