New Musical Express article announcing Peter’s new group in April 1969
Stan Endersby (Guitar, vocals)
Peter Quaife (Bass)
Marty Fisher (Keyboards, vocals)
Mick Cook (Drums) replaced by Gordon MacBain (Drums, vocals)
This fascinating Anglo-Canadian group is best known for containing Kinks bass player Peter Quaife who first proposed the idea of forming a band with Canadian guitarist Stan Endersby when the pair met by pure chance at Hatchetts nightclub in Piccadilly in mid-1968. Endersby was in London visiting his actor brother Clive after his Toronto group Livingston’s Journey had split up. He met Quaife on his first night!
To read the band’s fascinating story, visit these two websites which provide a detailed account of Mapleoak’s history:
Garage Hangover would love to hear from anyone who can add more information about gigs the band played in the comments section below.
Notable gigs
April 1969 – St Donat’s Castle (possibly the Tythe Barn Theatre), Llantwit Major, south Wales (Stan Endersby’s memories) Debut show
April/May 1969 – Speakeasy, Margaret Street, central London (this may have been later in the year as MacBain remembers playing here and he didn’t join until late June)
May-June 1969 – Le Carousel, Copenhagen, Denmark (Stan Endersby’s memories)
Mick Cook stayed in Denmark and the group brought Gordon MacBain over from Toronto. MacBain had previously played with Fisher in Bobby Kris & The Imperials. The pair had worked with Endersby on The Cube TV show in late 1968.
26 July 1969 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
6 September 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
19 September 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham with The Mickey Max Show and The Visio Workshop (Birmingham Evening Mail)
26 September 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham with The Mickey Dunne and Society Max (Birmingham Evening Mail)
Circa October 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, central London with Renaissance (Stan Endersby’s memories)
3 October 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
6 October 1969 – Park Hall Hotel, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Wolverhampton Express & Star)
10 October 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham with The Mickey Max Show (Birmingham Evening Mail)
7 November 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
30 November 1969 – Pied Bull, Angel, Islington, north London (Melody Maker)
14 December 1969 – Pied Bull, Angel, Islington, north London (Melody Maker)
31 December 1969 – The Factory, Birmingham with Mickey Dunne and Visio Workshop (Birmingham Evening Mail)
At some point, Mapleoak played in Antwerp, Belgium, Amsterdam, Netherlands and Hamburg, Germany
14 February 1970 – Queen’s Hall, Narbeth, Wales (Poster/newspaper advert that needs source)
Sometime around now, the band appeared at the London Palladium with Matt Monroe and Roger Whittaker. They also did a TV show with Creedence Clearwater Revival.
20 March 1970 – Bridge House, Borough High Street, Elephant & Castle, south London (Melody Maker)
27 March 1970 – Bridge House, Borough High Street, Elephant & Castle, south London with Sky port Ade and Luke & Jessie (Melody Maker)
Thanks Stan Endersby for the Decca publicity image
After the Son of a Gun single’s release in April 1970, Peter Quaife departed and the group continued as a trio and recorded their lone LP for Decca
8 May 1970 – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, London with Ginger Johnson and Free Little Rock, Curved Air, Cochise, JJ Jackson’s Dilemma (Poster from Stan Endersby/Melody Maker)
23/24 May 1970 – Whitsun Festival, Plumpton, East Sussex (although advertised to perform in Melody Maker they did not appear)
19 June 1970 – Senate House, University of London, Bloomsbury, central London (Poster from Stan Endersby)
In August 1970, Endersby, Fisher and MacBain returned to Toronto and played a final gig at the Night Owl before splitting.
Baby Huey and the Vets in Chicago, 1963. From left: Pete Foster, Dale Harper, James Ramey (Baby Huey), Melvyn Jones and Butch Whited.
In 2005 I wrote a discussion of the early singles by Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters before Huey signed to Curtom and recorded the songs issued on his great posthumous LP. In subsequent years I added some photos, news clips and gig notices, then in 2026 completely reworked the article, below.
Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters are a famous Chicago band, but their roots are in Richmond, Indiana, where they formed in high school as Baby Huey and the Vets in 1962. The members attended Richmond High School, most of them graduating in 1964.
Earliest gig notice I can find for Baby Huey and the Vets in Richmond, Indiana, November 23, 19621962
November 23 – National Guard Armory, Richmond December 8 – Richmond High School “Mistletoe Mash” at Civic Hall December 29 – teen holiday dance at the Conservation Park lodge December 31 – American Legion hall, 400 North Eighth St.
1963
May 17 – Hagerstown, IN prom, followed by “appearances on the Northwestern university campus at Chicago, Ill., immediately after playing for the prom at Hagerstown.” June 13 – Senior’s all-night party at the YWCA: “Beginning at 4 a.m. Baby Huey and the Vets, a high school instrumental combo, provided music for dancing in the TAC club.” August 4 – Clear Creek Park September 1 – Clear Creek park Musician Local 388 union concert December 27 – Leland Hotel, Richmond. Noon concert for Kiwanis December 27 – Forest Hills Country Club
First mention of playing in Chicago, Richmond Palladium-Item, May 16, 1963
A notice in the Richmond Palladium-Item & Sun-Telegram for a concert August 4, 1963 lists the first lineup of the group I can find:
Members of the group are Melvyn Jones, electric piano; Dale Harper, drums; Pete Poster [sic – should be Pete Foster], alto saxophone, Butch Whited, guitar, and J.T. Ramey, bongos and vocal.
Melvyn Jones is brother of jazz drummer Harold Jones.
1964
March 12 – YWCA for Women’s Federated club March 24 – Melody Skateland
Dale Harper, Curtis (Pete) Foster, and Harry Whited left the band to join the military. Curtis Foster left the group for the Marines in February 1964. He died on June 6, 1965, when two helicopters collided off the ship, the Iwo Jima.
The first record of James Ramey and Melvyn Jones
Richmond Palladium-Item, April 1, 1964The Palladium-Item ran a very interesting notice on April 1, 1964:
“Bad Baboon,” a record featuring a group of local musicians, is being pressed by Richmond Record Pressings under a label which is an affiliate of Mercury Record corporation in Chicago. In the group are Danny Jarvis, drums; Dick Agee, bass guitar; Butch Whited, lead guitar; Melvin Jones, piano, who also wrote the lyrics, and Jimmy Ramey, vocal. They taped the number in Chicago. Formerly known as the “Sting Rays,” the local group has been renamed the “Madisons.” They have played at local dances and entertainments.
A short notice the next day adds “The “Madisons” … includes members of two earlier combos known as “Baby Huey and the Vets” and the “Sting Rays.”
Released on Limelight Y-3018, “Bad Baboon” / “Because I Got You” apparently is the first recording featuring Baby Huey and Melvyn Jones. Melvin Jones wrote “Bad Baboon”. A takeoff on “The Gorilla” by the Ideals with a new set of lyrics, it would also become the inspiration for Baby Huey and the Babysitters 1965 single “Monkey Man” though again with new lyrics and a more aggressive feel. Cash Box reviewed the single favorably on June 18, and copyright was registered on April 27. It was likely recorded at the Indianapolis studio of producer Jan Hutchins. Jan Hutchens (correct spelling) had co-produced Chicago vocalist Ral Donner’s “You Don’t Know What You’ve Got (Until You Lose It)” for Gone Records in 1961.
Did B.J. stand for Baby Jimmy, or Baby James? There is a notice for B.J. and the Sting Rays at the Springwood Pavilion in Conservation Park on June 15, 1963, but Baby Huey and the Vets were also active at that time. The news described them in February, 1964:
The Catholic Youth center will sponsor a dance at the Knights of Columbus hall Sunday, Feb. 9. Members of B.J. and the Sting Rays combo will provide the music. They are Dick Agee, Melvin Jones, Danny Jarvis, Butch White [sic: Butch Whited] and Jim Ramey.
However, Baby Huey and the Vets did shows through March, 1964. The Madisons name took over for that recording, but I can find no gig listings under that name, nor any listings for Baby Huey between April 1964 and early March 1965.
Certainly by February 1965 if not earlier, Jim Ramey and Melvyn Jones had relocated to Chicago where they added new members, found management in university student James Kargman, and started recording as Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters.
Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters as a five-piece, an early promo photo that ran in the Rockford Register Star, June 19, 1965 for the show that evening
1965
At some point in 1964 or 1965, Johnny Ross, also from Richmond, IN, joined on guitar. They were joined by Chicago musicians Dennis Moore on drums and Larry Sales on bass.
The history of Baby Huey’s 1965 recordings is confusing because they contain four songs released across five singles.
I believe the first two cut were “Just Being Careful” and “Messin’ with the Kid” as John Ross had copyright registered on “Just Being Careful” on February 12, 1965. Both sides feature horns, and a female chorus on “Just Being Careful”. “Messin’ with the Kid” is a great version of the Mel London song done originally by Junior Wells.
