The Rebellers in the 1968 Milby High Valentines Varieties show, from that year’s yearbook. From left (please correct if these IDs are wrong): John Manlove, David Rodriguez, James Manlove and Jeff Gray
The Rebellers came from the Houston, Texas metro area, recording James Manlove’s original song “The New Generation” for Orbit Records 1114 in the summer of 1967.
Members included:
James Manlove – lead vocals, rhythm guitar John Manlove – keyboards and vocals Jeff Gray – bass guitar and vocals David Rodriguez – drums
The flip, “The Common People” was written as “Love of the Common People” by the prolific songwriting team, John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins.
Early versions of the Cicadelic compilation Three O’Clock Merrian Webster Time included “The New Generation” mistakenly attributed to the Nomads but with the correct writing credit. This has led some website to include James Manlove as a member of the Nomads, which I believe is incorrect.
The Rebellers featured in the Houston Post nowsounds calendar, November 19, 1967
The November 19, 1967 Houston Post nowsounds calendar ran a photo of the Rebellers.
From a photo in the 1968 Milby High School Yearbook, the Rebellers played Milby High School’s Valentines Varieties show that year.
According to his Discogs profile, David Rodriguez was a member of the group, but a commentator on youtube listed the drummer as “Pete”.
Gig list compiled from the Houston Post nowsounds calendar and other news items:
September 20, 1966: there’s a notice of the Rebellers at a benefit with Jack Jones, Garry Mann, the Bachelors and Tommy Graham at the Gulfgate Cellar Club, but that may be a little early for this band, whose frequent gig listings start in May, 1967.
Friday, May 19, 1967: at Insight Au Go Go, 12826 Beaumont Highway 90 Friday, May 26 and Saturday May 27, 1967: at Lions Club Hall, Friendswood, Highway 518 Saturday, June 3, 1967: at Grand Prix, Bay City Tuesday, June 13, 1967: at Conroe Ballroom, Gladstell West off 45 Friday, June 16, 1967: at the Dungeon in Spring Saturday, June 17, 1967: at Sea Isle Teen Dance in Galveston Tuesday, June 20, 1967: at Love Street Light Circus Wednesday, June 21, 1967: at Hullabaloo Tuesday, June 27, 1967: at Conroe Ball Room Saturday, July 1, 1967: at Insight Au Go Go Saturday, July 15, 1967: at Sea Isle Teen Club, Galveston Saturday, July 22, 1967: at Buddy McGregor Saturday Show, Foley’s Town Hall Wednesday, July 26, 1967: at Fun Corral, 9801 Airline Saturday, July 29, 1967: with the Entire Thing at Sea Isle, Galveston Friday, August 18, 1967: at the Vault, Pasadena Saturday, August 19, 1967: at Deer Park Civic Center Wednesday, August 23, 1967: at Carousel Skating Rink, 9190 Old Katy Road Thursday, August 24, 1967: at KNUZ back-to-school festival at Sharpstown Center Friday, August 25, 1967: at Teen Hall, Bryan TX Saturday, August 26, 1967: at Ken Grant Show, Sharpstown Shopping Center 2 PM, and Insight Au Go Go, Beaumont Highway Friday, October 6, 1967: at Teen Hall, Bryan Friday, October 20, 1967: at Lodge Pokrok, 15th and Beall Saturday, November 4, 1967: at Lions Club, Pearland Saturday, November 11, 1967: at Kerwin High School, Galveston Friday, November 17, 1967: with Lemon Fog, Soul Searchers, Duke & the Kingsmen, and the Inquisitions at San Jacinto High School Soul Spectacular Saturday, November 18, 1967: with Audio Manifesto at Mount Carmel High Wednesday, November 22, 1967: at Brenham Hanger Club Friday, December 15, 1967: at the Vault, Pasadena Saturday, December 2, 1967: at Taylor Hall, Pasadena Saturday, December 23, 1967: at Nottingham Forest Country Club Friday, January 12, 1968: at Lodge Pokrok Saturday, January 27, 1968: at Milby High School Saturday, February 10, 1968: at Love Street Light Circus February ?, 1968: Milby High School’s Valentines Varieties show Friday, March 22, 1968: at the Vault, Pasadena Friday, April 19, 1968: at Teen Hall, Dickinson Saturday, May 4, 1968: with Ninth Street Bridge, Lemon Fog, Apollos at Taylor Hall, Pasadena Saturday, June 8, 1968: Jamaica Beach, Galveston Friday, June 21, 1968: at Lodge Pokrok Saturday, June 29, 1968: at Sea Isle, Galveston Saturday, July 20, 1968: at DERA Hall, Orange Friday, August 2, 1968: at the New Vault, Pasadena
This group of Misfits came out of Dallas and North Texas State University in nearby Denton. They cut a fine original folk-rock song, “No One Else” backed with a good version of “Route 66” on Repent 520 in August, 1966.
