The Villagers came from Sarasota County in Florida, just south of Tampa. Some or all of the members graduated from Riverview High School class of ’65.
They cut one fine record “Joann” / “Glad You’re Back” on Dale Records 107. “Joann” is a fine teen-type original by Jim Spoto. “Glad You’re Back” is an excellent fast-tempo original by Neal Larson, with neat harmonies and driving drumming.
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune featured a photo of the band on July 7, 1964, describing them as:
… a recently reorganized ensemble … a formerly all male group, now includes the talents of Gretchen Holland at the drums. Other musicians, from left, include, Ken Larsen, Jim Spoto, Neil Larsen and Bill Burgsteiner.
The Tampa Bay Times reported on May 6, 1965 that the Villagers came in third place at the Suncoast Star Parade talent contest at Bayfront Center, with members listed as Gretchen Holland, Kent Larson, Jim Spoto, Wally Kirsten and Neil Larsen.
A notice in the Tampa Tribune on September 23, 1965 gives a different lineup:
Bradenton – A free concert will be given at Cortez Plaza Shopping Center Saturday at 5 p.m. by “The Villagers.” The rock ‘n roll recording stars consist of Kent and Neil Larsen, Jim Spoto, Grechen Holland and Wally Kirstin and have won many honors through the state.
The record and articles have variations in spelling, Neil or Neal, Larsen or Larson.
At a 45th reunion at Riverview High School class of ’65, the Villagers played with a lineup of Bill Burgstiner, Jim Spoto, Harold Harms, and Kent Larson.
Somehow the record ended up on a New Orleans label, Dale Records 107, with mastering codes 133-3552/3. The code prefix 133 is unfamiliar to me.
It was recorded by Rick Jarmon, who is also unfamiliar to me. I cannot find any other credits for his engineering or production.
They were a talented group, and I wish they had made more records.
The Dynamics recording at Atlanta Sound Studios, 1967. From left: Steve Diehl, Bruce Allen, Stanley Newman, Ronnie Osborne, and Bob Garrett
The Dynamics Unlimited released one 45 on the Rose Records label, the melancholy “The Tide Rises” (lyrics taken from the poem by Longfellow) b/w “Baby Let’s Wait” on Rose 2890. Publishing is through Margie Music, BMI. The RCA custom press # U4KM-4910/1 points to a 1967 date.
The band then backed Jerry Ashley for his single on Rose 2091, “Don’t Tell Me Why” / “Come to Me”, two originals by Ashley also published by Margie Music.
The Dynamics on break at an officers’ club. From left: Bob Garrett, Stanley Newman, Bruce Allen, Steve Diehl, and Ronnie Osborne
I knew nothing about the Dynamics until drummer Bruce Allen contacted me in April, 2024 generously sharing the photos seen here:
Dynamics promotional photo, early 1967
My name is Bruce Allen, and I was the drummer for the Warner Robins, GA band known as The Dynamics Unlimited. I was one of the three founding members, along with Stanley Newman and Bob Garrett. About 1965-6 we added a keyboardist, Steve Diehl, and a bass player. At first Dan Ross (dec.) played bass for us, but by the time of our recording of “The Tide Rises”, bass was being played by Ronnie Osborne.
Beginning in about 1966, Steve Diehl’s father, Mr. Carl Diehl of Warner Robins, managed the band and handled all money matters. The band members were paid proportionally after each performance.It was during 1967 and 1968 that we had the promo photos made, played as a studio band for Jerry Ashley on one record, and recorded our version of “The Tide Rises”, and “Baby, Lets Wait”. Many weekends (we were still in high school) were taken up with rehearsals and local performances. During spring and summer breaks we performed further afield at several Officer’s Clubs, Battles of the Bands, and private clubs. Mr. Diehl was a fine gentleman and took great care of the band when we traveled. No one did drugs or even drank much alcohol. It was a fabulous way to spend our later high school years.
Regarding Jerry Ashley, I only recall The Dynamics Unlimited performing as a studio band for him on two or three recordings. I don’t recall performing with him outside of the studio.
Dynamics promotional photo, 1967Bruce Allen’s Ludwig drums, 1966
I left the band in 1968 after performing a show at Ronnie Barn’s club in Macon GA during late summer, after which I passed out and was diagnosed with mononucleosis. Because the doctor told me that I could not play for at least six months, and because we had bookings, I sold my 1966 Gold Sparkle Ludwig drums with Zildjian cymbals and all of my interest in the band and equipment to Ricky Hughes of Warner Robins, who played drums for the band until the band dissolved in about 1971-72.