Shann 73924 – “Just Being Careful” / “Messin’ With the Kid” (February 1965) USA 801 – “Just Being Careful” / “Messin’ With the Kid” (April ’65)
The next two recordings are the influential “Monkey Man”, credited to John R. Ross, though it must have evolved from the Madisons “Bad Baboon”. James Kargman took arranging credit on “Monkey Man”. Copyright was registered on April 23, 1965.
Their version of “Beg Me”, originally recorded by Chuck Jackson, may be the weakest number on these early 45s but is a prized soul record today. Starting slow, it picks up steam. John Ross’s guitar work is outstanding on all of these. For some reason the label St. Lawrence substituted the earlier “Messin’ with the Kid” for “Beg Me” on some copies, and again when it was reissued on Satellite in ’66 or ’67.
St. Lawrence 1002 – Monkey Man / Beg Me (1965, issued on both blue and white labels) St. Lawrence 1002 – Monkey Man / Messin’ With the Kid (1965, white label only) Satellite 2013 – Monkey Man / Messin’ With the Kid (1967)
Jim Kargman produced all of their singles in 1965, along with those of Dalek/Ingam and the Blackstones. Thumbs Up in Chicago was the group’s base and some of their early bookings such as Rockford College were made through the club. An item in the Chicago Suburbanite Economist on February 23, 1966 noted “Tony Caithamer, one of the owners of the Thumbs Up club at 2848 N. Broadway, is donating the services of [Baby Huey & the Baby Sitters].”
First ad for a Chicago gig. It ran in the Tribune on March 3 and 5, 1965, with the Billy Williams Revue at the Celebrity Lounge, 900 North Rush.
Baby Huey at the College Fieldhouse in Rockford, June 19, 1965. The Morning Star devoted an article on the show to the Beau Brummels, but ran this photo of Baby Huey
South Bend Tribune, June 27 1965
March 3-6: at the Celebrity Lounge, 900 North Rush with the Billy Williams Revue June 19 – Thumbs Up presents the Beau Brummels, Baby Huey and the Babysitters and the Blackstones at Rockford College Fieldhouse June 28 – Stepan Center, Notre Dame, South Bend – WJVA show with Dalek-Engam and the Blackstones, the Teen Tones, the Tradewinds and the Phantoms November – Spain, Italy, Greece, Africa ?!
On December 1, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters played in Paris for the debut party of Nelly de Rothschiild, along with UK group Band of Angels.
late December – WVON Chicago Christmas Benefit with Little Stevie Wonder, Dee Clark, Jackie Ross, the Madlads, the Impressions, G.L. Crockett and Red Saunders
Baby Huey and the Vets featured in the Richmond Palladium Item, November 10, 1965
An article from the Richmond Palladium on November 10, 1965 listed the lineup that was flying to play in Europe and Africa, but refers to them by their old name, Baby Huey and the Vets:
Melvin Jones – trumpet and organ Johnny Ross – guitar Dennis Moore – drums Jim Ramey (Baby Huey) – vocals Larry Sales – bass Charles Lance – sax?
1966
This photo ran in the Rockford Register Star on February 18, 1966
January 29 – Rockford College with the Castaways and the Fabulous Intruders from Rockford, IL February 25 – Orr High School benefit February 25 – Harmony Hall, Chicago March 18 – U. of Illinois Urbana, George Huff Gymnasium March 19 – Rockford, with the New Colony Six, the Shadows of Knight, the Grim Reapers and the Komons, at Boylan High School gym. Also the Flock, according to some news listings. May 21 – Rock Island at the Monmouth College Scot Olympics The Daily News ran this photo of Baby Huey for their September 1966 shows at Trude HellersMay 29 – Richmond National Guard Armory July 24 at Palms Shore Club, Emmons Ave, Brooklyn with Satan Four late July – early August – at Trude Hellers, NYC September 5 – September 17 (?) – at Trude Hellers September 10 and 11 – Palisades Amusement Park’s “Heller-Baloo” with Benny Gordon, Bertha Colbert and Abercrombie & the Fitches October – at Trude Hellers, also an announcement that Capitol Booking has signed the group October 7 & 8 – Romano’s Steak House, Hartford, CT October 21 – Richmond High School Homecoming Dance November 1, 1966 – November 15 – Trude Heller’s (NY Daily News) November 19 – Bayone, NJ at Venice Tavern
Billboard, October 29, 1966In October 1966, the Babysitters went back to Richmond to play their high school’s Homecoming Dance.
Dennis Moore got drafted around 1966. Reno Smith became the drummer at some point.
I’m not sure when Melvyn Jones left the group. As Deacon Jones he wrote a memoir the includes his years with Baby Huey, 40 Years With the Blues Legends: the Life and Times of Melvyn Deacon Jones that I haven’t read yet.
Johnny Ross probably left in 1967, when he recorded two singles as Johnny Ross and the Soul Explosions, “I Can’t Help Myself” / “Sore Loser” on Chirrup 1523, and “Love-I-Tis” / “Chi’-Ca’-Go'” on La-Cindy 509.
The chronology of when later members joined is uncertain. Because James Ramey drew so much attention in the press as the group’s frontman, later articles never mention other members of the band.
Jet, January 19, 1967
1967
January – at Ungano’s club in New York February 15-28 – the Cheetah, with the Exceptions Feb. 15-18 March 22 – April 12 – the Cheetah with the Chambers Brothers and the Rovin’ Kind through March 26 April 26 – Tempo Dance City 8813 Foster Ave, Canarsie, Brooklyn
The Cheetah was open Wednesdays through Sundays.
Robert Baker wrote about the Cheetah club in the Chicago Tribune on April 16, 1967:
The sound is continuous, provided by two bands that alternate each hour. Current attractions are the Griffith-Harter Union and Baby Huey and the Babysitters … Baby Huey, a kind of Motown Mama Cass, has been the biggest regular draw of the Cheetah since it opened last fall. He takes center stage with him where he moves in his bright red double-breasted suit, usually abandoning his tie after a couple numbers. The group features upbeat rock numbers as well as some slower soul pieces, often blue in both connotations of the word.
Rotund Band Leader Faces Dope Charge
CHICAGO (UPI) – “Baby Huey,” a rotund rock ’n’ roller has been booked for a May 8 date in court.
A tinfoil package of what police believe is marijuana, a warm pipe, overheard talk of “smoking pot” – plus police insistence – helped the bushy-haired, 370-pound band leader get the unwanted engagement.
Possession of narcotics is the charge, police said.
Baby Huey, billed as “the biggest name in the business,” was arrested in his motel room Thursday with two friends. Police said they were tipped, possibly by a disgruntled fan, that there was a party going on.
Baby Huey, who said his real name was James T. Ramey, and Baby Karp and Ronald Wagner, both 21, Chicago, were freed on bond. Karp and Wagner are not members of “Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters.”
Police later ticketed Baby Huey’s brightly painted bus and towed it from the spot reserved for Mayor Richard. J. Daley’s limousine to the auto pound.
On July 6, 1967, the charges were dismissed:
Judge Kenneth R. Wendt ruled arresting officers did not have a warrant to make the raid on Ramey’s hotel room after receiving a tip.
Detectives said they arrested Baby Huey Apr. 13 after they found him lying on a bed with a package of a “crushed green plant” nearby.
This news item was picked up nationally in August, 1967. I can’t find further details.
June 7-11 – Ron’s Back Room, 1311 N. Wells in Old Town September 1 – the Cheetah with the Exception and the Rovin’ Kind. September 22-24 (dates uncertain) – the Cheetah: Billboard noted on September 30 that “Manager Buddy Fox reports that 15,000 turned out over the weekend to hear Baby Huey and Tommy James & the Shondells” October 20-21 – at the Cheetah with H.P. Lovecraft and the Litter October 22 – Benefit with the Litter at the Cheetah for the new Museum of Contemporary Art November 10-21 – at the Cheetah in Chicago December 30 – Bachelors Ball at the Frederick C. Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, Cleveland. The Plain Dealer ran a large photo of Baby Huey on stage at the event, but the microfilm is too dark. December 31 – at the Cheetah in Chicago with the Exception
By late ’67 or 1968, Baby Huey and the Babysitters were managed by Marv Stuart’s State and Madison Management (listed as Marv Heiman on wikipedia).
Ad for Baby Huey at Grandmother’s in Lansing August 3, 1968
1968
at the Jaguar with the Shadows of Knight! March 16, 1968
February 1 – Michigan Tech Sno Ball in Houghton February 25 – American Internatonal College Winter Carnival, Springfield, MA March 1 – Electricians Hall, 5247 W. Madison with the Disciples of Mayhem March 16 – at the Jaguar with the Shadows of Knight March 23 – Marine Room at St. Clair hotel April 5 – The Deep End, Park Ridge, Illinois
Tantalizing ‘what-if’ from Robb Baker’s May 1, 1968 column. Unfortunately nothing ever materialized.Robb Baker gave a bizarre report in the May 1 Tribune:
Baby Huey and The Baby Sitters have been signed by George Badonsky of Dunwich Productions … Huey, who’s Mama Cass’ soul brother in several senses, is managed by “Tough” Teddy Allen. His former producer was Earl “Big Daddy” Glicken of Chicago, but he hasn’t recorded for over five years, Badonsky said. Several record companies are being contracted about contracts by the new producer.
