The Venus Flytrap came from Redwood City, CA. Info on the group is a scattershot, so I’ve decided to compile what I’ve found in the hope of getting more information.
They made one great single, “The Note” / “Have You Ever”, released on two different labels.
The original release came on Jaguar Records J-103, owned by Barry Wineroth. It was a hit in the Santa Barbara area, but the band also had a following in the South Bay, which may be why Mijji repressed it on Mijji M-3005, adding a production credit to Gilbert Day, drummer with the Bundles.
The Redwood City Tribune announced the release of the single on August 3, 1967, but copyright registration came later. Both songs have words by Don Danielli (not sure of the spelling – Donald Danelli ?), and music by Dan Sanchez, copyrighted on April 15, 1968 with publisher by Wren Music BMI, and again a week later with new publisher Guard Music BMI, part of Golden State Recorders.
At the time of the single, the Venus Flytrap members were:
Nancy Morgan – lead singer Peter Sessions – lead guitar Dan Sanchez – rhythm guitar Ken Czapkay – bass Debbie Binetti – drums
Bard Dupont of the Outfit replaced Ken Czapkay when he was drafted, and Michele Sevryn replaced Nancy Morgan shortly before the band split.
The Venus Flytrap after the single: from left: Bard Dupont, Debbie Binetti, Pete Sessions, Nancy Morgan and Dan Sanchez
The Venus Flytrap recorded two other songs, “California” and “Gentle Breaker” at Pacific Recording Studios in San Mateo, with Karen Jenson on backup vocals.
Venus Flytrap Redwood City Tribune, August 22, 1969
There is also a live recording from Redwood City (which I have not heard) with a different lineup: Nancy Morgan and Dan Sanchez joined by Jacque Aknin on drums, Charles J. Ashton on bass and Ralph Pena on organ. Songs include “Whiskey Train”, “Paraphenalia” and “Brand New Dress”.
The group played many venues in the area, including the Mt. Carmel Teen Club on December 1, 1967 with the Mourning Reign, and Light show by the Brothers Grimley. I can find notices for the band’s shows as late as May, 1970.
Darline Elswick, Bonnie Borelli and Marge Boutwell headed fan clubs for the group.
Members would join other groups such as the Great Society, Phoenix, New Generation, and Howl & the Raven.
Nancy Morgan (now Nancy Coggins) sent a pdf with b&w collages of photos, business cards etc. Hopefully the originals will be located for better quality images. There’s also a somewhat blurry photo around of Peter Sessions and Nancy Morgan standing in front of the hieroglyphics wall of the Matrix.
The Bay Area Bands site reprints Alec Palao’s article on Bard Dupont from Cream Puff War No. 2, February 1993.
Nancy Morgan was no longer in the Venus Flytrap by the time of this May 29, 1970 article in the Tribune for the People Helping People festival in San Mateo, with Smoke, Clover, and Cousin Roberts and Friends, plus the Illegitimate Theatre.
Eddie and the Upsets, with Eddie on left, and Jesus Escoto on right
Eddy and the Upsets had a number of singles beginning in 1966, sometimes as Eddie Dimas & the Upsets. Most of their singles are Mexican guitar instrumentals or ballads, but “I Got News” sounds very garage. Recorded at Audio Recorders in Phoenix, it was released on Dektr ARA-41668 in 1966 with the ballad “Cry Cry Cry” on the flip.
The band formed at Phoenix Union high school. Eddie Dimas played lead guitar and sang some lead vocals. His older brother was Benny Dimas of the Majestic Five.
Jesus Escoto is on bass in the black & white photo and wrote “So Long”.
I don’t know the names of other members of the ’60s version of the band.
Dave Rivero wrote “I Got News” and the ballad “Don’t You Ever”.
Eddie Dimas at the Id Club on South Central Ave in PhoenixFreddie Brown sings lead on “No Me Tengas Compacion”, the B-side to a single on Christy as Eddy Dimas and the K-Men. Freddie Brown had his own releases on Christy.
Arthur Castro co-arranged “El Mitote”, and Benny Dimas co-arranged “La Vieja Seca”. Ross Benavidez produced a 1970 single on the Lance label.