This was not the same Misfits who became the Lost and Found. The Misfits who became Lost & Found were from Houston, and, according to an old interview with Jim Frost, never played in Dallas, and never recorded as the Misfits.
This news clipping shows all the members’ names are different than any in the Lost & Found.
The Dallas News ran a photo of Joe Daughtery, the writer of “No One Else” performing with the Misfits and a short article on the group:
If you drive around the shore of White Rock Lake on almost any Sunday afternoon, you’ll come to a brown-rock picnic building where a controlled riot seems to be getting out of control.
But ask any of the mob of teen-agers standing and jumping around and you’ll be assured it’s really just a Sunday concert in the park.
The picnic building has grown in the last few years into a kind of proving ground for the detonations of ambitious and un-shy teen-age combos.
Sunday a sign in front of the band said: “The Misfits. Open for engagements. Call FL2-4046.”
But when the Misfits began blasting something called “Dirty Water,” the sign disappeared in a flood of weaving and bobbing couples.
…
“We get a lot of engagements this way,” said Joe Daugherty, the 21-year-old guitarists and singer who runs the Misfits. “A fellow from a fraternity just asked us to play a party.”
Daugherty and two other Misfits – drummer Rick Price, 22, and bass guitarist Mark McLane, 20 – are North Texas State University business students. Lead guitarist Jim Adkins, 23, works in a Dallas bank.
“We cut a record of a couple of my songs but nothing much happened,” said Daugherty.
Hundreds of kids sometimes mob the picnic building. Nobody seems to be in charge or worried about the noisy blowout. Policemen stop and watch a bit then move on …
Like any musician, Daugherty observed, “The acoustics are pretty bad in that building. Sometimes it gets kind of deafening.”
The Bitter Ende. Joe Daugherty holding guitar at left. Other members unknown – can anyone help with IDs?
The Bitter Ende to play at TCU Tech Stop, November 1967. Same group?Joe Daugherty formed another group called the Bitter Ende, but I don’t have any info on the membership of that group.
Thank you to Patrick Daugherty for contacting me about his father’s band, and sending in the news clipping and photo of the Bitter Ende.
Members of the Grapes of Wrath group play music worthy of putting on a record. The SPHS students are (left to right) Brian Magnan, Bill Lichty, Ralph Sias, Danny Morrow and William Doheny., San Pedro News-Pilot, May 17, 1967.
The Grapes of Wrath cut one 45, “For Every Year” / “Cause it Was Her”, both written by Ralph Sias.
The group came from San Pedro, California, in the South Bay of Los Angeles.
Members were:
Brian Magnan – lead vocals Bill Lichty – drums Ralph Sias – guitar Danny Morrow – bass William Doheny – keyboards
H. Eugene MacDonald produced their record, released on Vita Records V-005/V-006 with an address of 301 S. Western Ave, San Pedro, CA.
The San Pedro News-Pilot profiled the group twice, first on May 17, 1967 with an article written by the group’s bassist!
Grapes of Wrath band makes recording noise
By Danny Morrow
“This is it, boys. What’s it going to be next year.- trucks or Cadillacs?” With these words of encouragement from producer, Mr. Roth, and “unknown” teenage band called, hauntedly … “The Grapes of Wrath,” began its first recording session at American Recording Studios in Studio City.
The band is made up of five “crazy” individuals named Ralph Sias, Brian Magnan, Bill Lichty, William Doheney and myself, Danny Morrow.
Ralph writes the songs, plays lead guitar and gets nervous. Brian sings lead vocal and smiles at girls. Bill plays organ and wears leather boots. Williams plays drums and loves drums. I play bass and get in and out of trouble.
At the session, two songs written and arranged by Ralph, were taped in a stretch of nervous sweaty work that lasted five hours. The two songs, “For Every Year,” and “Cause It Was Here,” can presently be heard on the local rock station with a little patience and luck.
With the number of teenage bands easily numbering in the tens of hundreds in California alone, how did this group … manage to talk the Sunburst Record Company into backing a recording session?
First, a few months before the session a rough “demo” (45 RPM recording on a six-inch disk) was recorded at a small recording studio, and the manager, U.L. McDonald took the demo to different recording stations.
The vice-president of Sunburst, Mr. Roth [sic – Adam Ross], was impressed both with the band and the recording …
The next step is up to the “hippies” who buy the records.
The record did not come out on Sunburst, the label that released the E-Types “She Moves Me” and the Zoo’s LP The Zoo Presents Chocolate Moose, as well as a number of pop singles produced by Ed Cobb, but instead saw a release financed by the band under the auspices of H. Eugene MacDonald (the U.L McDonald cited in the article, presumably).