They had recorded about three years earlier, not five. And unfortunately nothing ever came of an association with Dunwich, which is a shame. Badonsky and Bill Traut of Dunwich would have been a great choice to produce the band. Unfortunately, there seem to be no recordings of Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters from the time of the four songs recorded in early 1965 until the release of”Mighty Mighty” in April, 1969.
Earl Glicken only has a couple record credits, as supervisor on the Ideals 1966 remake of their own song, “Go-Go-Gorilla” on Satellite 2011, and producer of their classic “Go Get a Wig” on St. Lawrence 1001 in 1965. He may have had something to do with the re-release of Baby Huey’s “Monkey Man” on Satellite 2013.
at Mother Duck with the Box Tops November 23, 1968May 31 – The Deep End June 14 – Cleveland, reported by the Plain Dealer: “The 400-pund favorite of the younger set and his rock ‘n’ rollers came in from New York from a deb party which lasted until 5 a.m. yesterday morning to play for a dance given last night by four Hathaway Brown graduates for their friends at the Chagrin Valley Hunt Club. Hostesses were Robin Coakley, Paula Frohring, Suzy Sayle and Jane Wierdsma.” June 28 – The Deep End June 24-29 – Hollyoke Club, 3901 E. Wash. St., Indianapolis July 9 – Hullabaloo Club, Genoa Road, Belvidere, Illinois July 10 – The Deep End July 12 – The New Place with Christopher Robin & Friends July 19 – The Green Gorilla July 20 – The Cellar, with the Byzantine Empire July 26 – The Deep End August 2 – The Aragon on 1106 W. Lawrence August 3 – Grandmothers in Lansing August 7 – The New Place with Fire and Ice August 9 – The Cellar with the One Eyed Jacks August 9 & 10 – The Aragon with the Fenders and the Weaker Sex August 17 – The Deep End August 27 – at the Jaguar with Boston Tea Party October 25 – Wild Goose in Waukegan at 8:30, The New Place at 10:30 November 23 – at Mother Duck with the Box Tops November 27 – The Deep End with the Lights of Darkness November 29 – The Green Gorilla, Des Plaines American Legion Hall with the Commonwealth December 30 – Bachelor’s Ball at the Auto-Aviation Museum, Cleveland (follow-up item noted the band canceled due to auto accident so the Imperial Wonders subbed)
Later members of the Babysitters included:
Plato Jones – percussion Rick Marcotte – trumpet Byron Watkins – tenor sax Danny O’Neil – guitar Charley Clark – tenor sax Bobby Baker – alto sax and flute Turk Littles [Alton Little] – trumpet Othello Anderson – ?
These are the ones I’ve found in a smattering of news clips and in the comments below. The album credits five others: David Cook, Dan Alfano, dJack Renee, Phillip Henry, and Moose that I have not seen listed in the comments or news clips. Some of them could have been brought in to overdub the unfinished tracks for the album.
1969 Baby Huey & the Babysitters appear on the Soul! TV show, with Dee Dee Warwick, Lord Superior, Shirley Chisholm and Jacob Lawrence – anyone have a clip of this? Jet, March 6, 1969
January 10 – The Aragon with the Illusions and the North Syde January 17 – The Aragon with Operation Soul (formerly the Fenders) January 18 – The Aragon with the Buckinghams and Operation Soul February 7 – The Aragon with the Motown Sound, the West Side Story and the Rush Hour February 14 – Valentines party at the Cheetah March 1 – The Wild Goose, Rt 120 & Lewis Ave, Waukegan with the Illusions March 15 – The Aragon with Sam the Sham and United Nations March 16 – Gordon Technical High School, 3633 N. California Ave with the Mauds and the Soul Machine, 6-9 PM March 21 – The Chances ‘R’, Champaign, IL March 22 – The Wild Goose in Waukegan with Ben Franklin’s Almanac April 1 – University of Illinois, Chicago Circle Campus, 750 S. Halsted, benefit for Biafran Relief, 1-4 PM April 1 – first mention of their Buddah signing in Billboard April 3 – The Basement, 310 Pearl, Grand Rapids April 4 & 5 – The Aragon with Doug Clark & the Hot Nuts and the Green Men April 12 – “Fernando’s Musical Enterprises recently hosted a party for Baby Huey and the Babysitters at Barnaby’s Balcony. The group’s latest single on the Curtdom label is ‘Mighty Mighty Children'” – Billboard April 21 – new run starts at the Cheetah
On April 24, 1969, the Herald Tribune reported:
A part time Evanston Township High school English teacher and a former rock ’n’ roll musician were arrested yesterday on charges of possession of $2,000 worth of heroin and marijuana … Jeffrey Sowers, 22 … who played with Baby Huey and the Babysitters, a Chicago rock band, also was arrested in the raid on [Noreen Tasley’s] apartment.
I haven’t seen Jeff Sowers cited as a part of the Babysitters beyond this news item.
Lake Geneva, WisconsinApril 26 – “Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters are scheduled to be in New York next month to cut their first album for Curtom.” – Billboard April 30 and May 1 – at the Scotch Mist in Chicago May 1 – Billboard reports the group scheduled to record their first LP for Curtom in New York. May 2 – Chicago Tribune mentions Inner-National Booking “best known for its management of Baby Huey and the Babysitters. May 6 – Soul! TV show, with Dee Dee Warwick, Lord Superior, Shirley Chisholm and Jacob Lawrence – anyone have a clip of this? May 21 – Merv Griffin Show in New York (announced in Billboard May 17) May 22 – The Chances ‘R’, Champaign, Illinois May 29 – The Pier (formerly the Riviera Ballroom) in Lake Geneva May 30 – The Aragon with the Impressions Broadcast of the Merv Griffin Show on June 11, 1969June (2nd week) – Merv Griffin Show broadcast on various dates depending on city June 14 – The New Place with Mead June 21 – The Aragon with the Buckinghams and Von Ryan Express June 27 – The Aragon with Five Stairsteps & Cubie, and Spot & the Blotters July 26 – benefit for Reese hospital The Chronicle reported that Baby Huey cancelledAugust 1-3 – The Fillmore West with the Everly Brothers and Sons of Champlin Cancelled, Frumious Bandersnatch took their place August 4-5 – Basin Street West Most likely cancelled
In August, a syndicated column The Living Arts by Charles Hobson & Shelia Smith mentioned the group as being one of many to appear on the Chicago TV show Our People.
August 14 – Jet announces that Baby Huey was “ailing a bit” in Chicago. September 5 – The Rectry, 4850 Menaul NE, Albequerque, NM September 15-21 – the Whisky a-Go-Go with Eric Burdon of War October 24 & 25 – Lally’s at State & Chestnut with Aorta
On November 2, the Chicago Tribune ran a profile by Clarence Page of a new group tentatively called Funky Skull including Jim Armstrong and Ken McDowell from Them, Curtis Bachman from the Buckinghams, and Reno Smith from the Babysitters. Reno is quoted: “I have played with a small instrumentation before. You are much more free this way, liberated from the limits of a single role in a large group.”
December 5 – The Aragon with Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders
The Tribune reported on December 11 “Wayne Cochran brought his blond bouffant hair-do to the Rush Over, where he did an impromptu bit with Baby Huey & the Baby Sitters.”
At Lou’s Quarry, Appleton, Wisconsin, August 1, 1970
1970
Lou’s Quarry, Appleton, Wisconsin, August 1, 1970April 24 – Sound Storm Festival, Poynette, Wisconsin (There are a number of excellent photos at (Wisconsin Historical Society – search for Baby Huey or Sound Storm under photos and images.) February 4-8 – Whisky a-Go-Go, Los Angeles April 29 – Marian Central Catholic High School (winners of the Pine Brothers Cough Drops contest), Woodstock, IL with Tommy James & the Shondells, the Litter and the Saints & Sinners May 1-4 – The Dells at Lake Lansing May 22 – Streator, Ottawa, IL, with the Second Coming (formerly Buddy & the Citations) May 28 – The Tribune reports: “Baby Huey … reportedly has split up with the Baby Sitters and is rumored to be joining a Madison group, the Brotherhood.” June 17-21 – The Dells at Lake Lansing August 1 – Lou’s Quarry, Appleton, WI October 25 – Val-Air Ballroom, Des Moines, IA October 31 – Drake University Homecoming Dance, Val-Air Ballroom (scheduled but cancelled due to Jim Ramey’s passing on the 28th, replaced by Just Us and the Batch)
Baby Huey died in the Roberts Motel, 6635 S. King Drive, Chicago on October 28, 1970, after a show in Madison, Wisconsin.