I have lost touch with Ronnie and received no reply from what I believe to be his last address in Seneca, SC. All the other band members are deceased. Bob died first in (I believe) Nashville in the 1980s or 90s. Steve Diehl went to serve in Viet Nam about 1971 as a helicopter pilot, was decorated for bravery, and on return to civilian life he drove a heavy rig for (I believe) Hunt Transportation company. He died of a heart attack several years later. I do not know what happened to Steve’s marvelous Hammond B3 organ. Stanley went to work at Robins AFB and died about ten years ago, and Dan Ross was a prominent business man in Warner Robins in the auto industry, and died within the last ten or so years. So, as far as I know, I am the only member of the band that is still living.
Ronnie Osborne on bass, at recording of The Tide Rises 1967
I went off to the University of Georgia in Fall of 1968 and got a degree in Chemistry in 1972. I then went to medical school at the Medical College of Georgia, earned an M.D. honors degree in 1976, did a residency there in dermatology, and taught on the faculty until 1983. I entered private practice in Dermatology in Macon, GA in 1983, where I practiced until 1994. I left medicine in 1994 to run two LLC businesses, and in May of 2007, the Prince and the Government of Liechtenstein appointed me as the first diplomatic consul in history for the Principality of Liechtenstein. I still perform that job as a State Department accredited Honorary Consul.
Bruce Allen of the Dynamics in the studio, 1967Yours Truly, Cathead Dooley CD
I have continued to play drums and today have three sets of drums (Ludwigs, Gretsch, and Roland Pro Vs). In the 1990’s I played drums with the GEDA Allstars for three years (a band formed by the Economic Development Authority for the State of Georgia). I also had a very successful band in the early 2000’s called Cathead Dooley and we performed tours in Wales during 2003 and 2004. We recorded a CD of all original material called, Yours Truly, Cathead Dooley.
All photos courtesy of Bruce Allen.
Bob Garrett and Ricky Hughes would join Coldwater Army, who recorded a good blues-rock album Peace for Agape in 1971.
This is a 2024 update of a basic post from 2014.
Clippings for the Dynamics and Steve Sanders at Macon Auditorium
6 Tickets to Shangri-La and The Ides of Love each had one 45 on Talmu Records. The groups sound alike, and all four songs were written by the team of Ed Malinowski and Tom Flynn.
6 Tickets to Shangri-La released “Lovely People” / “I’ve Got To Find A Way” on Talmu 311 in February, 1968, with Leroy Kirkland arranging and Fred Giachino producing.
The Ides of Love released “Hey Mister Wise Man” / “Something So Pretty” in November on TAL 314, this time with Joe Cain producing and supervising.
Cash Box reviewed both 45s.
I cannot find copyright registration for any of these songs, but Talmu and Giachino registered two other Flynn/Malinowski songs in January, 1968: “Objection Overruled” and “She’ll Make Me Happy”. I suppose a demo of these should exist somewhere, and it would be good to hear them.
Talmu Records had a New York City address.
I’d appreciate any further info on Tom Flynn and Ed Malinowski’s musical careers.
Today I’m featuring two rockabilly artists, George Quarta Jr. and Bob Cribbie, who both grew up in Hudson, New York.
In 1959 they each released a 45 on the Cool Records label out of Harrison, New Jersey. George Quarta Jr. cut “Get Loose” / “Don’t Move”, and Bob Cribbie made “Vow of Love” / “Rockabilly Yodel”.
Cool Records attracted artists from Florida to Vermont. The Hudson connection might be coincidental. The records do not sound similar and may have been cut at different sessions or studios. What makes me think this could be more than coincidence is the 45s had successive release numbers: Bob Cribbie on Cool Records CJ-117, and George Quarta on Cool CJ-118.
George Quarta was born on December 21, 1931 and died on September 6, 2017. Quarta’s obituary states “He performed in the Hudson area including at the old Community Theatre where billboards of George lined the walls as the girls excitedly gathered to hear him sing and play his guitar.” The Community Theatre still stands, but has been disused for decades.
Bob Cribbie’s vocal on “Vow of Love” is straightforward, but his delivery on “Rockabilly Yodel” is very much “outsider” in nature; he certainly has an odd sense of timing! Bob became known as a idiosyncratic yodeler, appearing on radio and late night TV under his own name and then as Avalanche Bob.
