This is actually the very first record released on the Ronn label, a subsidiary of Jewel, based in Shreveport, Louisiana. “Nothing You Do” is fine garage-soul, and though there are horns, the vocals, keyboards and driving rhythm remind me of the Music Machine more than anything else. It was written by Roger Barnes and produced by Gene Kent and Don Logan.
Barnes usually wrote soul or funk music, and in fact, the In-Crowd may be the only white artists in the whole Ronn catalog. A good version of “Midnight Hour” is on the flip.
I’m pleased to say I’ve been in touch with Steve Tuminello, the drummer for the In Crowd, so I’ll let him tell the In-Crowd story in his own words:
I was 17 years old when we cut that record at Robin “Hood” Brians studios in Tyler, Texas. Band members on the record were:
James Gordon – Vocalist
Roger Barnes – Keyboard and Vocals
Steve Tuminello – Drums
Drake Lee – Guitar and Bass
Richard Meeks – Guitar and Bass (He is on the fuzz tone lead guitar solo)
Jimmy Lloyd – Tenor Saxophone
Wallace Dingee – Trumpet
Pat Anders – Lead Trumpet
Don Logan and Gene Kent were our managers and promoters of the shows we played. They called them dances, but the kids back then would stand in front of the band and “sweat” the band as they called it. It was kind of like playing a small concert because the halls we played would hold around a 1000 people.
Gene Kent and Don Logan were the top DJ’s in Shreveport, Louisiana at AM 710 KEEL Radio in the 1960’s. Don Logan also was a record executive with Jewel/Paula/Ronn Records. Stan Lewis founder of Jewel/Paula/Ronn records.
I remember Don Logan telling us we had to change the name of the band because we broke the Billboard top 100 (This was late 1966 and the first year Billboard had this designation) and we were being sued by a band named the In Crowd in California. I suggested we change the name to the Inn Crowd. I had the name painted on my bass drum and this was an easy fix. I believe the song hovered around the 10 or 11 mark on the regional charts, as I recall. I didn’t even know we were played outside of Ark-La-Tex.
We became local celebrities and the attendance to our shows increased dramatically. We were just a bunch of high school kids but we were booking for a large amount of money for those times. We used to make a $100 per night each and in today’s dollars that would be around $500 per night.
Roger Barnes and Drake Lee are still in Shreveport and I’m not sure about the rest of the band members. I have often thought a reunion would be a lot of fun. As you mentioned we were a blue eyed soul 8 piece horn band playing R & B covers. “Nothing You Do” was not really our style but was fitting for the AM radio waves in late 1966.
My Uncle, A.J. Tuminello, who taught me to play the drums at age 5, was the original drummer on Dale Hawkins’ Suzie Q, and was involved in the origination of the tune. He was not available on the date of recording so Stan Lewis had his younger brother Ron Lewis fill in for my Uncle in the studio. Ron Lewis is the namesake for Ronn Records.
“Nothing You Do” reached #19 on KEEL in Shreveport in January of ’67.This In-Crowd has nothing to do with the many other In/Inn Crowds around in the ’60s, including the Inn Crowd that featured Hal Ellis (of John Fred’s band), that had three 45s for the Montel – Michelle label.
Despite having recorded at Robin Hood Brians studio, they were also not the In Crowd with Jim Glaves and Bobby Rambo on guitar that released a 45 on Abnak and became the backing band for Jon and Robin.
Wally Dingee and some other members continued the band with Bill Wray on vocals, eventually renaming it to Bill Wray and the Showband Royale. They had a 45 called “For Our Friends” on the Readie label that I haven’t heard.
Thanks to Steve Tuminello for his history of the band and the news articles, and to Wally Dingee for the poster and stills from the Super 8 film of the band.
Apparently Five by Five, the Texas group who had a minor hit (#52) with their version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire” on the Paula label, recorded a version of “Nothing You Do” by the In-Crowd. I suppose this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering that both Paula and Ronn were subsidiaries of the same label, Jewel. Five by Five’s “Nothing You Do” is on their NEXT EXIT album, and I would love to hear their version of this great song.
If anybody can provide me with a mp3 of Five by Five’s version of “Nothing You Do,” please drop me an email.
punkpsych@hotmail.com
-Kurt
Kurt.
I know I’m years out of time here, sorry!
I have the Five By Five LP and can supply you with an mp3 of ‘Nothing You Do’, a great version by the way!