Jet, November 12, 1970Billboard, December 5, 1970Jet, October 7, 1971
The Babysitters continued on for some time after James Ramey’s death, apparently with members such as Chaka Khan and her husband Hassan Khan, Charlie Clark (“Chup”), Jon French, Gail, Tommy Thompson, Kenny [surname?] … (see comments below).
Billboard mentioned that after Huey’s death, the Babysitters changed their name to Boink for at least one live show. However Robert Baker, in a comment below states “The Babysitters never changed their name to Boink. This was another concurrent group that had at least two ex-Babysitters in the group.” A listing for a December 4-6, 1970 appearance at the Factree in Calumet City specifies “formerly the Baby Huey Baby Sitters”.
Live dates from publications including The Daily Herald, the Tribune, the Des Moines Register, the Belvidere Daily Republican and others. Certainly this is a far from complete list of their gigs, and also a number of those listed were probably cancelled or postponed.
In 2005 an acetate came up on auction that was supposed to be an unreleased instrumental by Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters. I had a sound clip up here for over a year before Mark Namath identified it as “Zoobie” by the Noisemakers. The acetate was probably a DJ or collector’s cut misidentified as Baby Huey – there’s no connection between the groups.
Baby Huey profiled in the The Daily Journal (Fergus Falls, Minnesota), March 20, 1969
John Maskell got in touch to provide a more detailed account of his time with The Beat Syndicate who are listed on this site here and his first band Group 004 + 1 (originally called Johnny & The Bobcats).
Here are John’s recollections:
Photo was taken at a photographic studio after The Beat Syndicate won a beat competition at Coronation Gardens in Leyton, east London in June 1965. Diana Doors presented us with a recording test at Pye Studios
The group Bobby & The Bobcats formed early in 1962. Bobby left the group that November and The Bobcats held an audition at a youth club in Edmonton, north London.
Unbeknown to me, my good friend had put my name down to go up and sing, so when my name was called, I had no choice but to go up on stage, something I had not done, previously. To my surprise I was told to turn up for practice and the group then became Johnny & The Bobcats, based in Tottenham, north London.
In January 1964, the group was renamed Group 004 + 1.
John Maskell (lead vocals)
Bobby Savage (lead guitar)
Tony Deeks (rhythm guitar)
Joey Vale (bass)
Bernie Allen (drums)
Left to right: John Maskell; Joey Vale; Tony Deeks; Bernie Allen and Bobby Savage. Photo taken at the Swan Public House in Tottenham
The group progressed rapidly and before long we were supporting some big names in the pop industry.
One was at the West Cliff Ballroom in Ramsgate, Kent. We were booked to support singer Duffy Power and a group called The Beat Syndicate.
Duffy Power didn’t turn up for rehearsal; his manager didn’t know where he was and put the organisers in a very nervous situation, not knowing who the top of the bill was.
Duffy eventually turned up quite close to start time and was told he would have to go on first, which meant that Group 004 + 1 were told to go on last.
The end to this story came around three months later when I left Group 004 + 1 and was asked to join The Beat Syndicate.
My last appearance with Group 004 + 1 was at Shoreditch Town Hall supporting Gene Vincent & The Shouts.
The following is a list of all the venues and artists we supported in the period that I recall as Johnny & The Bobcats/Group 004 + 1.
Johnny & The Bobcats gig list:
The Swan Pub, Tottenham, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) Resident band every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night and every other Sunday morning between January 1963-July 1964.
John singing in the Swan pub in 1964
Tudor Hall, Hoddesdon, Herts (as Johnny & The Bobcats) with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers in January 1963
Cuckoo Hall Lane Youth Club, Edmonton, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) on 13 February 1963
Alison Hall St Patrick’s Church, Enfield, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) on 18 February 1963
Alison Hall St Patrick’s Church, Enfield, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) on 10 March 1963
The Cambridge pub, Edmonton, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) in April 1963
The Ritz Cinema, Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) in May 1963
Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with Verne Rodgers & The Rebounds and The Beat Syndicate (as Johnny & The Bobcats) in May/June 1963 (confirmed by my diary)
California Ballroom, Dunstable, Beds (as Johnny & The Bobcats) with Brian Poole & The Tremeloes on 11 October 1963. This gig is listed on the Cali website but does not show us as support group but it is in my diary. This attendance numbers were boosted by the two coaches that came with fans from the Swan pub in Tottenham to support us.
The Kings Head, High Beach, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) in November 1963
Hackney Empire, Hackney, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) (shortly before it closed and was eventually refurbished) with Norman Vaughan, Hilda Baker & Our Eli, Ted Rogers (not the 3-2-1 variety), Jackie Rae, Salky Gowers, Keith Fordyce (compare) and various acrobats and jugglers in November or December 1963
The Angel pub, Edmonton, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) in December 1963
Pub in Cambridge in Cambridgeshire in late 1963
Group 004 + 1 gig list:
Howard Hall, Ponders End, Enfield, north London (as Group 004 + 1) in January 1964
The Manor House dance hall, Finsbury Park, north London with The Hollies on 1 December 1963 (or January 1964)
The Cambridge pub, Edmonton, north London (as Group 004 + 1) in January 1964
The Ritz Cinema, Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, north London (as Group 004 + 1) in January 1964
Club Noreik, south Tottenham, north London with The Paramounts and Jackie Rae (as Group 004 + 1) on 25 January 1964. This gig is shown in The Paramounts LP insert but support acts not shown.
The Swan Pub, Tottenham, north London (as Group 004 + 1) in January 1964. This was a continuation of our residency under the new band’s name.
California Ballroom, Dunstable, Beds with The Merseybeats (as Group 004 + 1) on 17 January 1964 (confirmed by Cali website)
“Channel Beat” at West Cliff Concert Hall, Ramsgate, Kent with The City Sounds, The Fabulous Contours and The Original Bluestars on 8 February 1964 (East Kent Times & Mail) Billed as Mystery Group 004 plus Johnny
The Chez Don, Dalston, east London (as Group 004 + 1) on 15 February 1964
Alison Hall, St Patrick’s Church, Enfield, north London (as Group 004 + 1) on 18 February 1964
The Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (as Group 004 + 1) on 21 February 1964
Cuckoo Hall Lane Youth Club, Edmonton, north London (as Group 004 + 1) on 27 February 1964
Gig in Finchley, north London with Bern Elliott & The Fenmen (as Group 004 + 1) in February or March 1964
Cuckoo Hall Lane Youth Club, Edmonton, north London (as Group 004 + 1) on 12 March 1964
West Cliff Concert Hall, Ramsgate, Kent with Duffy Power & The Beat Syndicate (as Group 004 + 1) on 13 March 1964 (advert confirms this).
Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (as Group 004 + 1) on 15 March 1964 (confirmed by my diary)
Club Noreik, south Tottenham, north London (as Group 004 +1) on 27 March 1964 (confirmed by my diary)
Gig in Haywards Heath, West Sussex (possibly The Pilgrim) (as Group 004 + 1), possibly in March 1964
Kingston Jazz Cellar, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with The Cy Laurie Jazz Band (as Group 004 + 1), possibly in March 1964
Noreik Club, south Tottenham, north London with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (as Group 004 + 1) on 17 April 1964 (confirmed by my diary)
Noreik Club, south Tottenham, north London with The Kinks (as Group 004 + 1) on 25 April 1964 (confirmed by my diary)
Noreik Club, south Tottenham, north London with The Moquettes (as Group 004 + 1) in April or May 1964 (confirmed by my diary)
West Cliff Concert Hall, Ramsgate, Kent with Deke Arlon & The Offbeats (as Group 004 + 1) in May 1964 (confirmed advert but no support acts printed) East Kent Times & Mail has this listed as 1 February with Group 004+1 billed as Mystery Group 004 plus Johnny
Greenham Common American Air Base, Newbury, Berkshire as Group 004 + 1) on 29 May 1964. The next day troops were returning to the USA and the site was closing.
Noreik Club, south Tottenham, north London with The Undertakers (as Group 004 + 1) in May/June 1964
Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London with The Steampacket (featuring Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger Trinity and a little known Rod Stewart) (as Group 004 + 1) in June 1964
Fishmongers Arms, Wood Green, north London (as Group 004 + 1) possibly in late June 1964
Shoreditch Town Hall, Shoreditch, east London with Gene Vincent & The Shouts (as Group 004 + 1) on 3 July 1964. This gig is listed on the Spent brothers’ website but does not show support acts. This was my last gig with Group 004 + 1.
There were many more gigs with Group 004 + 1 which are not listed here where I don’t have more information.
I left Group 004 + 1 in mid-July 1964. The band continued to perform under another name, which I don’t have the details of. They did a short tour of Austria in 1965 and continued to perform until 1966.
I joined The Beat Syndicate in late August 1964, based in Leytonstone, east London.