Did George and Bob know each other? I have no idea. Nearly everyone involved in these records has passed away.
What was the connection that brought Hudson NY artists to record at Cool?
It was likely veteran talent scout Jim Small, of nearby Elizaville, NY.
Jim Small and Slim Whitman after WCOP’s Hayloft Jamboree, Cash Box May 16, 1953
Jim Small’s ten years of mentions in trade publications hints at the tough life of a record A&R man.
In 1953 and 1954, Jim received mentions in Cash Box as manager of WCOP, Boston, and business manager of New England’s “Dude Ranch Jamboree” out of WJAR-TV, in Providence, RI.
Billboard, Sept. 29, 1958: Jim Small of Elizaville, N.Y. .. has accepted talent-scout duties with Johnny Dee’s Vitam Distribution Company, Harrison, N.J., and Johnny Ponz’s Ace Records, New York. Jim will cover Dee’s three labels, D, c.&w.; Vitam, pop, and Cool, rock ‘n’ roll. He’ll cover c.&w. and rock ‘n’ roll for the Pony label. Small, who was laid up most of last winter with pneumonia, says he’s good as new again.
Cash Box, October 11, 1958:
Jim Small … has been chosen by two record companies as a national talent scout. One is Vitam Distribs of Harrison, N.J., which has three labels: the strictly country “D” label, the pop Vitam, and the rock ‘n’ roll Cool label. Small will represent all three. The other outfit is Ace Records, New York, which will add country releases to its pop catalog.
(I am not familiar with a Harrison, NJ “D” label. It could be that it was not used because of Pappy Daly’s D label out of Houston which started earlier that year. I know of only one release on Vitam, Ray King and the Joe Derise Orchestra, “Can It Be Love” / “I’ll Always Love You.”)
Billboard, November 24, 1958 reported:
Visitors at the desk last Wednesday en route to the Nashville deejay festival, were promoter-manager Jim Small of Elizaville, N.Y. and a pair of his artists, Dick Sawyer of Stratford, N.Y. and Neil Swanson, who for the last four years has appeared on “Teen-Age Barn” TV show originating in Schenectady, N.Y … Sawyer’s initial release on Cool Records, “Sandy” b.w. “New Kind of Lovin’,” is due for early release.
The Glens Falls, NY Post-Star on August 6, 1959 mentions talent scout Jim Small in connection to Gerald Galusha, who made a record for Cool as Jerry Edwards, “Shedding Tears” / “Easy to Please” on Cool CJ-128.
Billboard August 3, 1959:
Jim Small, A&R man with Joe Flis’ Milo Recording Company, Harrison, NJ, has taken over the personal management of three Cool Records artists – Dave Osborn, Johnny White and Artie Davis. Small recently ushered Osborn to Wheeling, W.Va., for a guest shot on WJVA’s World’s Original Jamboree. White’s newest Cool release couples “Cryin’ Room” and “Rose in the Garden,” while Davis’ new one on that label is “Book of Love” b/w “Hawaiian Boogie.”
Billboard, April 4, 1960:
Jim Small, who has been associated with the c.&w. music field more than 25 years, has been named vice-president of Milo Recording Company, Harrison, N.J., by owner-manager Joe Flis. Jim has long served as talent scout for Milo and organized the firm’s c.&w. department with its Cool label. Small is presently in De Land, Fla., recuperating from an attack of ulcers which laid him low for several months. He is continuing with his scouting and auditioning during his Florida stay. With him is his right-hand man and assistant, Dave Osborn. Small’s home and office is in Elizaville, N.Y. [Dave Osborn came from nearby Hillsdale, NY, and made records on both Milo and Cool.]
Jim Small’s A-B-S Records label in March 1963: the artist pays $300 for 300 records … future royalties uncertain. George Quarta and Bob Cribbie probably made a similar deal with Cool Records
Billboard, July 25, 1960:
Jim Small, Veepee of Milo Recording Company and Cool Records, Harrison, N.J. is currently on a talent-scouting expedition thru Pennsylvania. Touring with him are his assistants Bud Bailey and Bob Weiss. Dave Osborn, who worked with Small out of the Cool branch in DeLand, Fla. the past winter, is spending the summer with his band in his native New York State. He will return to Florida with Small in the late fall. Jim reports that he is amazed at the amount of solid c.&w. talent that has been overlooked in Pennsylvania.