The second article came on September 4, 1967:
Folk-rock group wins popularity
By Rita Pedersen
A San Pedro rock ’n’ roll band has proved long hair and unconventional clothing are not necessary to become popular.
The band, the Grapes of Wrath, is a “short hair” outfit, and wears burgundy-cherry dinner jackets.
Despite their neat appearance, the group leaves Saturday for a week-long tour of Northern California.
The five-member band will appear on a Fresno television show and play in Redding, Red Bluff and North Sacramento Valley.
Members of the band are Ralph Sias, Bill Doheney, Danny Morrow, Brian Mangan and William Lichty, all of San Pedro. They are all San Pedro High School graduates, except for Lichty who will graduate next year.
The tour was arranged when a recording by the band, “Cause It Was Her,” became popular in the Redding area.
Doheney, an amateur radio operator, began talking to a Redding disc jockey Ian Evans, and he offered to play the group’s recording for a trial period.
Listener reaction was good, according to Doheney, and the band was signed for personal appearances.
The group was organized last summer when the youths were on the high school gymnastics team. Only Lichty was not on the team.
Doheney described their style as folk-rock and said Sias and Mangan write many of their songs, including “Cause It Was Her.”
There was a great profile of the band and interview with Bill Doheney, that didn’t include these news clippings, at www.westcoastfog.com/the-grapes-of-wrath/index.html, but unfortunately that site is now defunct. A version of that article was also in print in Ugly Things issue #39.
I see that Achille Brunet has just added a profile of the band at his site, Strange Lights, with more info than I have here. I’m sorry for the duplication, Achille, but glad to see someone else working the ’60s garage beat! It’s been quiet for a long time.
Rocky and the Flying Squirrels, published November 1965. The caption is incorrect. Should read from left to right: Mark Johnson (“Rocky”), Dan O’Banion, Paul Oakley, Bill McCollough (on drums), and Whit Snell.Rocky and the Flying Squirrels or earlier group. Top from left (I think): Paul Oakley with bass, Whit Snell, and Dan O’Banion; bottom from left: Bill McCullough and Mark Johnson. I would appreciate any help to confirm these IDs.
The Beefeaters were part of the North Texas State University (NTSU) scene which included the Chessmen, but their story starts out 300 miles away, in San Antonio. Five students at Alamo Heights High School formed Rocky and the Flying Squirrels, wearing World War I aviator helmets and goggles, scarves, and turtle-neck sweaters in honor of their animated namesake.
Members included: Mark Johnson on lead vocals, Whit Snell lead guitar, Dan O’Banion rhythm guitar, Paul Oakley on bass, and Bill McCullough playing drums.
Rocky and the Flying Squirrels, in white from left (I think): Dan O’Banion with the Rickenbacker guitar, Bill McCullough drums, Paul Oakley with bass and Whit Snell. At left, I think that is Mark Johnson with the microphone. I would appreciate any help to confirm these IDs.
They played live at Alamo Heights High School auditorium and the student-run Mule Barn teen club by the football stadium, but the band made plans for a bigger future.
Rocky and the Flying Squirrels, front left: Dan O’Banion with hand-drawn raccoon tail), Whit Snell, Mark Johnson with tambourine, Paul Oakley (or Cary surname?) on bass with added sideburns, and Bill McCullough. Photo courtesy of Bill McCullough, like many of the ones seen here.The Beefeaters 1966 promotional photo
From the Flying Squirrels to the Beefeaters
Graduating in May, 1966, all except Paul Oakley agreed to attend NTSU (now the University of North Texas) in Denton, northwest of Dallas. Bill McCullough’s older brother David, Jr. took over on bass to replace Paul. David had been guitarist in his own group in San Antonio, Spider and the Flies.
They cultivated the sound and “mod” looks of the English groups of the period, and took a new band moniker to fit the image: the Beefeaters.
The Beefeaters on stage 1966: Rocky and the Flying Squirrels, front left: Dan O’Banion, Mark Johnson, David McCullough, Bill McCullough on drums and Whit Snell
The Beefeaters’ first gig, on a flatbed truck on the commons by the NTSU student union, was a success and they started landing regular bookings at the Spinning Wheels skating rink and local frat parties. They bought a used ’56 Cadillac hearse, like other Denton groups, and adorned it with their band name and bumper stickers (“Eat More Beef” for one).
Who’s that pushing the hearse?!The Chessmen, Felicity, the Jackals, the Beefeaters and the Briks at Club Saracen on San Jacinto in Austin, Sunday, April 16, 1967
Within a short time, the manager of the Campus Theatre, George Rickrich, brought the Beefeaters into his Bismark Agency, which also represented the Briks, the Chessmen, Felicity, and the Jackals. Rickrich booked the bands for college parties throughout Texas and into Oklahoma, and clubs: including Louann’s, the Three Thieves, and the Cellar in Dallas; the Box in Ft. Worth; Club Saracen, the New Orleans Club, and the Jade Room in Austin where they also shopped for clothes at the Electric Rocking Horse.