The Beat Syndicate:
John Maskell (lead vocals)
Mick George (lead guitar)
Jim Newton (rhythm guitar)
John Powis (bass)
Eddie Latrielle (drums) replaced in late 1964 by Tony Smith (drums)
Photo shoot circa June 1965. Left to right: Tony Smith; Jim Newton; John Maskell; John Powis and Mick George. The image was captured at a photographic studio after they had won a beat competition held at Coronation Gardens in Leyton, east London
Our session at Pye Studios was organised by none other than Alan. A Freeman, the top man. We recorded two tracks “Try as I My” our own composition, and “Early One Morning”. Regrettably, the single was never released and the only copy given to the group has been lost in time.
One gig I remember was at a great venue known as the Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames. We were booked to support The Nashville Teens, who were in ascendancy at the time. We arrived at 7pm and played until 9pm, finishing our stint. The owner of the club then came and asked us if we would play on as The Nashville Teens were up north recording a TV spot and were fog bound unable to get a flight back. We agreed to carry on until they arrived.
In the audience were two of The Plebs, formerly with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages. Derek Sirmon and Danny McCulloch realised we had been playing a long time and came up and gave our drummer and bass player a break. Having emailed Derek Sirmon, he replied remembering the night in question.
The stage at this venue was similar to the one in the film The Blues Brothers, where the stage slimmed out to a narrow run almost the length of the dance area. We played for a total of four and a quarter hour and I was on stage for most of the time, what a great night. The Nashville Teens turned up around 12.30am, just as most people were leaving.
The following is a list of all the venues I recall or have recorded in my diary that The Beat Syndicate played. Some of these gigs don’t have dates due to a lack of information. However, the connection the gigs and artists are accurate.
The Beat Syndicate gig list:
Weathersfield American Airbase in Essex in August 1964
Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Bob Kidman & His Orchestra, Eric Squire & His Quartet and The Prestons (source: Glenn Povey’s book Echoes: The Complete History of Pink Floyd) on 5 September 1964
Leyton Baths, Leyton, east London with The Animals on 12 September 1964
Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with Patrick Dane & The Quiet Five on 19 September 1964
Lakenheath American Airbase in Suffolk in October 1964
Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Fairies and Dean Brent & The Strollers on 24 October 1964
Leyton Baths, Leytonstone, east London with Dave Berry & The Cruisers (gig is listed on Dave Berry’s website but with no support acts shown)
Cuckfield Queens Hall, Cuckfield, West Sussex with The Deputies on 13 November 1964
Merton College, Oxford with The Quiet Five on 29 November 1964 (confirmed by college literature)
Leyton Baths, Leyton, east London with Tony Jackson & The Vibrations on 5 December 1964
Red Lion, Leytonstone, east London on 4 January 1965 (We played downstairs in the bar while upstairs in the dancehall was The Who). This gig was confirmed on The Who website, with no pub gig details.
Leyton Baths, Leyton, east London with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders in February 1965
Ilford Palais, Ilford, east London in February or March 1965
Snodland Drill Hall, Snodland, Kent on 13 February 1965
Synagogue, Chingford, east London with Unit Four Plus Two in March or April 1965 (with an audition on 20 and 22 June 1965)
Chez Don, Dalston, east London (around 1 March 1965)
Chez Don, Dalston, east London (around 6 March 1965)
Large pub in Borehamwood, Herts (possibly The Linx) on 9 March 1965
Walthamstow Assembly Halls, Walthamstow, north London with Neil Christian & The Crusaders (last gig with Jimmy Page) on 27 March 1965
Two Puddings, Stratford, east London on 3 April 1965 (we played downstairs in the bar while Sean Buckley & The Breadcrumbs played upstairs in the dance hall)
Walthamstow Assembly Halls, Walthamstow, north London with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders on 24 April 1965
Byron Hotel, Greenford, west London on 24 April 1965
Chicksands American Airbase, Chicksands, Beds for two days in April 1965
The Palais, Deal, Kent (between 1-4 May 1965)
Ciros’ Club, Great Portland Street, central London in May or June 1965
Green Tree, Hatfield, Herts (between 16-18 May 1965)
Walthamstow Assembly Halls, Walthamstow, north London with Tony Rivers & The Castaways on 22 May 1965
Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Troy Dante & The Infernos on 24 May 1965
Chez Don, Dalston, east London (between 4-8 June 1965)
Chez Don, Dalston, east London with Mickey Finn & The Blue Men (around 6 June 1965)
Coronation Gardens, Leytonstone, east London (won beat competition) on 19 June 1965
The Woodstock, north Cheam, Surrey (audition on 20 and 22 June 1965)
Stratford Town Hall, Stratford, east London (between 27-30 June 1965)
Leyton Baths, Leyton, east London with The Rebounds (between June and August 1965)
Two Puddings, Stratford, east London (played downstairs in the bar in July 1965)
Gig in High Wycombe, Bucks with The Swinging Blue Jeans in August 1965
Gig with The Mojos (around 12-16 August 1965)
Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with The Nashville Teens on 12 August 1965
Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Big Boss Men on 14 August 1965
Wimbledon Palais Beat Competition with various groups, including Pink Floyd who did not get selected, in August 1965 (The Beat Syndicate came fourth place in our heat)
Coronation Gardens, Leytonstone around 30 August 1965
The Wake Arms, Epping, Essex in August or September 1965
Granada Cinema, East Ham, east London with The Honeycombs between mid-to-end of September 1965
In late September 1965 I left The Beat Syndicate who continued to perform into 1968/1969.
There were many other bookings with both of my bands that I haven’t been able to list, and I’d welcome any additions below in the comments section.
These are a few of the ones with The Beat Syndicate where I don’t have any details of when they took place:
Bentwaters American Airbase in Suffolk (two night: Friday and Saturday)
Chicksands American Airbase in Beds (two nights: Friday and Saturday)
Weathersfield American Airbase in Essex (two occasions)
Alconbury American Airbase in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Burdrop Park American Services Hospital base in Wiltshire
This popular US R&B quartet were billed as The Original Coasters because they were led by tenor singer Cornelius “Cornell” Gunter who’d been an “original” member of The Coasters who had moved to New York from Los Angeles to record for Atlantic Records in the late 1950s.
Gunter had remained until 1961 before leaving to form his own version known as The Fabulous Coasters.
In November 1966, British promoter Roy Tempest brought Gunter’s version over for a nationwide tour, but it’s not clear who the other members were and so we’d be interested in hearing from anyone that can provide more information below in the comments section. Also, an article in the Nottingham Evening Post (see below) regarding two shows on 6 November suggest that another version of The Coasters was touring Europe (and possibly Britain) at the same time, which might account for some of the gigs below.
This article in the Nottingham Evening Post from 11 November 1966 on page 14 suggests that another version of The Coasters was touring in Europe at the time
For most, if not all, of the gigs listed below, Tempest used a Bognor-Regis based band that he had signed to his agency at the start of September 1966 and installed in London called The Noblemen, although by this point, they had started to work as The Motivation/Motivation.
The line-up comprised Jimmy Marsh (lead vocals); Martin Barre (lead guitar/saxophone), Mick Ketley (keyboards); Chris Rodger (saxophone/trumpet); Bryan Stevens (bass); and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums).
When they linked up with The Original Coasters, The Noblemen/Motivation had just finished working with Alvin Robinson. Rodger also recalls that they supported Ben E King on a few shows while working with The Original Coasters, including at the Twisted Wheel in Manchester (either on 8 or 12 November) and possibly the Thames Hotel in Windsor on 15 November.
Shortly after a riot at the Domino Club in Manchester on 20 November, The Motivation stopped working with Tempest and subsequently changed name to The Penny Peeps, recording two singles for Liberty Records in 1968. Barre went on to join Jethro Tull.
The Coasters returned for another British tour in May 1968 but it’s not clear what version this was.
These gigs are incomplete
Tour dates:
5 November 1966 – Rawmarsh Baths Hall, Rawmarsh, South Yorkshire with Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Dawley Crews Amblers (Sheffield Star) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation considering King Mojo all-nighter later this same evening
5 November 1966 – King Mojo all-nighter, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Noblemen and Sonny Childe & The TNT (Sheffield Star) Backed by The Noblemen (aka Motivation)
6 November 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation
6 November 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Nottingham Evening Post) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation. This show was reviewed in the Nottingham Evening Post’s 11 November issue on page 14 (see above)
6 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation but is this possible as the 7.30pm-11.30pm time clashes with Nottingham gigs above unless this was another version of The Coasters
9 November 1966 – Mecca Ballroom, Royal Pier, Southampton, Hants with The Noblemen (Southern Evening Echo) Backed by The Noblemen (aka Motivation)
11 November 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with The Mode (Melody Maker) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation
12 November 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with Motivation and Hari Kari (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by Motivation
13 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation. It might be after this gig that Malcolm Tomlinson and Mick Ketley were invited by Gunter to a party where they met Jimi Hendrix.