Billboard April 13, 1963:
Jim Small, president of A-B-S Records, Inc., Elizaville, N.Y., is back in action after spending most of the last 10 months in the hospital. Small has named Bud Bailey as general manger of A-B-S. Firm last week released a new one by Mickey Barnett and His Wranglers, “Just a Memory” b.w. “I’m Sorry I Cheated on You,” both penned by Mickey himself. A new A-B-S religious release spots “I’ve Been With Jesus” and “When I Move” as done by the Missionaires Quartet of Miami.
The Wilmington, Delaware News-Journal March 10, 1964:
Howard Rash, a songwriter and singer of country and western ballads, has purchased ABS Records from Jim Small of Elizaville, N.Y., and DeLand, Fla.
The Xployts at a high school Valentine’s Day dance in Riverside, 1965
Mike Butler sent in these photos and wrote to me about his band, the Xployts. Members included:
Berl Bartz – vocals Mark Sherrill – guitar Mike Butler – guitar Ned Moore – bass Warren Moore – drums
The Xployts played in the Inland Empire area of Southern California from 1965 through 1969. We started as a surf band then moved to a cover band for top forty songs, and ended up as a blues band.
We played local high school dances, proms, street dances, teenage night clubs, and a local concert venue named Swing Auditorium. Swing Auditorium was the first place The Rolling Stones played when they arrived in the United States in 1964. We played a couple of gigs with the Whatt Four and The Light.
The Xployts drumhead, photo courtesy of Warren MooreI worked at Chauncey Romero’s House of Note in Redlands after graduating from Redlands High School. Chauncey is still a friend.
We broke up in 1969 when three of us were drafted. The draft caught up with us before we could record.
I’m still in touch with our drummer Warren and our bass player Ned. Warren still has the drum head with our band’s name.
Mike Butler
The Xployts at Liers Music in San Bernardino, from left: Berl Bartz, Mark Sherrill, Mike Butler (sitting), Ned Moore, and Warren MooreThe Xployts at a high school Valentine’s Day dance in Riverside, 1965
Photo card included with some copies of the Sunday Funnies 45 on Skoop. From left: John Rice, Luke Pride, Gary MacShara and Tom Sheffer.
The Sunday Funnies 45 on Skoop 1070 has two excellent original songs, “Sunny Covington Avenue” an uptempo rocker, and “It Won’t Happen to You”. The labels list Gary McShara (actually Gary MacShara) as the song writer on the labels, with publishing by Buna Music. I don’t own a copy of the 45, unfortunately.
A photo card included with some copies of the record has a photo that predates Pat Berry joining the group, and has the name of manager Wayne Watters crossed out.
Sunday Funnies profiled in the Evansville Press, March 30, 1967
I came across this profile of the group from March, 30, 1967, which would date the single to about April, 1967:
The group … has become known through various appearances at such Evansville places as the Community Center at the Coliseum and on local television.
The Messenger of Madisonville KY, Friday, Oct. 14, 1966The Sunday Funnies combo also has performed throughout the Tri-State area, but is hoping to become still better known through its recording of ” soon to be released
The group’s drummer, Gary MacShara, an 18-year-old employee of Our Lady of Mercy Hospital at Morganfield, Ky., wrote both of the tunes. The recording, which will be the Sunday Funnies’ first, is expected to be released soon on the Skoop label from the Santa Claus, Ind. studios.
Also in the combo are John Rice, 17-year-old Union County High School senior from Morganfield, on lead guitar; Luke Pride, 14-year-old Pride, Ky., resident who is a freshman at Sturgis Junior High, the organist; and Tom Shaeffler [Tom Sheffer], 16-year-old junior at St. Vincent Academy near Waverly, Ky., on bass guitar.
Newest member of the group is the singer, Pat Berry, 21, of Morganfield. Richard Young, a disc jockey for a Morganfield radio station, is the group’s business manager.
The group has been together since last September performing “mostly as a hobby and something to do,” Rice explained.
None of the group’s members are now planning to make music a career, he said.
In their appearances, the group strives for a different sound. “We don’t try to get real loud because we don’t especially care for that, but at the same time we try to move away from the old surfing sound,” Rice said.
“Our’s is a straight, no beat, but melodious sound lacking the tangy guitar sound. We’re trying to develop the Utah sound Gary played with a musical group before moving from the western state to the Tri-State,” Rice explained.
The instrumentalists each previously played with other combos, he noted.
Dave and the Squires cut this moody original song “The Girl of My Dreams” in late 1965, released on Radex R65121. The flip is a slow version of “Ferry Cross the Merscy” [sic].