Johnny Collins produced the Dektr singles, while G.G. Hardin gets production credit for most of the Cristy singles. Christy collected a number of instrumentals for an album El Mosquito on Christy CR 5007.
Edward Dimas passed away on March 8, 2013, and his brother Bennie Dimas on April 12, 2018.
Thank you to Francisco Candia for suggesting this post and for providing info, photos, and scans of the singles.
the schools ‘vocal director’ Donna Buel … Linda Tyra, Nancy Schunk, Janet Miller, Norma Sumner, Shirley Mangold, all 8th graders, Diane Rodenburg, Diane Schwander, Jill Lampe, Mary Schleue, Diane Spencer, all 7th graders, and Jane Labanz, a first grader … An eleventh member was added … in time for the studio ‘take’ … Melody Stinson now a ninth-grader at Oak Hills High School.
The Percussions backed the Sprites for their recording of “Little Latin Lupe Lu” / “On a Slow Boat to China”. The tape was sent to Wakefield Manufacturing in Phoenix, Arizona to be pressed, and the Wakefield code 7234 dates it to 1965.
Even more obscure is their second record, which probably features a different group of children, as the Wakefield number 14360 dates it to 1969 or 1970. “Consider Yourself” (from Oliver!) is about what you’d expect, and features backing by the Percussions (definitely not a rock group). The flip is the gentle and affecting “Jim’s Ballad” featuring guitar by Jim Wenstrup.
The Electros, April 1967, from left: Jim Wenstrup, Frank Luckey, Gene Yuellig, Rick Clark, and Ed Holloway
This must be the same Jim Wenstrup who played lead guitar with the Electros, a group from nearby Elder High School and Oak Hills High School. The Electros included Frank Luckey on rhythm guitar, Gene Yuellig on drums, Rick Clark on bass and Ed Holloway on vocals. The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a photo of the group on April 8, 1967, and mentioned that the Electros planned to cut a record “Chase Around the World” – but if they did I haven’t seen it.
I would like to know more about how the Sprites came to record what seems to be an original song by Jim Wenstrup.
The Ill Bred Mind were high school students from Sayreville, New Jersey, making their only single in 1969. There are no credits on the label, but I believe “How Can You Be Happy Today?” is an original song. The flip is a fine version of “Walk on By”.
My copy is autographed by another member, possibly Gary Jensen. Another copy (see below) has other names & spellings: including Greg Evigan (who became a well-known actor), Garry Jenssen, George B (?), Jimmy Smokey (?). I would appreciate help with deciphering the names. Youtube comments lead me to the name of another possible member: Bruce Elacqua.
The Ill Bred Mind recorded at Photo Sonics Laboratories at 236 Walnut St. in nearby South Amboy, releasing it on P.S.L. 20171.
Marty Ruszala owned or operated PhotoSonics Laboratories, also known as Triple A studio, where he engineered the Jerry Rivera “Lovin’ Man” single on Kim, and Brian O’Connor “How Was I To Know” / “Missing You” on Sayne Records 20168.
I can find two notices for live shows from the Home News, on August 1, 1969 at the Emma L. Arleth School, and at the Sayreville VFW Post 4699 on August 20.
Anyone have a photo of the Ill Bred Mind?
can you help decipher George and Jimmy’s surnames on this single?
The Panics started in 1963, formed at Huguenot High School in Richmond, Virginia.
The lineup was
Jimmy Sherwood – lead vocals and rhythm guitar Bill LaRue – lead guitar and vocals Bill Lyell – bass John Herbig – drums
Dwyane Givens was their equipment manager.
Their only single contains two original songs by Bill Lyell and Bill Larue, the mid-tempo “I Pretend” shows some Beatles influence, and the fast-paced “No More” opens with a Lennonesque “Oh!”
It was released on Shoestring Records SHO 107 in 1965, a styrene record from the Columbia Records plant at Terre Haute, Indiana.
Clyde Atkinson of the Wild Ones and Mickey Russell of the Fugitives also went to Huguenot High. The Fugitives had a single on Shoestring.