Whit Snell remembers all the Bismark bands used to “caravan down to Austin in the hearses. Felicity had a Ford van, however … seven or eight weekends in a row. We had to cut class on Friday to make it to Friday’s gig.”
The Beefeaters provided entertainment on a day-long chartered train, the Santa Fe Big Chief, for a football game at Wichita State U. in Kansas. The Campus Chat covered the journey:
… North Texas won the game … the dance bands played well despite their precarious perch in a bucking, 9- by 70-foot baggage car, and the legal age for buying beer in Kansas is 18 …
The New Sound plugged in to one of the three baggage cars around 9 and, after 30 minutes of blow switches, was in full swing … Dancers, about 50 at a time, battled flailing elbows and a lurching floor in the cramped car …
… the Beefeaters struck up, and the dancers were once again making the most of their promised 20 hours of fun …
A promo sheet for the group lists Whitfield Snell, David McCullough as contact in Denton, and David Black in San Antonio.
The Beefeaters, possibly at the Alpha Delta Pi sorority house, from left: Whit Snell, Mark Johnson (with jug), Bill McCullough (drums), Dan O’Banion, and David McCullough (bass)On stage at Club Saracen, Austin!
Towards the end of 1966, the Beefeaters entered a studio in Dallas to cut two originals by Whit Snell, “Don’t Hurt Me” / “Change My Mind”. The lineup that recorded these was: Mark Johnson, Whit Snell, Dan O’Banion, David McCullough, Jr., and Bill McCullough. Whit remembers Lee Hardesty of the Briks accompanying the band to the studio, and lending Whit his Vox fuzz pedal for “Don’t Hurt Me” and 12-string guitar for the “Change My Mind”.
Though satisfied with the recording, Whit thought the songs were not good enough, which may have been one reason why they didn’t see release on the Bismark label at the time. Tapes of the songs have circulated since, and they’re widely regarded as classics of the ’60s Texas teen sound.
Whit Snell of the Beefeaters at the Pusi-Kat Club, San Antonio, 1967The Jackals, the Beefeaters, the Felicity with the Sweetarts, the Chevells and Chain Gang at Club Saracen on San Jacinto in Austin, Sunday, June 25, 1967. I’d like to know more about the Lebanon School Fund
During the Christmas holiday in 1966, the Beefeaters returned to San Antonio to play the Pusi-Kat club from December 26-30 with Lord August. When the band went back to Denton in January 1967, Mark Johnson had left the band and school to travel abroad.
That same January, the Denton Record-Chronicle reported the Beefeaters hearse was stolen from the NTSU campus, and they lost $4,000 worth of amplifiers, drums and guitars. Funny enough, the first report said it was the Chessmen’s hearse, but the paper corrected the story a few days later, and a later follow-up said the instruments were recovered in Gainesville.
The 1967 and ’68 school years saw the Beefeaters expand the scope of their gig territory: as far north as Amarillo, Wichita Falls, and Oklahoma City, east to Houston, Galveston and Fort Smith, Arkansas, and south to Corpus Christi, and Matamoros, Mexico.
By the summer of ’68, Dan O’Banion and Whit Snell were living at the Eagle Apartments in Dallas near Don Henley and other former Denton musicians, a musically rewarding time.
The military draft pulled any band members who left college, including David McCullough, who joined the Navy, became a Corpsman, and was assigned to the Marines. During the war he was stationed in the Philippines and served on a hospital ship. Members of other groups, such as Cecil Cotton and Steve Martin of the Briks, and Mike Neal of the Jackals had already joined the reserves and returned to the scene.
The Beefeaters on stage at Gibson’s Discount Center in Kerrville: from left: Jimmie Randall, Whit Snell, Roger Brooks or Doyle Bramhall on drums, and Dan O’Banion.The Beefeaters on stage at Gibson’s Discount Center, Whit Snell in foreground
Because of the draft taking David, and Bill McCullough leaving at about the same time, the Beefeaters went through a rotating cast of Dallas and Denton musicians filling in for short periods, including Jimmie Randall (of the Gentlemen) on bass; Roger Brooks, then Doyle Bramhall (of the Chessmen) on drums; John Talley (of the Jackals) on keyboards; and Lee Hardesty on guitar.