I know nothing about the group except one member’s name, Dave Lamoreux who wrote the A-side and sang lead on both sides.
Radex Recording Studio was in business in Freeport, Illinois into the 1980s. Its most notable production may be the Nomadds who cut an album there, Nomads Originals Plus. Owner Dexter Witt passed away in January 2023.
The Cannons came from Madison, Wisconsin, releasing singles in 1966 and 1967. Members were:
Lee Larsen – lead vocals Mike Keilhofer – lead guitar Peter Loeb – sax and rhythm guitar Jim Perkins – bass Mike Turk – drums
Gary E. Myers’ book Do You Hear That Beat has Jerry Cratzenberg on bass.
Their first single was “Sweet Georgia Brown” / “Lonesome” on Fan Jr. 5504, produced by Skip Nelson.
In January 1967 they made their masterpiece, “Day to Day”, backed with “‘Love,’ Little Girl”.
No writing credits are listed for either song on the Night Owl 45, or for “Lonesome” on the earlier Fan, Jr 45, but a Capital Times profile stated “‘Day to Day'” and “‘Love Girl'” … both songs were written by ‘The Cannons.'”
“Day to Day” was reissued on Highs in the Mid Sixties Vol. 15 retitled “Days Go By”, and wrongly listing the band’s origin as Milwaukee.
The Capital Times ran a profile of the group by Gary Rettgen on February 6, 1967:
‘The Cannons,’ Local Rock ‘n’ Roll Group, Discovered by Chicago Agency
A musical group of young Madison men has been “discovered” by Chicago’s Williard Alexander booking agency … but the “discoveries” already are well known to Madison rock ‘n’ roll fans.
The local Upstairs at the Gun Club, Cottage Grove Rd., bills them as “Madison’s Number One Band.” Recently the group were first place winners in the March of Dime benefit band contest at the Capitol Theatre.
Familiar, too, is the face of its long-haired, bearded leader, Peter Loeb, 21, who wields a “wicked” sax and wild second guitar … Peter will enter graduate school in social work after June graduation.
Mike Keilhofer, 20, on lead guitar is a student at the Wisconsin School of Electronics.
The bass player is 20-year-old Jim Perkins, who by day attends Madison Business College.
Mike Turk, 20, the drummer, is a U. of Wisconsin sophomore.
Singing with “The Cannons” is Lee Larsen, 19, a printer’s apprentice by day at Webcrafts. The only married man in the group, he has a daughter…
A young brother, Greg Loeb, 18, a U. of Wisconsin freshman, has formed a group of his own. Their name: “The Grapes of Wrath.”
The Varments cut two good original songs “Love Is a One Time Thing” / “I Want to Salute You Girl” for their only 45 on Varment JW 101/102. Bill Truett was the song writer and, given the prominent credit on the label, probably the lead vocalist. The other members are only listed by first names: John, Dave and Dennis.
There’s no identifying info on the label as to location. The dead wax simply repeats the JW 101/JW 102 code, with no other marks. I’m not sure what the JW refers to.
The B-side title is misprinted with Saulte instead of Salute.
Any further info on the Varments would be appreciated.
The Caravan of Sound made this cool instrumental 45 in 1969. “Walking High” starts out with the “Dirty Water” riff then turns into something the Bobby Fuller Four could have cut. It’s backed with the milder “Happy Caravan”. Both tracks are credited to R. Hudson, probably the very skilled lead guitarist on both sides.
Released on Victory Productions K 2179 in 1969, I have no idea where the group came from. There was a Caravan of Sound playing in New Hampshire and Maine in 1969-1970s, but they played country music. From the sound of the record, I expect this Caravan of Sound was a California group.
The RCA pressing codes X4KM-1074/X4KM-1074 date the pressing to 1969. Usually RCA pressings have a plant code in the dead wax: R, H or I, but this one lacks that, or it is so faint I cannot make it out. I do see a faint C etched after the stamped matrix, but no indication of regional pressing plant.
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
The Villagers came from Sarasota County in Florida, just south of Tampa. Some or all of the members graduated from Riverview High School class of ’65.
They cut one fine record “Joann” / “Glad You’re Back” on Dale Records 107. “Joann” is a fine teen-type original by Jim Spoto. “Glad You’re Back” is an excellent fast-tempo original by Neal Larson, with neat harmonies and driving drumming.
A notice in the Tampa Tribune on September 23, 1965 gives a different lineup:
