Originally known as a beach music band named Stax of Gold, and later Nantucket Sleighride (after the song and album by Mountain) which was eventually shortened to Nantucket, the six-member group—Tommy Redd, Larry Uzzell, Mike Uzzell, Eddie Blair, Kenny Soule, and Mark Downing—first became successful in their home state of North Carolina as a cover band.
A cross-country tour followed, with Nantucket opening for KISS, Styx, Boston, Mother's Finest, Journey, and The Doobie Brothers.
Mike Uzzell was dismissed from the band by the third album, with Pee Wee Watson replacing him on bass guitar.
Drummer Kenny Soule and bassist Pee Wee Watson left in 1981, joining guitarist Michael Gardner to form the rock trio PKM.
[6] Nantucket released the CD "You Need A Ride To Raleigh" and was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on October 11, 2012.