Roger Brooks or Doyle Bramhall, performing with the Beefeaters at Gibson’s in Kerrville
A series of photos taken onstage at Gibson’s Discount Center in Kerrville, TX show Jimmie Randall on bass and I believe either Roger Brooks or Doyle Brahmall on drums. Other later members include Ray Holland on bass and his brother Carl Holland on keyboards. Whit Snell told me Doyle only joined after Whit left Dallas in ’69.
The Beefeaters played the Pusi-Kat in San Antonio frequently during the summer of ’68, as well as Love Street, and a show at the Teen Canteen in October, but their most notable gig was opening for the Jeff Beck Group at Southern Methodist University’s McFarlin Auditorium on Saturday, November 9, 1968. Whit recalls the Beefeaters also opened for the Jeff Beck Group in Oklahoma City on Sunday, November 10.
The Jeff Beck Group, Brige, and the Beefeaters at McFarlin Auditorium at SMU, November 9, 1968. I haven’t heard of Brige before.Flyer for one of their later shows at Family Circle, 1901 Canton at Marilla in Dallas
Whit Snell left the band and school in 1969, but various lineups continued gigging as the Beefeaters for another year or so.
Thank you to Whit Snell, Dan O’Banion, Bill McCullough, and Mark Johnson of the Beefeaters (RIP David McCullough); William Williams (Wm Wms) of the Jackals, Birdman Cantillo, Don Julio, Wm Wms and other contributors to the now defunct Big D ’60s yahoo group and Trinity River Music flickr group, and anyone else I’ve missed. Photos courtesy of Bill McCullough, Whit Snell and Wm Wms.
Bill McCullough and Dan O’Banion
A shorter version of these notes accompany the new remastered 7″ release of “Don’t Hurt Me” / “Change My Mind” now available on Mojo-Bone Rekkids.
Bill McCullough
As always, I’d appreciate more info on the group, and help correcting any errors.
The Myddle Class at the Excelsior House, October 1966, from left: Charlie (“Tony”), Dave, and RickThe Myddle Class at the Excelsior House, October 1966, Charlie (“Tony”), Dave, and RickAd in the Troy Record, October 15, 1966
The Myddle Class traveled to Snyder’s Lake, near Troy, New York, to play two weekends, October 14, 15 & 16, and 21, 22 & 23 at the Excelsior House nightclub, which was then attracting college students and other young people (the drinking age was 18) four to five nights a week to see acts like the Critters, the Liverpool Set and the Knickerbockers.
I was astonished to find 11 snapshots taken during their time at the club, along with autographs collected from each. Hilariously, Charles Larkey is noted as “Tony” on the album pages, though he signed his autograph correctly as Charlie Larkey.
The Excelsior House ran ads regularly for their shows. For the Myddle Class, some were spelled correctly, but a couple others billed them as the Middle Class.
Autographs of Dave Palmer, Myke Rosa and Rick Philp of the Myddle Class, from the Excelsior House, October 1966Autographs of Charlie Larkey and Dan Mansolino of the Myddle Class, from the Excelsior House, October 1966Charles Larkey (“Tony”) of the Myddle Class, at the Excelsior House, October 1966Charlie Larkey (“Tony”) of the Myddle Class with patron or friend, at the Excelsior House, October 1966The Myddle Class at the Excelsior House, October 1966, Dan Mansolino and Charlie (“Tony”) LarkeyThe Myddle Class at the Excelsior House, October 1966, from left: Charlie (“Tony”), Dave, Myke and RickThe Myddle Class at the Excelsior House, October 1966, from left: Dave Palmer, Rick Philp and Myke RosaThe Myddle Class at the Excelsior House, October 1966, from left: Charlie “Tony” Larkey, Dave Palmer and Rick PhilpThe Myddle Class at the Excelsior House, October 1966, Charlie Larkey and Dave PalmerThe Myddle Class at the Excelsior House, October 1966, Dave Palmer and Rick Philp
The Excelsior House, a 19th century house on tiny Snyder’s Lake, a short drive southeast of Troy, NY, had a history dating back to the 1930s as a rural nightclub and restaurant. It drew crowds from a wide geographic area with various forms of entertainment and events.
In 1964, a new owner, Harry Doakmajian, started bringing in rock and pop acts. Over the next four years the Excelsior House hosted a succession of notable house bands.
The Knickerbockers: Jimmy, Beau, John, Buddy, at the Excelsior House, The Troy Record, May 1, 1965
The Knickerbockers made the Excelsior House their second home, with frequent months-long bookings from August 1964 until December 1965, and occasional monthly residencies in 1966 and 1967. The booklet of the Sundazed CD The Great Lost Knickerbockers Album! includes photos of Buddy Randell and Beau Charles on stage at the Excelsior House in 1966.
The Sundowners, from Lake George, held down monthly gigs in 1965 into 1966, and the Good Times were regulars from April through July 1966 (billed early on as “Direct from Harlow’s in N.Y.C.”) and again in September and December 1966, and January 1967.