15 November 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) This was most likely with another backing band as Ketley doesn’t recall playing this venue or was another version of The Coasters
17 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex (Brighton Evening Argus) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation
19 November 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation
19 November 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with The Noblemen, The Hideaways, The Kids, The Love Trade and The Escorts (Liverpool Echo) Backed by The Noblemen (aka Motivation)
20 November 1966 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by Motivation
20 November 1966 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by Motivation – this is the gig where the riot took place
24 November 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) This was most likely with another backing band as Ketley doesn’t recall playing this venue or was another version of The Coasters
25 November 1966 – New Yorker Discotheque, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Noblemen (Swindon Evening Advertiser) Backed by The Noblemen (aka Motivation)
26 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Motivation, Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays and Heart & Soul (Lincolnshire Standard) Backed by Motivation
26 November 1966 – Burlesque, Leicester with Motivation (Leicester Mercury) Backed by Motivation
27 November 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirlevington, North Yorkshire with The Motivation (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Backed by Motivation
We’d welcome any further information below in the comments section
Soul and R&B singer/songwriter and pianist Doris Troy is perhaps best known for her hit “Just One Look” and as a session singer after she relocated to Britain in 1969.
Doris Troy featured in Bognor Regis Observer, 30 October 1964Bognor Regis Observer, 30 October 1964, page 2
Her popularity in Britain prompted her first tour in the summer of 1965. It isn’t clear who backed on these dates so we’d welcome any further information in the comments below.
Record Retailer, 8 April 1965
This isn’t a complete list
Tour dates:
11 June 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (two sessions including an all-nighter) (Melody Maker)
12 June 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with Alexis Korner Blues Incorporated and The Myaks (Manchester Evening News)
13 June 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Alexis Korner & His Blues Incorporated (Evening Sentinel/Staffordshire Newsletter)
17 June 1965 – Capitol Theatre, Aberdeen, Scotland with The Rolling Stones, The Checkmates, Cannon Brothers (Johnny & Mike) with The Shades and The Hollies (Aberdeen Evening Express)
18 June 1965 – Caird Hall, Dundee, Scotland with The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, The Cannon Brothers and The Shades (Dundee Courier & Advertiser)
23 June 1965 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)
23 June 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and Herbie Goins & The Night-timers (Melody Maker)
23 July 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Melody Maker)
23 July 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Shevells (All-nighter) (Melody Maker)
Doris Troy in Melody Maker, 3 July 1965, page 4
For this second British tour, promoter Roy Tempest used northwest London group Bluesology who featured a very young Elton John known as Reg Dwight at the time to back Doris Troy. It’s not clear whether Bluesology backed her on all the gigs, so we’d welcome any further information on this.
At the time, Bluesology comprised Stu Brown (guitar/vocals); Reg Dwight (keyboards/vocals); Rex Bishop (bass); Pat Higgs (trumpet); Dave Murphy (sax); and Mick Inkpen (drums)
This isn’t a complete list
Tour dates:
4 February 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Wembley, northwest London (Melody Maker)
4 February 1966 – In Place, Baker Street, central London (Melody Maker)
4 February 1966 – Flamingo All-nighter, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Chessmen (Melody Maker)
5 February 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Bluesology Incorporated and The Move featuring Carl Wayne (Birmingham Evening Mail)
7 February 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with Bluesology, Earl Prestons Realms and The Fix (Liverpool Echo)
9 February 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham with Julian Covey & The Machine (Nottingham Evening Post)
9 February 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)
11 February 1966 – Cue Club all-nighter, Paddington, west London with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker)
11 February 1966 – El Partido All-nighter, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee (Melody Maker)
12 February 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with Bluesology and Manchester Playboys (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
12 February 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Alan Bown Set and Bluesology (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
13 February 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Chessmen (Melody Maker)
18 February 1966 – Club West Indies, Stonebridge, Harlesden, northwest London with The Caribbean Show Band (Melody Maker)
18 February 1966 – Refectory, Golders Green, north London (Melody Maker)
18 February 1966 – Flamingo all-nighter, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with John McCoys Crawdaddies (Melody Maker)
According to an article in the Neath Guardian, dated 11 February, Bluesology Incorporated backed Ben E King on a tour that ran from 18 February to 6 March. I have located some of these dates but they don’t list Bluesology. However, it’s not clear whether Bluesology backed Doris Troy on the following dates that clash with this period or whether it was another band
19 February 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hants with The Trekkers (Aldershot News)
19 February 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London with Captain Fish (Melody Maker)
20-21 February 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Bluesology Incorporated and The Move featuring Carl Wayne (Birmingham Evening Mail)
22 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Spencer Davis Group (London Live book by Tony Bacon)
26 February 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
Record Retailer lists her latest single “I’ll Do Anything” in its 23 October 1968 issue on page 22 (see above)
In 1969, Doris Troy relocated to London and recorded for Apple Records. She also became an in-demand session singer. While based in Britain, she played live and this is one advertised show I’ve found.
Doris Troy signs with Apple as reported in Melody Maker, 20 September 1969 on page 2
15 June 1969 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London with Billie Preston (Melody Maker)
Flirtations advert, Record Retailer, 29 May 1969, page 21
Originally formed as The Gypsies with three sisters – Betty, Ernestine and Shirley Pearce plus their friend Viola Billups, New York-based The Flirtations were originally brought to England by promoter Roy Tempest in December 1967 for a nationwide tour backed by Dagenham, east London outfit, The Trend.
Betty Pearce had departed before this tour commenced and the trio performed as The Fabulous Marvelettes. Despite the confusion and anger this caused, particularly from club owners who mistakenly believed they were getting the Motown superstars The Marvelettes, the tour was successful enough for the vocal trio to return to Britain in spring 1968 for a second tour, billed again as The Fabulous Marvelettes.
For this second tour, they were once again backed by The Trend, who comprised Norman Cummins (lead guitar/vocals), Pete Cole (bass/vocals), Bob Mather (sax), Cliff Reuter (keyboards) and Frankie Morgan (drums).
This isn’t a complete gig list for this tour
Tour dates:
8 March 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with The Upside Down World (Chester Chronicle)
11 March 1968 – Rawmarsh Baths, Rotherham, South Yorkshire with The Original Drifters backed by The London All-Stars (South Yorkshire and Rotherham Advertiser)
20 March 1968 – Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Original Drifters backed by The London All-Stars (Sheffield Star)
After this tour, the trio relocated to Britain and reverted to their original name, The Flirtations, recording prolifically in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
As The Trend was working with other soul artists from mid-1968 onwards, it’s not clear who the backing band was on the gigs below and we’d welcome any further information.
20 April 1968 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with The Staxmen and King Kat Knyte (Nottingham Evening Post)
11 May 1968 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with Clyde McPhatter, The Staxmen and Ways and Means (Nottingham Evening Post)
21 June 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Chicago Setback and Granny’s Intentions (Hemel Hempstead Evening Post)
12 July 1968 – Marvifab Mayfair, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with Urge, Coloured Rain and Traine & Mystics (Sunday Sun)
The Widnes Weekly News, 19 July 1968, page 22, has a picture and a spread on the trio
Photo: Melody Maker, July 1968
27 July 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
15 August 1968 – Royal Pier Pavilion, Southampton, Hants (Southern Daily Echo)
22 August 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Bristol Evening Post)
23 August 1968 – Locarno, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)
24 August 1968 – Imperial, Nelson, Lancashire with Doctor Marigold’s Prescription, The Smythe Brothers, The Index Trend and Pancake Tuesday (Lancashire Telegraph)
29 August 1968 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex (Worthing Herald)
The Derby Evening Telegraph, 31 August 1968, page 4, has a pic and spread on them
31 August 1968 – Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Clyde McPhatter (Luton Evening Post)
1 September 1968 – Giant Bank Holiday Rave All Nighter, Mojo Festival, Queen’s Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Ben E King and Clyde McPhatter, The Fantastics, Tim Rose and The Time Box (Huddersfield Daily Examiner)
12 September 1968 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with Soul Show & The Phoenix City Truth (Birmingham Evening Mail)
12 September 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Bristol Evening Post)
13 October 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
14 October 1968 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Soul Show (backing group), The Third Stone from the Sun (Birmingham Evening Mail)
18 October 1968 – Odeon Taunton, Taunton, Somerset with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, About Face, Dr Marigold’s Prescription, Justins Timepiece, The Santianos and The Vertical Movement (Western Daily Press)
2 November 1968 – Wakefield Theatre Club, Wakefield, West Yorkshire with Johnnie Ray, Audrey Jeans and Jackie Farn (Huddersfield Daily Examiner)
11 November 1968 – Cragburn Ballroom, Cragburn, Scotland with Marmalade and The Verge (Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette)
27-28 December 1968 – Annabel, Sunderland (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
29 December 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
11 January 1969 – Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire with Jasson Hertz and Shady Lane (North Shropshire Journal)
1 February 1969 – Market Hall, Haverfordwest, west Wales with Nightime Pipeline and Night Before (Pembroke & West Wales Guardian)
8 February 1969 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation (Evening Sentinel)
29 March 1969 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Blue Ulysses and Sleepy Talk (Eastern Evening News)
5 April 1969 – Town House, Wellington, Shropshire with Seeburg Discotheque (North Shropshire Journal)
12 April 1969 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Government, Pete Doyle, Rag Dolls and Peter Lee (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
The Runcorn Weekly News, 17 April 1969, page 12, has a story on the band
10 May 1969 – Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire with The Swing Ensemble (North Shropshire Journal)
The Grimsby Evening Telegraph 24 May 1969, page 6, has a pic and story on the trio
We’d like to hear from anyone who can provide more information in the comments section below
New Orleans-based R&B singer and guitarist Alvin Robinson first toured Britain in spring 1966 after he was brought over by promoter Roy Tempest for a nationwide tour with fellow New Orleans stars, female vocal trio, The Dixie Cups.