After the Panics, Bill LaRue would form a three-piece blues band, Blue Alfred. He would have one more record that I know of as Snelson & LaRue “I’m Tired of Getting Put Down” / “Making Your Mind Up it’s Over” with David Snelson and Cynthia LaRue, recorded at Audio Communications in Richmond.
Anyone have a good photo of the group?
A couple of very small photos of the group are in the booklet to Aliens Psychos & Wild Things vol. 2.
Picture sleeve for first single, with original drummer Skip BordenThe Creations came from Milford, Connecticut, releasing two singles “Crash” / “Chickie Darlin” in July 1964, and “Don’t Be Mean” / “Forty One Willis” in April 1965. Members were:
Chuck Delaney – lead guitar and vocals Howie Plant – rhythm guitar and vocals Danny Gomes – bass and vocals Skip Borden – drums, replaced in late 1964 by Jim Burnham – drums
Danny’s surname is spelled Gomes on the records, but Gomez in some news articles and on copyright registrations.
The first notice I can find for the group comes from the Bridgeport Post on July 28, 1964:
Four local boys, members of a combo billed as “The Creations” in its first recording for Top Hat records, will make a personal appearance at Fladd’s music center in Milford on Friday from 7 to 8 p.m.
The members of the combo are Howie Plant, Skip Borden, Dan Gomez and Chuck Delaney.
The group has appeared locally to play for numerous dances and are currently appearing at the Black Cat in Shelton on Wednesday evenings.
“Crash” is a frantic surf instrumental written by Chuck Delaney without a trace of British Invasion influence. Danny Gomes wrote the ballad flip, “Chickie Darlin”.
The band released it through New York label Top Hat Records, TH 1003. Top Hat had Rite Record Productions of Cincinnati press the records, pressing # 12699/12700.
Publishers Palais Royale Music and Marks Tey Music both seem connected to Top Hat Records, as earlier releases on Top Hat included those publishers.
A notice for a show at the Connecticut Post center for the United Fund from October 21, 1964 also includes Skip Borden in the lineup. By December 5, 1964, Jim Burnham had replaced Skip, as the Bridgeport Post ran a photo of the group with new drummer Jim Burnham after a benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy fund.
Creations in the Bridgeport Post, December 5, 1964, Jim Burnham joins the group
For their second record, Danny Gomes and Howie Plant co-wrote the pounding pounding Beatles-inspired “Don’t Be Mean”, while Delaney and Gomes collaborated on “Forty One Willis”, which refers to a ’41 Willys, a coupe popular with hot rodders (tip of the hat to Mike Markesich – I thought Forty One Willis was a street address!)
Released as Top Hat Records 1004, this was again a Rite pressing, using account number 1151 and Rite pressing code 13891/13892.
Like the first single, this came with a picture sleeve, very rare now. The photo on the front can be seen in the video below.
The Bridgeport Post ran a feature on the group on April 11, 1965, written by Barbara Verespey:
Members of the four-man group include Chuck Delaney, 20, who plays lead guitar and organized the original Creations and the present band, Danny Gomes, 18, bass guitarist and his father, Joseph Gomes, the group’s manager. Both boys are graduates of Milford high. Also, Howie Plant, rhythm guitarist, and Jim Burnham, drummer, are seniors at MHS, and aged 17 and 18 respectively. Jim joined the group in October when Skip Borden of Jonathan Law [High School] moved to Indiana, and feels it was his “biggest break.”
All of them sing except for Jim who “occasionally yells.”
Richard Coderre, their personal agent … “the most colorful agent in show business,” said “we’re shooting for the moon” …
Yesterday, The Creations made a return appearance on the Brad Davis show, Hartford. Their first telecast on the show was Feb. 13. Next stop, if plans work out, is a two-week engagement in Bermuda.
“41 Willys” [sic] and “Don’t Be Mean,” which Chuck and Danny collaborated on, were released March 12. The following week, the group cut “And She Lied,” “Wait For Me.” and “Someone New.” Danny and Howie wrote all three.