The Kynds and the Good Times, Excelsior House, The Troy Record, 1966, April 9
I am not certain if this is the Goodtimes from Providence, RI, who also recorded as the Tradewinds, or more likely the band from Newburgh who recorded two albums of pop on Meteor as the Goodtimes III. This group, comprised of Johnny Babb, Timmy Jones, Dave Kennedy and Bobby Lonie, among others, cut some good unreleased songs, possibly recorded at Earl Kennett’s studio, as Dave Kennedy recommended the studio to the Jelly Bean Bandits to make their first demos.
Below is a compendium of the acts that played, compiled mainly from ads in the Troy Record newspaper (which became the Times Record).
Bands were usually booked Friday and Saturday evenings. Over time, early Sunday shows were added, then Wednesdays and Thursdays as well.
1964:
February: Tino and the Revlons April 18: the James K4 June: Tino and the Revlons, the Act III July: the Capris (“direct from Miami Beach”), and the Continental Twisters August: the Act III and the James K4 August 3: Buddy Randell and the Knickerbockers August: the Mystics and the Continentals September through December: the Knickerbockers
1965:
Sundowners with Eddie Brick and Bobby Dickson, Excelsior House, The Troy Record, 1966, Nov 12
January: the Knickerbockers February: the Sundowners March: Tino and the Revlons (“Troy’s Own Beetles”), the Blue Counts and the Motions April: the Motions, the Vi-Cleefs April and May: the Knickerbockers
Nick Brignola and His Modern Jazz Quartet: Thursdays in June and July
July 31: Jay and the Americans plus the Knickerbockers July: the Knickerbockers August: the Knickerbockers September: Don Sohl and the Road Runners (Nebraska band who cut great sax & guitar instrumentals like “Voo Doo” on Palms and “Rampage” on Dreem). September: the Road-ents, the Progressions October: the 4 Synns
Cordels at the Excelsior House, The Troy Record. 1965, Oct 9
October 16: the Classics and the Chessmen November: the Cordels December 23: the Knickerbockers and the Sundowners December: Sundowners
1966:
The Chartbusters, the Sundowners, and the Big Bear Revue, the Troy Record, 1966, Feb. 12
By 1966 the Excelsior had two venues on the same compound: the main building with pop, rock and soul bands, and another called the Corral specializing in country music and square dancing, such as Rob Horton and the Friendly Travelers or Pete Williams and His Ranchers, but I have not compiled an extensive list of those c&w groups.
January – February: the Sundowners February 19, 20: the Big Bear Revue (“Big Bear” / “People” on Cuppy Records) February 25, 26: the Check Mates March: Snoopy’s Crew March 5: the Fugitives March 12: the “ever popular” Esquires March 25: the Fireballs April 3: the Group 4 April 9, 10: the Kynds April 14 had a special show, Jerry Lee Lewis and his Review!
May and June: Knickerbockers and Good Times
On July 29, the Souls Inc. “12 Man Group” took over through August, sometimes with Lord X and his X Chords August 27 (Saturday): Tim Rose Trio
The Critters and the Good Times, Excelsior House, The Troy Record, September 23, 1966
The Good Times resumed house band status for September but there were a number of interesting featured acts that month and October:
September 2, 3 and 4: the Younger Boys (I don’t know anything about this group) September 23: the Critters September 28, 29, 30, 31 & October 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: the Liverpool Set
The Myddle Class, Excelsior House, The Troy Record, 1966, Oct 22
October 14, 15 and 16 and 21, 22 and 23: the Myddle Class (billed in some ads as the Middle Class)
Ricardo and the 4 Most, Excelsior House, The Troy Times Record, February 3, 1967The Cleaners, Excelsior House, The Troy Record, October 29, 1966Ricardo and the 4 Most, Excelsior House, The Times Record, Feb. 10, 1967
1967:
January: the Good Times February: Ricardo the the Fore Most (4 Most) March: the Sundowners and the O’Royals (the Fabulous Royals) March 26: Roger Freeman with the Spoiled Brats April 1: the Night Watch April: the Liverpool Set May: the Knickerbockers
1968:
February: the Shades of Brass, the Legends of Sound
Eva’s Towpath II, formerly Excelsior House, Imperials, The Troy Record, 1969, Nov 16
In September, 1969, the Excelsior House was taken over by Eva Varaday and renamed Eva’s Towpath II, but it only continued for a few months before it was shut down by the Rensselaer County Health Department for the same reason the previous owner lost his liquor license: the Excelsior House, like most of the other residences on the lake, had been sending raw sewage into Snyder’s Lake, which was only 1/8 of a square mile (approximately) in area! It did reopen in the mid-’70s for a short time as a meeting place, but I read there was a major fire in 2009.