Steve Tuminello and I attended Jesuit HS in Shreveport together but I didn’t know him that well until our senior year, ’66-’67. I was always interested in music and that year the local scene started heating up. It was so cool to know someone who had recorded a record and performed. We had lots of conversations about music and since he had industry connections (besides owning record stores and the Jewel/Paula labels Stan Lewis was the biggest record distributor in the Southeast US)he was able to let us know about new releases coming, etc.
At the time Shrevepot had 3 main venues for the shows/dances Steve mentioned– The Progressive Men’s Club, The Forty & 8 Club, and one other, The Elk’s Club, I think, all located on Cross Lake. Almost every weekend there was a dance and I must have made all of them. The regular acts, besides the Inn Crowd, were John Fred and His Playboy Band, The Uniques (with Joe Stampley), and Cookie and the Cupcakes. Usually they appeared alone but sometimes more than one would play. I remember one night in early ’67 when both John Fred and the Uniques played the Progressive Mens’ Club, each set up on opposite ends of the dance floor. Sometimes, too, national acts were booked. I went to see The Music Machine at Progressive Mens’. They were all in black, including fingerless black gloves and the two guitar players and bass player had matching Guild or Gretch instruments with golden tuners. Another time I saw Roy Head and his band, fresh on the heels of his hit “Treat Her Right”. Mr Head split the seat of his pants doing the splits during his 1st number.
I was at the last show the Inn Crowd played with James Gordon as the singer. It might have been our Senior Prom, in fact. The next night he was replaced with Bill Wray. I remember some people at the time were upset the way Gordon was let go. I saw them at least one more time, as Bill Wray & the Showband Royale but I don’t remeber if Steve was still with them.
A lot of good music was recorded at Robin Hood Brian’s studio, not the least of which included John Fred’s records until he jumped labels and fell flat. Too bad he had only the one real national hit. The band was ready for national exposure sooner and had recorded some great original songs. But I remember Steve telling me that when Paula was ready to release John Fred’s “Up and Down” Paul Revere had just released “Ups and Downs”.
The Inn Crowd was a tight unit and they could really play. I wish I could find my copy of “Nothing You Do”. I haven’t heard it in years.
I remember seeing John Fred and His Playboy band and Bill Wray and His Showband Royale alternating sets on each side of the dance floor, at Cross Lake. What a good time!
Chris Brown sent in this very interesting early version of the In-Crowd’s 45 on a yellow label with a different Ronn logo. Looks like an early release, before Ronn settled on their familiar red, pink and black design. Thanks Chris!
Hi Will, this site enabled me to get in touch with Steve after all these years. As the trumpet player on Nothing You Do, I was upset that I had lost my copy. But I was able to download it along with Midnight Hour from this webpage and now have it forever. It is good music. The Inn Crowd also played at the American Legion club in Shreveport. In fact I still have a poster advertising the Inn Crowd and the Swingin Medallions (“Double Shot”)in Aug. 1966. Since the Medallions are still playing I sent them a copy of the poster.
I tried to comment to your post on orbis-quintus, but it wouldn’t let me, then I found you here. I haven’t talked to you in ages. How are you? Where are you? Here’s a brief rundown of what happened to me.
After a hitch in the Navy, I got a degree in psychology from LSU in 1973, Then I got a second degree in elementary ed (big mistake) from LSU-S. In 1978 I moved to Sacramento, CA. I played lead guitar in bar bands for six years, then studied computer programming and got into teaching adult ed. Recently, I played lead for three years in a duo doing festivals and coffee houses. Now I have a Garage Band home studio and just do original music. http://www.myspace.com/tomdurr I’ve been with my wife Idell for 28 years and raised three step-kids, but have none of my own (by choice). I tried getting back into drumming a few years ago, but it was just too loud and hurt my ears, so I had to give it up again.
Please get in touch. It’d be great to hear from you. tomdurr42@yahoo.com
Tom
circa April 22, 1967
possibly from Shreveport Times
It was Shreveport Times. Nov. 10, 1966. My uncle Richard Meek..played guitar for the In Crowd
He is now in ICU at LSU, hoping he makes it through the night til I get there!
Please say a prayer for him.
Rhonda,
Just read your post. Did Richard make it. We were good friends. I was one of the trumpet players that started the In-Crowd. Wally
The only other white act I can think of on the ‘Ronn’ label is Bill Bush with his in-demand Northern Soul dancer ‘I’m Waiting’.