The four boys, whose hair is styled in the “fad,” released “Crash” and “Chickie Darlin'” last July. The former was written by Chuck, and the latter by Danny, who, incidentally, hasn’t seen a barber in six months.
Since last January, the group has appeared at Milford high dances and records hops at Enfield, Holyoke, Mass., and New Britain. They have played at the University of Bridgeport, University of Connecticut, Yale, Holy Cross, Bay Path and Central Connecticut colleges. The group has also … appeared at the Actors Colony in Derby, the Ambassador in Hamden, the Statler Hilton hotel, Hartford, the Roadside Inn, Fairfield, and the Etcetera Lounge and Golden Slipper in Long Island.
The Creations have just completed a booking at the Villa Rosa in Milford …
Chuck likes … sleeping, and dislikes snobby girls and liver. Danny also is against snobs, and his favorite interest is dating. Howie has no pet peeves and has expressed an interest in medical science. Jim enjoys playing billiards and dislikes liquor.
Head of the group’s fan club at MHS is Mary Gannett, but the Creations have a bigger following at Jonathan Law. Their officers are Barbara Emmons, president; Donna Skinner, vice president; and Gale Anderson, official correspondent.
Announcing the Creations appearance on the Brad Davis TV show, from left: Howie Plant, Chuck Delaney, Jim Burnham and Danny Gomes, Bridgeport Post, April 11, 1965
Three days later the Post ran a notice that the Creations would appear on The Brad Davis Show on Saturday, April 17, 1965, with Gene Pitney. I have seen a photo of the group with Brad Davis, but only have a poor-quality xerox of it.
That’s the last notice I can find for the Creations.
On April 16, 1965, Danny and Howie registered “Don’t Be Mean” and “Wait For Me” with the Library of Congress’s Copyright Office, and Chuck Delaney belatedly registered “Crash”.
On May 27, 1965, Daniel Gomez and Howard Plant registered two of the songs mentioned in the Bridgeport Post feature, “And You Lied” and “Wait for Me”. I have to think the Creations recorded these songs, but if so, no trace of them has turned up so far. Perhaps “Someone New” also exists on a demo acetate.
Paul E. Bezanker’s Connecticut Rocks! has some more info on the band that I need confirmation on: Howie Plant replaced by Howie West of the Realms (“Baby Let’s Wait” / “All I Want” on Melody ME 105). Bobby Sheehan replaced Howie West. Delaney replaced by Frank Woodman, also of the Realms. Fred O’Brien of the Long Island Sounds comes in on bass, and Danny Gomes becomes lead vocalist.
The group changed into the New Creations with Danny Gomes, Fred O’Brien, Bobby Sheehan and Rick Simpson, which became Bone in late 1967. After more lineup changes, Bone had one single “It’s an Easy Thing” / “Everybody’s Gone Into April” on Poison Ring 712 in 1969.
I found these promo sheets for Jerry Raye with Fenwyck on DeVille Records. Jerry Raye has a long and complex story. He started his career as Cal Raye, with about half a dozen singles on various labels. The fabulous “I Cry” on Runay RY-101/111 from 1966 would be reissued as Jerry Raye on DeVille.
The band Fenwyck came from Arcadia, California, just east of Pasadena. Members at one point included:
Pat Robinson – vocals and guitar Pat Maroshek – bass Keith Knighter – drums
The Monrovia CA Daily News-Post mentioned “Fenwyck”, “the Fenwyck Combo” and “Fenwyck’s Band” three times between August and December, 1965, including at the Citrus College Homecoming in November 1965.
The Los Angeles Times mentions Fenwyck playing a month-long battle of the bands at Pacific Ocean Park (POP), against the Grope, the Ives of Redwing, the Debris, the Tyfoo Five, Me and the Rest, the Quool “and hundreds of others”.
Fenwyck backed Jerry Raye on six songs released over four singles on DeVille, Challenge, and Progressive Sounds of America. Fenwyck are pictured on the album The Many Sides of Jerry Raye.
The back cover credits other musicians, including Jerry Cole, Ernie Freeman, and “the all-time personal friend from his hometown, Bristol, Rhode Island, Kenny Marshall”.
