The Knights Band were Ray Edwards (vocals), Dudley Parker (keyboards), Carson Hood (bass), Bill Ashton (sax), Bick Mitchell (drums) and Dave Keller (lead guitar).Vocalist and DJ Ray Edwards sent in the early photo of David Keller’s first band, the Knights and gives some background, below.
The Preachers was David’s third band. In Shades Valley High School in Birmingham in the early 60’s, David played lead guitar for The Knights. I was the singer (little guy on the end) and “booking manager.” Other members were Bill Ashton (sax), Carson Hood (bass), Dudley Parker (keyboards), and Bic Mitchell (drums).
I graduated in 1963 and after a year at UAB in Birmingham headed to Tuscaloosa and a job 5 nights a week as a DJ at WJRD in Tuscaloosa. I was “invited” to drop out of the group. David took over lead vocals and sort of manager. They changed their name to The Original Knights and put out a 45 record to promote the band.
In the late 60’s I ran into David. He had just bought the convertible and told he he was making great money promoting bands. He said he had paid 21 $100 bills for the car. This was in Panama City where he had the club. The next thing I heard was that he was about to be drafted and had headed for Canada.
I have caught up with Bill Ashton, he is in sales and gets to Alabama from time to time. I met Dudley Parker at a wedding I was Djing for. (DJ company is Alabama Entertainment – alaentertainment.com) I talked with Bic who was filling in with a band playing at The Club. Carson died some time after we were in the band.
I have often wondered what happened to David. He was always “Crazy David” even when we had Saturday Morning band practice in his parents garage on Dolly Ridge Road in what became Vestavia Hills.
Ray Edwards
When Edwards and Parker left, the band became a quartet, now calling themselves the Original Knights. This group released one 45 on their own Knight Enterprise Records recorded at Boutwell Recording Studios in Birmingham. David Keller wrote both songs, “Going Fishing” and “Please Don’t Go”, which has vocals credited to Keller and Carson Hood.According to the sleeve, Keller attended University of Alabama in Birmingham while Hood and Mitchell were students at Walker Jr. College (now Bevill State I believe) in Sumiton, 25 miles to the northwest. Bill Ashton is listed as attending the more distant Auburn University.
For further info on David Keller, check out the page on the Preachers.
Thanks to Ray Edwards for the photo and info about the Knights Band, and also to Jeff Lemlich for the scans and transfers of the 45 as the Original “Knights”.
Chris,
I have the Original Knights’ 45 with a picture sleeve. I can record it for you, and scan the sleeve, if you still need them. Jeff
Anywhere I can listen to this?
Hi…I am Bick’s sister. This is AWESOME!
Hey! I’m Meredith Mitchell, Bick Mitchell’s daughter! I’m so excited to find this site! My dad is so super cool, even still 😉 We’ve got tons of pictures of The Original “Knights” and the Preachers. We still have his records, I love to listen to them.
P.S. ‘John Love’ of the Preachers says “Hi” 🙂
You are right your dad still is cool, we love Bic…
Carson Hood is my father. I am very proud of everything he accomplished in his life. I know this part of his life was a very happy time. Thanks to everyone that made it possible.
I was married to Carson Hood from January 1966 until his death in January 1991. At the time of his
death Carson was a computer programed with the
City of Montgomery. He was a Mason and Shriner.
He was also a former officer of the Good Morning
Kiwanis Club and a member of Valley Park Baptist church. We had two wonderful daughters. Both
shared their father’s love of music as well as his
Tremendous talent.
I knew David Keller well in the 60’s. He used to come to Selma in the yellow convertible. He played there with The Preachers a few times. When I left home in ’68 I worked for him at The Head Shop, the music club in Panama City. I was hitch hiking back to LA from the Altamont concert in 1969 and ran in to Keller and Rick Mahoney at a service station in California. They were ontheir way to Canada. That was the last I saw of him
I realy hope that you can help me. I want to know if I can order this record on cd/mp3 for my dad. We live in South-Africa and it would we great, absolute fantastic if I could buy this comehow.
Please
Thank you
Lizette Hansen
To Lizette Hansen,
Please forgive the HUGE delay in sending this reply. I have not been back on this website for several years. If you do not have the Original Knights music yet, I do have the 45 and would be happy to put it on CD and send it to you at no cost.
Ray Edwards
Alabama Entertainment
ray@rockingray.com
The last I heard, Dave Keller was in St. Maarten. I met him when he moved to St. Croix, USVI. I sent a message to a friend who was married to him a couple of years asking for an update.
Met my husband of 50 years, Ray Edwards, when one of his friends took me to hear the Knights playing for a shopping center opening. Our dates often ended up helping the band set up and break down or pulling requested records while he was a DJ at WYDE. Lots of good memories.
Mickie Edwards