The Donkey Show was a ska

Ska

Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...

 band based in San Diego who played a Caribbean-sounding Ska band during the eighties. They introduced many people to the music and were in the unique position of being one of the founding bands of the "California Ska Sound", a precursor to what some would call the third wave. At one point they were even receiving radio play on major radio stations such as KROQ-FM

KROQ-FM

KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...

. Well known for their male and female lead vocalists and for their legendary sax played Dave Hillyard

Dave Hillyard

Dave Hillyard is a tenor saxophonist originating from San Diego, California. He has performed with many groups such as The Slackers, The Rocksteady Seven, The Donkey Show, Hepcat, Stubborn All-Stars, and has guested with the likes of Rancid, Victor Rice, Skinnerbox NYC and Alexandra Lawerentz...

 who played the major groups like Hepcat, The Slackers and Dave Hillyard and the Rocksteady 7. They performed concerts in various cities in California, and toured the US twice. They were one of the first bands in the third wave ska movement, and they appear in a Ska Parade

Ska Parade

Ska Parade, now known as SP Radio One, is a southern California radio show whose goal is to promote up-and-coming ska artists, as well as other types of new bands. The show was created by Tazy Phyllipz and Albino Brown. The show was a part of the Orange County third-wave ska movement of the mid-1990s...

 documentary video Members of The Donkey Show backed Buster Bloodvessel

Buster Bloodvessel

Douglas Trendle , better known as Buster Bloodvessel, is an English singer and the frontman of the ska revival band Bad Manners...

 of Bad Manners

Bad Manners

Bad Manners are an English 2 Tone ska band. They quickly became the novelty favourites of the UK pop scene through their bald outsized frontman's on-stage antics, earning early exposure through their Top of The Pops exploits and an appearance in the live film documentary, Dance Craze.They were at...

 on a California tour as Buster's All-Stars. Ska Parade producers Albino Brown and Tazy Phyllipz (along with Gerald Lokstadt of Spot Productions) arranged for The Skatalites saxman Roland Alphonso to make his first solo trip to California in 1989 to perform with The Donkey Show. One former member of The Donkey Show, Dave Hillyard, was also in the band Hepcat, and is now in The Slackers. Kent and Creedy went on to play in Unsteady, another California ska band of significance during the late'90s. Matt Parker played with The Adjusters, a political soul and ska band in Chicago.

Breakup

In an interview from 2001 Kim spoke of the breakup. "The band retired for many reasons; one being the fact that we were all branching out in different ways creatively as musicians. I know that sounds like such a stereotypical answer, but it's the truth. Oftentimes this leads to successful bands, you know, creating a unique sound from a variety of influences, but unfortunately for the Donkey Show, I feel it was partly responsible for the demise of the band. we were all pretty young, stubborn, and eager to explore new opportunities. Although I was very disappointed, I knew it was for the best. We quit while we were ahead and I would much rather do that then sell out, perform halfheartedly, or play sh*tty music."

Lineup

Kim Clift: Vocals

Ray Campbell: Vocals

Dave Hillyard

Dave Hillyard

Dave Hillyard is a tenor saxophonist originating from San Diego, California. He has performed with many groups such as The Slackers, The Rocksteady Seven, The Donkey Show, Hepcat, Stubborn All-Stars, and has guested with the likes of Rancid, Victor Rice, Skinnerbox NYC and Alexandra Lawerentz...

: Saxophone

Stanley "Bronco" Farwell: Trombone

Rob Dominguez: Percussion

Matt Parker: Farfisa organ

Kent Graves: Drums

Tom Zambrano: Bass

Chris "Creedy" Bates: Guitar