If anyone has old photos of the Excelsior House, or a news clipping on the 2009 fire, please contact me!
The Mad Lads came from Birmingham and seem to have been active no later than late summer 1966.
They cut one excellent original song “Come Back to Me” written by Butch Romana and Larry Rosser, backed with a good version of “Tossin’ and Turnin'”. It was released on Prestige Productions Records PP66-152 in August 1966.
The Mad Lads did get some fine gigs, including Stage Center for the April 19-20, 1966 Festival of Arts at Third Avenue and 20th Street North. Other rock performers those days included the Shades and Carol the Go-go Girl, the Discotheques, and the Blackouts.
They also played at Holiday Beach on the Tuscaloosa Highway in June, 1966.
Most notably they performed at a Battle of the Bands on TV Channel 42 vs. the Impacts on Saturday, March 26, 1966!
I would appreciate more info on the group. Does a photo of the band exist?
Channel 42 Battle of the Bands – The Impacts vs. Mad Ladson March 26, 1966
Richie’s Renegades in the Daily Item, April 17, 1966
Richie’s Renegades came from Lynn, Massachusetts. After winning a state-wide battle of the bands in May, 1966, the group cut a fine single on the Polaris Records label, “Don’t Cry” / “Baby It’s Me” released in August.
Members included:
Richie Reynolds – lead vocals William Dunn – guitar Robert Leger – guitar Robert Peck – organ Brian Michaels – bass Kevin Robichaud – drums
Erik Lindgren’s notes to The Polaris Story CD note that they cut the single at Fleetwood, while alternate versions of the single and a Pepsi commercial “Come Alive” featured on the CD were done at Ace.
The Lynn Daily Item ran photos of the group on April 26 and May 13, 1966:
Richie’s Renegades, a Lynn band, will be one of 18 competing for sate-wide honors tomorrow at Boston Gardens. They are on of a group of winners selected from more than 600 band taking part in local and regional contests, sponsored by the Jaycees.
The accompanying article noted that “Plans are now underway for a national competition next year, the Jaycees said.”
May 16, 1966 notice of their win
The May 16 Daily Item noted that the band won the final competition “which brings with it a $500 cash award, new musical instruments, recording contracts and other awards.
Inscribed to Edlita Adams (Miss Essex County and a Jaycee finals judge) by Billy Dunn, Bob Leger, Bob Reader (?) and Kevin Robichaud.
I found a copy of their record inscribed to Edlita, with four signatures: Bob Leger, Bob Reader [surname correct?], Ken Robichaud, and Billy Duran. Bob Reader isn’t in the lineups I’ve found online, and I read Robichaud’s as Kevin instead of Kenneth.
Kevin Robichaud is the correct spelling, as Lou Ames Music Store ran ads in September and October, 1968 with Kevin’s photo as a drum instructor, “featured with ‘The Playn Jane” and formerly with ‘Richie’s Renegades.'”
I found a notice in the Daily Item on August 25, 1966:
Richie and the Renegades of Lynn … will give two performances at the Pepsi booth as a highlight of the Family Day program at Topsfield Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
The group will autograph their just released recordings “Baby, It’s Me” and “Don’t Cry” and, in addition, will offer autographed photographs.
One of the judges of [the Boston Garden battle] was Miss Edlita Adams, 19, of Lynn, reigning “Miss Essex County.”
That notice, and a couple others I found, list Robert Teck instead of Robert Peck.
The Boston Globe ran a brief item in April, 1967 about the group going to Worcester for the national competition with the same lineup listed as in 1966.
November 24, 1967 notice in Greenville, New Hampshire with William the Wild One, Tall Paul Floyd, and the Young Adults.
A December 20, 1966 notice in the Daily Item ran:
The Lynn Young Democrats held a Christmas party for needy children, highlighted by the appearance of a local band, Richie’s Renegades …
Members of the Renegades, donating their services for the occasion, were Brian Michaels, Bob Leger, Bill Dunn, Bob Peck, Kevin Robichaud, Dick Tarnborini, Bill Barry and Richie Reynolds.
The inclusion of Bill Barry is interesting, as he is also known as William the Wild One, who cut a great 45 on Festival in 1966, supposedly with Richie’s Renegades providing backing. A Fitchburg Sentinal notice mentions the Renegades playing a show with William the Wild One at Appleton Academy in December, 1966, noting that William “toured the country with the Dave Clark Five. He and Reynolds are cousins of Dave Barry, a student at the academy.”
By 1968, Richie’s Renegades became Playn Jane, mentioned in the February 29, 1968 Daily Item:
The third annual Battle of the Bands sponsored by the Lynn Jaycees will be held Saturday night at Classical High.
