The Church Keys (Bassmen) playing live in Birmingham circa 1965
The Bassmen have the very first 45 released on the Vaughn-Ltd label, the excellent original song “I Need You”. 
The Bassmen originally formed as the Church Keys in 1962 while in the ninth grade in Birmingham. Original members were Rob Hackney guitar, Chuck Butterworth keyboards, Mike Easter on bass and Tom Allison on drums. Over the next year they added Charlie Feldman as lead singer and Vaughn Rives on rhythm guitar, and Steve Gilmer replaced Butterworth on keyboards.
By 1965 they had changed their name to the Bassmen, and they went into Ed Boutwell’s studio in English Village to record their 45, “I Need You” / “Leigh Anne”, the first release on the Vaughn-Ltd label. Both songs are credited to B. Van Santte, perhaps a fictitious name as it doesn’t match any of the band members.
The single garnered the Bassmen appearances at shows produced by local DJs Papa Don Schroeder and Duke Rumore, and the band toured colleges in the area as well.
At the start of college in 1966, singer Charlie Feldman, bassist Mike Easter and drummer Tom Allison found new members Jamie Grant and Tommy Johnson. They renamed the band the Candystore Prophets and released one very fine Beatles-esque 45 on Andy Anderson’s Cougar label of Jackson, Mississippi, “The Time of Day” b/w “You’re a Teaser” (both written by Jamie Grant).
Note, this is not the same Candy Store Prophets led by Boyce and Hart who wrote and recorded the backing tracks for all the early songs of the Monkees.
Source: Info for this story and the photo at top are taken from the Bassmen’s site. Check it to see more photos and updates on the band.
I was one of the original members of the Candy Store Prophets. Jamie Grant, Mike Easter and Tommy Allison were some of the most talented musicians and singers I have ever played with. Jamie Grant was an excellent guitarist and outstanding singer. The recordings of “Time of Day” and “You’re a Teaser” were actually made before Mike and Tommy joined the band in late 1966. Jamie sang both lead and harmony and played guitar, I played guitar, George Gaissert played bass and Ben (can’t remember last name) played drums. We were all in the ATO Fraternity at Auburn.
The original 45 record had the exact same graphics but the name of the band was “The Rising Sons”. We made the recording in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and both recordings were done in about 2 hours. I have one copy of the original record with “The Rising Sons” as artists.
George and Ben graduated in June 1966 and Mike and Tommy came onboard the next fall. Charlie Feldman sang with us often but was usually not there when we played Frat parties around Auburn. I graduated in June 1969 and went into the Navy. I believe the band continued on for another year.
My wife and I visited Jamie and Karen in Texas in 1971 while we were both going through flight training but I have not seen him since. I have not seen Mike Easter nor Tommy Allison since I graduated from Auburn. It would be great to have a reunion with them sometime.
Tommy Johnson
Griffin, Georgia
This photo of the band can’t be from 1963. Guitarist in the middle playing on Fender XII, that started producting in 1965.
That is me playing the first Fender Electric XII in the Southeast. I bought it the day it came in. Chet Atkins was in town and played it at the store the day it came in. When I got out of class, I went downtown and bought it. I think it was 1965.
B. Van Santte is not a fictitious name. It’s mispelled as the catalogue of Copyright Entries gives:
I NEED YOU; w, m & arr. Braxton Vanzant. © Braxton Vanzant; 24May65; EU884515.
LEIGH ANN; w, m & arr. Braxton Vanzant © Braxton Vanzant; 24May65; EU884514.