It isn’t clear who the backing band was on this tour so we’d welcome further information from readers in the comments section at the end.
This isn’t a complete gig list for this tour
Tour dates:
23 April 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)
26 April 1966 – Zambezi, Hounslow, west London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)
30 April 1966 – Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex with The Dixie Cups and The Night People (Brighton Evening Argus/Melody Maker)
30 April 1966 – Cue Club all-nighter, Paddington, west London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)
4 May 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)
7 May 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester with The Dixie Cups and Steampacket (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Rod Stewart had left Steampacket by this point but they could have been the backing band
An article in the Bournemouth Evening Echo notes that local group The Bunch participated in a nationwide tour with Lee Dorsey, Edwin Starr, Ike & Tina Turner and Alvin Robinson in October 1966.
The Bunch in the Bournemouth Evening Echo which mentions touring with Alvin Robinson
None of the gigs listed below tally with the tour dates printed in the newspaper (see above image), however, other than the Leicester gig below on 21 October so it’s possible that The Bunch backed Alvin Robinson at this show.
According to Bryan Stevens, bass player with Bognor-Regis group, The Noblemen, who had previously backed The Vibrations on a Roy Tempest Agency tour in September 1966, The Noblemen backed Alvin Robinson on this second tour in 1966. He confirms that the band backed Edwin Starr at Granby Halls on 21 October and thought that another Tempest agency group, The Senate, might have backed Alvin Robinson, but it is possible that it was in fact The Bunch.
The rest of The Noblemen comprised Jimmy Marsh (lead vocals); Martin Barre (lead guitar/saxophone); Mick Ketley (keyboards/vocals); Chris Rodger (saxophone/trumpet); and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums). To confuse matters, The Noblemen changed name to (The) Motivation in early November 1966 while backing Robinson.
However, The Noblemen didn’t support Robinson on all of the dates below. Pip Williams, lead guitarist with west London band, The Sovereigns, says they backed Robinson on some of these tour dates and points to a photo of Robinson playing his guitar on stage. This is most likely the Whisky A Go Go in Wardour Street, a venue that Ketley says The Noblemen didn’t play.
Originally from Hillingdon, west London, The Sovereigns comprised Roy St John-Foster (vocals); Pip Williams (lead guitar); Mich Tomich (bass); Freddie Tillyer (sax); and Keith Franklin (drums).
After the Club Cedar gigs in Birmingham in early November, The Noblemen also started backing The Coasters on another Roy Tempest organised nationwide tour, so it’s likely that the Robinson shows from that point onwards featured different backing bands, although The Noblemen may have played the odd gig. We’d like to hear from anyone who can provide more information.
This isn’t a complete gig list for this tour
Tour dates:
21 October 1966 – Granby Halls, Leicester with Ike & Tina Turner Show, The Ikettes, Kings of Rhythm, Edwin Starr (with The Noblemen) and Family (Leicester Mercury) Backed by The Senate (or The Bunch)
22 October 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucestershire Echo/Gloucester Citizen) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
22 October 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
23 October 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire with The Ziggy Turner Combo (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
23 October 1966 (most likely date) – Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Malcolm Tomlinson’s recollections) Backed by The Noblemen
24 October 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Sovereigns, according to guitarist Pip Williams
25 October 1966 – Location, Woolwich, southeast London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by The Noblemen
Nottingham Evening Post, 4 November 1966, page 14
28 October 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham with The Noblemen (Nottingham Evening Post) Backed by The Noblemen. Nottingham Evening Post reviewed this show in the 4 November (page 14) issue and said the backing group was The Motivation (aka The Noblemen)
29 October 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Noblemen, Alan Bown Set, John McCoy’s Crawdaddies and Listen (Lincolnshire Standard) Backed by The Noblemen
29 October 1966 – Burlesque, Leicester (Leicester Mercury) Most likely backed by The Noblemen
30 October 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle).
31 October 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Sovereigns, according to guitarist Pip Williams
1-2 November 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Motivations (Birmingham Evening Mail) Backed by The Motivations (formerly The Noblemen)
5 November 1966 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire with Pinkerton’s Colours (Chester Chronicle) The Noblemen/Motivation were playing with The Coasters on this date so probably another backing band
5 November 1966 – Majestic, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) The Noblemen/Motivation were working with The Coasters on this date so probably another backing band
5 November 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with Herbie Goins & The Night-timers, Johnny Breeze & The Atlantics, The Sect, The Herb Set, The First Lites and The Interns (Liverpool Echo) This was probably another backing band and not The Noblemen/Motivation
We’d like to hear from anyone who can provide more information in the comments section below
The Vaqueros, from left: Steve Corona, Tom Corona, Larry Weld and David Heath
The Vaqueros had the first release on the Audition Recording label out of Rochester, New York, “Echo” / “Desert Wind”. It hit local charts in early June, 1964 and received a review in Cash Box on June 13, 1964.
Audition Label Bows with “Echo” by the Vaqueros, Cash Box, June 27, 1964
The group registered copyright for “Echo” on June 15, 1964, music by Larry Weld (Laurence R. Weld), David Heath & Tom Corona (Thomas J. Corona). I haven’t yet found a copyright registration for “Desert Wind”.
Band members were:
Larry Weld – lead guitar Tom Corona – rhythm guitar Steve Corona – bass David Heath – drums
The Vaqueros, from left: Larry Weld, Tom Corona, David Heath kneeling with drum sticks and Steve Corona with bassVaqueros in the Democrat And Chronicle, June 8, 1964
David Heath wrote a history of the band and provided the photos seen here.
In 1963 two 16 year old boys found an old guitar in the house attic in Rochester NY. Larry Weld, the older of the two, decided he would put strings on it and learn how to play. The other boy David Heath said he had a small pair of bongos, round metal tray mounted on a wood stand and a pair of drum sticks. Together they spent many hours trying to play songs they had heard on the radio.
One month later Larry had purchased his first electric guitar and Dave had purchased his first drum set and by this time both had learned several songs and were starting to make new songs of their own. Knowing they needed a rhythm background Dave and Larry asked another Charlotte High school student Tom Corona to join the group and decided on the name “The Vaqueros” for the band. About a month later we composed the song “Echo”. At this point we were starting to play at many parties and events.
Record review in Cash Box, June 13, 1964Vaqueros with Al Cecere at WBBF Studio, June 25, 1964
Around 10 months after we first started playing we were asked to play for a Rochester business event and that was the first time we met Al Cecere who was just starting Audition Records. Al said he liked our band sound and said he would like us to make a record with his new company. We said we would and set up a date to record but we had two major problems to overcome.
1: We had no bass player in the band
2: We had no second side for the record
The first problem was resolved by asking Tom’s older brother Steve Corona to play bass. He agreed and he purchased a bass guitar. Then Tom and Larry showed him what notes to play so we could make the record. The second problem was resolved by rapidly (in one day) composing the song “Desert Wind”.
The Vaqueros (and Al Cecere in back) with the Letterman, NiagaraThe Vaqueros opened for the Lettermen at Niagara Falls Memorial Arena, July 11, 1964
The Vaqueros in Cash Box, July 18, 1964After the song was released and hit #1 on the Rochester and surrounding radio stations we had steady play dates in many venues. We had interviews on radio stations, band picture signing dates, photos and release info in Cashbox, and we were the opening act for The Lettermen in Niagara Falls Canada.Within the next month we wrote and (on acetate demo record) recorded our next two songs to be released “Whiplash” and “Our Lost Love”. Al Cecere was setting up for us to open for The Beach Boys.
Just as things were going very well for the Vaqueros the dark side of this business began to show its face. Al Cecere never informed the band of any record sales and stopped supporting us. He had moved on.
With communication with Al Cecere heading downhill, everything slowed and we were all around 18 years old at this point. Life took over and the band started to split. Larry, Dave and Steve went on to other Rochester bands and Tommy married and started a family. We never played together again but do remain friends. Tommy passed away in 2025.