The competing teenage bands are Danny and the Dreamers, Passing Times, Playn Jane, Psychedelic Innovation, Satisfaction and the Sinders …
Dancing will be allowed during the competition.
Robert Leger passed away on January 7, 2020.
September, 1968 ad for Kevin Robichaud of Lou Ames Music Studio
The Road Runners have a Gadsden, Alabama address on their only 45, but a notice in the Alexander City Outlook on December 15, 1966, mentioned a performance at the Goodwater, AL home of Mr. & Mrs. Steve Gilliland, Jr. Both towns were east of Birmingham, but at some distance from each other. The other names on the notice are Dr. & Mrs. Joe T. Roberts, likely parents of another band member.
The A-side is a good, jaunty version of the Contours hit, with the full title “Do You Love Me Sixty Six Style”. The flip is a light instrumental credited to Gilliland, “To Be With You”.
Froggy and the Gremlins from left: Mike Shields (organ), John McClusky (drums), Bill Thomason (lead vocals), Pat [surname?] (lead guitar), and Craig Gardner (bass) Our band started one Friday night in late 1964 literally in a garage in Vestavia, Alabama when I (Froggy) was singing while two friends were playing the drums and the guitar. The three of us attended Berry High School. The drummer’s cousin, Craig Gardner stopped by to show off his new Oldsmobile 442 and he listened to us perform a tune or two. The next day Craig called me and said that he and a few guys from Shades Valley High School were starting a band and asked if I was interested in being the lead singer. Of course, I said yes.
My neighbor was Ray Edwards, the lead singer with The Knights and the first time I saw them perform I resolved to one day do the same. This was my chance! So, the following weekend, Froggy and the Gremlins band was born in Mike Shields living room and the first song we learned was a cover of the Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There”.
Members in the photo at top:
Mike Shields – electric organ John McClusky – drums Bill Thomason – lead singer Pat ? – lead guitar Craig Gardner – bass
Before long, Pat dropped out and was replaced by lead guitarist Jerry Meadows.
After learning a set list of about 25 songs we hit the road and were very popular locally in Birmingham and North Alabama. Venues consisted of many fraternity parties at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and in Birmingham, and teenage dances and sock-hops at local National Guard Armories around northern Alabama. We were invited to a Battle of the Bands at the Huntsville coliseum and placed third. WBRC-TV in Birmingham televised a weekly Battle of the Bands and we were matched against the late, great Rooster Gallagher and the Townsmen who I believe eventually won the entire competition later that year.
Pizitz Department Store in downtown Birmingham would hold regular dances and Go-Go demonstrations in the teen clothing section which was a brilliant marketing idea since it drew hundreds of teens (and their mothers) to the store. We played these events several times and once opened for The Swingin’ Medallions there.
Over time as all the other bands were adding horns and reeds, we added:
Bill Roberts – alto sax Mark Stevens – trumpet
I was also a trumpet player so we had a full, solid sound and were consistent with what was popular at the time. Also, we dropped the “Froggy” and were just “The Gremlins” to project a more contemporary and professional image.
Jerry Meadows was a song writer so like practically every other band on this site, the time came for our rite of passage in Ed Boutwell’s studio at an old church on 2nd Avenue North in Avondale. We created an eight-song demo tape of six cover songs and two songs that Jerry had composed. One was titled “Summer Girl” and the other one I do not remember. We had no money to afford a record press so we hawked the reel-to-reel demo tape around to several radio stations with favorable results but of course there was no air time since there was no vinyl to play.
Finally, in the fall of 1966 most everyone was leaving for various colleges around the state. I, on the other hand having primarily been interested in dedicating most of my time to The Gremlins rather than to high school academics, was shipped off to military school at Lyman Ward Military Academy in south Alabama. Thus, The Gremlins band officially came to an end.
Over the years, I saw Mike Shields occasionally at church and later heard he moved to Carmel, California and became an artist. I also occasionally saw Bill Roberts at the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa when we were both students there. Ironically, John McClusky was the drummer for String and the Beans when they played at my High School senior military ball. He eventually became a lawyer in the Birmingham area. I lost touch with Jerry Meadows, Craig Gardner and Mark Stevens after our last gig in the late summer of 1966.
Regrettably, as the years passed and my focus turned to college, kids and careers, my copy of the demo tape disappeared. Several years ago, I reached out to Mark Harrelson at Boutwell Studios right after they moved to their beautiful new facility on Central Avenue in Homewood. He told me that had I been a year earlier they probably would have had the master tape but that after all those years they had finally purged the old archives in the latest move.
What an exciting time it was to be a teenager and part of the incredible ‘60’s music scene. Music has remained a big part of my family and these days even one of my college-aged grandsons is carrying on the tradition with a country music solo act.
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