Considering “Mindrocker” is one of the iconic songs from this time period, I surprised I can’t find any detailed information on these sessions or Fenwyck.
In the 1970s, Pat Robinson formed Back Pocket with Patrick Maroshek, who also played with Hardchoir.
Patrick Robinson cut some solo 45s and worked with Gene Clark on Under The Silvery Moon and So Rebellious a Lover.
Besides Fenwyck, Raye also cut a couple DeVille singles with another band called the New Trend. Pete Apodeca wrote “Pray for Me” and also helped write “Children” / “Comin’ Back” for Pete Martin and the Features, also on DeVille. Tom Quilty wrote “I’ll Wait”.
A TV clip from circa 2011 has Cal crooning a couple numbers, mentioning he lived in Hollywood seven years, and that he appeared in a couple movies including Monte Walsh with Lee Marvin and Jack Palance.
Cal Raye advertising in the Tennessean, March 27, 1978
After leaving Los Angeles, Jerry Raye cut a few additional singles based in Nashville. He returned to the Cal Raye name with other records, “Sensuous Woman” on Laurie maybe his biggest seller.
Hit Talents letter from Charles W. Cabot accompanying Jerry Raye and Fenwyck promo sheets to Joe Dimaggio’s Restaurant in HoustonCal had one LP You Tell Such Lovely Lies that has the DeVille Records name on the front cover, but may not have been connected to the Hollywood company.
He seems to have ended up in Florida in the 2000s. The Cal Raye Connection Trio played at the Top O’ Mast in Fort Myers, and Cal Raye ran karaoke nights in Orlando.
The Hit Talents letter of August, 1969 to Sam Dimaggio in Houston seems to be looking for investment in return for pressing, distribution and/or promotion. This Joe Dimaggio’s Restaurant was not connected to the baseball player, by the way.
Charles W. Cabot is Chuck Cabot, whose true last name may have been Charles Cascoles. Chuck was a band leader and vocalist, owner of Hit Talents and either owner or A&R man of DeVille Records.
The Heathens came from Schenectady, NY and cut one of the greatest singles of the area “The Other Way Around” / “Problems” on Vibra L-104. The Heathens recorded at Vibra Sound Recording Studio, but the cavernous sound does not diminish the energy of the group.
Michael Dellario wrote both songs and sang lead vocals. The labels credit Hooker, Stahl, Petticrew, Sheer & Marquez for arrangement.
I had to look back to Steve Rosen’s article in Kicks #2 for a full listing of the band, as there was none on the internet. In the article, the members are listed as
Michael Dellerio – lead vocals Laddie Stahl – guitar Steve Pedicrue – guitar Larry Hooker – keyboards Paul Marques – bass Mike Sherer – drums
The article lists different last names for four members of the band than the record labels. I suspect the article has a number of typos. Going by the labels the lineup would be:
Michael Dellario – lead vocals Laddie Stahl – guitar Steve Petticrew – guitar Larry Hooker – keyboards Paul Marquez – bass Mike Sheer – drums
The article gives some interesting information about Vibra Sound studio:
The Heathens were the first to record at Schenectday’s first studio, Vibra Sound, which at the time was located in the home of proprietor Nate Schwartz. As Mike Dellario remembers it, conditions were primitive: “At the time, the studio was his garage and the engineering booth was his basement. I remember there was no eye contact at all. All the talking was through the microphone. Everything was done basically in just one shot, no concept of tracking.”
The Heathens broke up when the members graduated high school in June, 1967. The article states that Dellerio stuck it out with several subsequent bands and eventually cut some demos for Warner Brothers … He hopes to work with local bands on a producer/arranger level.
Mike Dellario changed his name to Michael Dellaira and became an orchestral composer.
The Sensations, including Larry Hooker with the tambourine, and George Supreneault in the white shirt at right.Walter Phelps (who was lead guitarist for the Ravens, also managed by Marty Wade) sent in this photo of the Sensations, which had some members who would go into the Heathens.