The Vaqueros and the Tweeds at Teen Town, Kenmore, NY, October 1965
The Vaqueros recorded other songs that went unreleased at the time that now exist on lacquer “acetate” or second-generation tape; a few very effective instrumentals that were ready for release and others that were in progress.
“Whiplash” has an excellent ‘wet’ surf sound I did not find a copyright registration for this one.
“Daybreak” is a spirited vamp with excellent lead guitar from Larry Weld and agile drum fills from David Heath. The group registered it as “Daybreaks” on February 25, 1965, with copyright to the full band including Steve Corona.
“Our Lost Love” is a slower ballad, registered on July 1, 1965 to the four members of the group.
Thank you to Dave Heath for his help with this article and for letting me hear the unreleased songs.
The Traits, 1967, from left: Bob Creaturo, Bobby Williams (on drums), Mike Carroll, Phil Daddona, Jim Klieforth (on keyboard, obscured) and Artie Williams. Photo from Mike Carroll, courtesy of his family.
I corresponded with Jim Klieforth of the Traits in 2009, about a year after writing about them in some detail in regard to the Ren-Vell Records Battle of the Bands LP. Below is our conversation from that time.
Jime Klieforth: My late brother [Charles Klieforth] was a bit of a wheeler-dealer who wasn’t musical but wanted to be in the rock business in some capacity, nurturing a fantasy of being an impresario. I’d been playing guitar and keyboards for a couple of years and our family home had an empty basement that was suitable for a group to rehearse in, so he sweet-talked me and the best musician-singers he knew into forming a group with him as manager. I’d never met any of these guys but was very impressed with the line-up’s talent and professionalism.
Back then, a group needed to have a couple of hours of material well rehearsed for public performances and we had enough musical common ground to pull that together within two weeks. My brother Chuck and his assistant, Don Reid, started aggressively pursuing work for the band and getting us publicity. Almost overnight, we were playing every local venue and from then on out, our rehearsals were jammed with our local contemporaries (mostly schoolgirls) eager to monitor our development. It was an odd and unexpected social change for all of us.
I wish I could say that we were friendly with other bands at that time but the truth is that we saw all of them as competition that needed to be vanquished. The Orphans, for example, who didn’t shine on the Renvell record, turned into a force to be reckoned with when Bobby Mayo (later of Peter Frampton fame) joined up.
We’d had a real advantage by starting out with a good rhythm section and an extraordinary guitarist (Dom Chicerchia, who left the band just before the Ted Mack show we did) but our competitors began acquiring skills at a pace that caused us to get very serious about playing well and refining all aspects of our performance. In an unfortunate reversal of what usually happens, the only recordings of the band were from very early on, before we really developed musically.
I was born in White Plains. Jimmy Carpenito of the Mystics told me Renvell’s studio was next to Gun Town on Central Ave, a store I vaguely remember from my childhood. Hard to believe there was a recording studio on Central Ave! I’m in Brooklyn, now, but my family’s still in White Plains and Yonkers.
As I recall it, Renvell was a second floor walkup, a big room that struck me, even then, as being quite low budget, a shoestring operation with cheap and/or antique equipment. Given how few records carry the Renvell label, I have to assume that most of their business was geared to commercial jingles for local businesses and radio play. I ran into the guy who ran it (I believe his name was Joe Renda) years later, when he owned Northlake Studios in White Plains.
I reminded him of the album and told him I’d been on it and he replied with a story that I thought at the time was an overblown fabrication. According to him, a couple of big DJ’s in England had fallen in love with the Battle of The Bands album and by repeatedly featuring it, had cultivated the development of the garage band sound there, setting the stage for punk. As he told it, the album was selling for $200.00 a pop there (in 1980 dollars) and “High On a Cloud” had received extensive airplay. It turned out that he’d been telling the truth, and the song became known well enough to end up being covered by the Pandoras. Since then it has been put on more compilations than I’ve been able to keep track of. In what is a common story about recordings of that era, no request for usage in these compilations has ever been requested from the band and no compensation has ever been forthcoming. Some of my former band mates are unhappy about this, but personally, I’m delighted that the recording has been archived and perpetuated as a minor archetype of the true garage band sound.
Traits to appear on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour on Sunday, September 17, 1967
Q. When Dom left the band, who replaced him for the Ted Mack show, playing guitar behind his neck on the film?
That was Phil Daddona, who had to attempt to learn Dom’s “behind the neck” trick very quickly. As you can see from the film, he wasn’t particularly adept at it, whereas Dom had been the pre-Hendrix master of it.
Jim Klieforth (2009)
The Traits on “High on a Cloud”:
Mike Carroll – lead vocals Dom Chicherchia – lead guitar Jim Klieforth – keyboard Bob “Creature” Creaturo – guitar Bobby Williams – drums Unidentified bass player
The Traits on Ted Mack (July 31, 1967, aired Sept. 17, 1967):
Mike Carroll – lead vocals Phil Daddona – lead guitar Jim Klieforth – keyboard Bob “Creature” Creaturo – guitar Bobby Williams – drums Artie Williams – bass
The band seems to have slowly split up, as Mike Carroll was drafted in ’68, but must have come back at some point to be the lead vocalist on the Nobody Loves the Hulk release, from 1969.
Bobby Williams reportedly died some years ago, details are unknown. Three other Traits members have passed: Bob Creaturo on September 12, 2014, Mike Carroll on March 15, 2018, and Dom Chicherchia on August 24, 2021.
The Traits at the entrance to the Pelham Parkway IRT station (the 5 train)
More info can be found in the accompanying booklet to the Mojo-Bone release and Ugly Things #66.
The Psychedelic Sound, January 1968, front left: Linda Lizzi and Tina Bauer, back from left: Jim Schelley, Ronnie Amato and Tom Berger. Not pictured: bassist Kevin Kerr.
The Psychedelic Sound were one of the bands who recorded at Earl Kennett’s studio in Kinderhook, New York.
Lacquer with both songs of the Psychedelic Sound 45The band released two original songs, “Sorry Baby – Goodbye” / “Stars Cease to Shine” on Sunny-Side Records 0014, Sunnyside being the name of the Kennett family’s horse farm where the studio was located.
Members included:
Linda Rizzi – vocals Tina Bauer – drums Jim Schelley – guitar Ronnie Amato – vocals and keyboards(?) Tom Berger – guitar Kevin Kerr – bass
plans include making another recordThe Kingston Daily Freeman reported on January 22, 1968 that: “the Psychedelic Sound would take part in the annual March of Dimes benefit show Jan. 28 at municipal auditorium. They recently cut two successful platters, Sorry Baby – Goodbye and Stars Cease to Shine.”
A Daily Freeman notice from July, 1968 remarks:
The Psychedelic Sound, a five-piece musical group consisting of teenagers from Kingston and Lake Katrine, won the Battle of the Bands, sponsored by the Saugerties JayCees, which was held July 3 at Cantine Field.
The group has played for many benefits including the American Legion, Band Battles and Cerebral Palsy, and are under the direction of Mary Rizzi, Lake Katrine.
Mary Rizzi, presumably Linda’s mother, is also credited as producer of the 45, as M. Lizzi. The band probably broke up as Linda Rizzi and presumably others were attending college in the fall.
After the Psychedelic Sound, Kevin Kerr is mentioned as the bassist for the Contemporary Souls, in a photo that ran in the Daily Freeman showing guitarists Jim Kluepfel and Guy Walker with drummer Ted Blankschan for a YMCA/YWCA/Kingston Recreation dance on Dedrick Street in August, 1968.
Ronnie Amato played organ at the Cedar Grove Inn in Saugerties and Liguori’s Restaurant in Rosendale.
Tina Bauer had previously been in another local group called 3 Hits and a Miss with a photo that ran in the Daily Freeman in September, 1966 for a dance at Ulster Park Grange Hall.
3 Hits And A Miss, from left: Sal Greco, lead guitar; Tony Greco, vocalist, Tina Bauer, drummer and Al Pace, rhythm guitar
Thank you to Achille Brunet for tracking down the news clips seen here. Achille has his own site, Strange Lights to cover other bands of this period.
There used to be a dozen such blogs and sites going to cover ’60s ‘garage’ music, but the number of active ones has dwindled in recent years. I hope more start up, because there are too many bands from this era whose history is still undocumented.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
At some point in 1964 or 1965, Johnny Ross, also from Richmond, IN, joined on guitar. They were joined by Chicago musicians Dennis Moore on drums and Larry Sales on bass.
The next two recordings are the influential “Monkey Man”, credited to John R. Ross, though it must have evolved from the Madisons “Bad Baboon”. James Kargman took arranging credit on “Monkey Man”. Copyright was registered on April 23, 1965.
St. Lawrence 1002 – Monkey Man / Beg Me (1965, issued on both blue and white labels)