The Tremors “Wondering Why” on Catalina is one of the greatest garage records, but almost nothing was known about the band until recently, when Matt Aquiline found an article from the Urbana Daily Citizen on December 12, 1966, detailing their first recording session, which would produce the 45.
Members were:
Bill Cromwell – lead vocals and rhythm guitar Derry Cox – lead guitar Gene Monroe – bass Herald Barker – drums and organ Jim Cummins – organ and drums
Buckeye Beat has a photo and mentions that four members were from Urbana, Ohio and one from Springfield OH. They cut their single at the O’Brien Studio in Springfield, produced by musician and race car driver Ron Knull, released in December 1966 or January 1967 on Catalina 03/04.
The 45 was pressed by Rite Record Productions, 19469/70, account # 1801, both songs published by Ronnie K Music.
The writer credit on “Wondering Why” is Cummins – Barker. For some reason, many scans of this side on the internet have erased their names. I need to see a good scan of the B-side, the fine ballad “What Have I Done” to see if there are similar credits.
Paul Lunnon suggests Harold Barker was known as Hal Barker, he and Jim Cummins were long-time friends and musicians. Hal Barker mainly played drums, James Cummins organ and keyboards.
“The Tremors” dance band in the Daily-Times, New Philadelphia OH, March 31, 1967
The only other notice I can find is a mention of “The Tremors” Dance Band at the Quarter Miler Rod & Custom Show on April 1 & 2, 1967, at the National Guard Armory in New Philadelphia, Ohio, almost three hours’ drive east of Urbana.
Other singles on Catalina:
Catalina 1 – The Shacklefords – “The Wonderer” / “The Unloved” (1966, written by D. Shackleford, published by Lunk Music, Rite pressing 17743/4, account # 1801)
Catalina 335 – Ron Frasier and Consolidations – “Summer with You” / “Another Girl” (I need a scan of this single, it is a Rite pressing 18803/4, account # 297)
December’s Children at the Alexandria Roller Rink, November 22, 1967, Jerry Burke holding the mic, photo courtesy of Bud Becker
December’s Children came from Fredericksburg, Virginia, but were part of the same Washington, D.C. music scene as the Telstars. Bud Becker managed both bands, and the photos here come from his collection.
I don’t have the lineups down exactly but I believe members included:
Jerry Burke – lead vocals Clay Staples (J.C. Staples) – lead guitar Pete Kahn – rhythm guitar Steve Gilles Matt ”Red” Kilmer – organ Mike Martino – drums Mick Coiner (Mic Coiner) – lead vocals (replaced Jerry Burke)
Dick Alfers was a roadie for the band.
December’s Children at the Alexandria Roller Rink, Jerry Burke with tambourine, November 22, 1967
Ad for the December’s Children supporting the Turtles at the Alexandria Roller Rink, November 22, 1967December’s Children biggest show may have been supporting the Turtles on November 22, 1967 at the Alexandria Roller Rink with Bobby Howard and the Sweet, the Plum Beach Incident, the Hounds of Baskerville, the Fantastic Plastic, the Seeds of Life, the Rokz, the Kings Row, the Gnu Generation, and the Yorkshires. WPGC “Good Guy” DJ Jack Alix presented the show.
Also in 1967, the group made their only single, featuring a cover of Love’s “Signed D.C.” backed with an original “So Long Ago” by Burke, Gilles, and Staples.
On the record the group is listed as December’s Children, Ltd., released on Domestic Sound Records DS-123, with an address at 133 South Washington Street, Falls Church, VA. M.A. Becker and December’s Children and DSP Music published “So Long Ago”.
After Jerry Burke left for Vietnam in 1968, Mic Coiner took over on lead vocals.
I don’t know if the band’s members continued in music. Jerry Burke passed away in 2007.
Bud Becker’s silent footage of December’s Children at a VFW hall with Jerry Burke on lead vocals, followed by Jerry Burke’s haircut shortly before going into the Marines, ending with a short clip at a Hullabaloo with Mic Coiner on vocals.
Thank you to Bud Becker and Paul Burke for their help with this article.
December’s Children at the Alexandria Roller Rink, November 22, 1967
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 the time of the single, the Venus Flytrap members were:
