Considering they were one of the greatest of all the 60s garage bands, there’s not much information out there on the Centurys.
From Lebanon, Pennsylvania, band members were:
Billy Beard – lead guitar and vocals
Larry McKinney – guitar
John Iacovone – bass
Bob Koch – lead vocals and organ
Bernie Orner – drums
In April of 1965, they recorded four songs at WSBA radio’s studios in York, PA, produced by Frank Treida. These four songs were released on two 45s on the Renco label and quickly sold out.
The first is “83” a lo-fi anthem that’s an absolutely classic. On the flip is the moody “So the Prophets Say”, another echo-laden number with wild drumming and intense vocals. It’s been described as anti-Vietnam war, but actually I think it’s pro-war. It’s definitely a dig at Dylan and the protest movement in general, and there’s a condemnation of communism: “a red slave song you’re singing, you’ll wish you had a gun in your hand.”
The second is “Don’t Bother”, with intense guitar riffing and haunting organ. The flip, “Together We’ll Stay” is not nearly as great as the other three songs, but it has some decent surf-type guitar in the break.
Their live reputation helped them land a 45 on Swan. “Hard Times” b/w “Endless Search” did very well in the area and should have been their big break. The Swan label was folding at the time, so it’s possible the record wasn’t promoted as well as it should have been.
Former Swan label head Bernie Binnick put out one last Centurys 45 on his BB label, “And I Cried” b/w “Catch Me Fast”. The band broke up in 1967 due to a combination of draft notices and a lack of success.
All their releases were original songs. Billy Beard wrote most of their best songs: “83”, “So the Prophets Say” and “Don’t Bother”, while “And I Cried”, “Hard Times” and “Endless Search” were co-written by Beard with Larry McKinney.
The two 45s on Renco were reissued on an EP in the ’80s as the Renco Demos. It’s possible the Centurys originally intended these songs to be demos for purposes of securing a record contract. Regardless, the Centurys did release these songs on 45 and sold them at gigs and local shops, which makes them not ‘demos’ in the usual sense. None of the songs on the EP are different versions of what was released on the 45s.
Centurys original 45 releases:
Renco 115 – 83 / What the Prophets Say
Renco 116 – Don’t Bother / Together To Stay
Swan 4265 – Hard Times / Endless Search
BB 4002 – And I Cried / Catch Me Fast
Okay, so my uncle was deff. in this band. Back in the 60’s, oh yes! See in the first picture, second in from the right? Yup! That’s my uncle John! =]
I knew Billy a little from his days in The Centurys, and immediately thereafter. He used to book my band, The Cavaliers, into local hotspots, notably(?), the American Legion Hall on West Lehman Street. Billy was a straight shooter, who kept his promises and always paid cash. I felt sneakily privileged to follow Billy to the downstairs lounge at The Legion Hall, where he conducted business from his “office” booth. He was a bit of a wise guy with a sharp but never vicious sense of humor. Now and then he buy me a beer, which was way cool for 16 year old kid like me, hanging with the men.
The Centurys were a powerful band, who, like all of us in those days, had to carry a full night’s work, playing 3, sometimes 4 or 5 sets. They rocked hard, played the usual hits of the day, and mixed in some originals, which sounded just like the hits, to me. When The Centurys broke up, The Cavaliers often picked up their gigs, which greatly helped us get established on the local scene. They were a hard act to follow, so, essentially, we didn’t. The Centurys were a rocking garage band in a true sense. The Cavaliers followed more of an R&B path, a burgeoning trend in those days (mid 60s), employing several horn players and a Hammond B-3 organist (who later quit the band to manufacture…, uh, never mind).
I never did like that guitar Billy played, the white Stratocaster. I thought solid body guitars with cutaways were “impure”. What!!? He had a great cutting tone with it, perfect for The Centurys sound. Of course, if Billy kept it, and his family still has it, it’s probably worth about $30,000! So much for “impurity”.
I remember those days very fondly, as the punk kid trying to break in to the scene. Billy was helpful enough to give our band a chance. After that, the music had to carry the day.
Thanks, Billy, and sincere condolences to his family for their loss.
PMac
Boston
Uncle Billy, Bill Beard, was my mom’s brother and one of my favorite uncles. I was present in Texas days after his passing along with my mother and sister Amy. 🙁 We VERY MUCH miss him. While there, we created a DVD of his photos, along with background music of the Centurys. I stumbled across this page tonight googling for my counsin’s addresses in Texas.
If anyone would like more info, I will help where I can.
We love you Uncle Bill!!!!
John Binner, “JJ”
Hello my name is Gary. I have a copy of BB records and I cried and catch me fast 45 record I found in my mom’s collection. My last name is Orr. I’m in Louisville Kentucky.
Billy wrote or co-wrote all of the Centurys great songs. My condolences to his family and friends. Thank you to Kevin for sending this in.
Hi Im the son of Larry Sr. Thank you for the comment about my pops band. They were one of the best of their times. Once again thank you. I also saw them play there but I was only 2 lol
Hi Larry I am trying to track down your father.I am hoping he is still with us?
I run a small but loved record label in the United Kingdom and wanted to use one of The Centurys songs “Hard Times” to go on a 45. I am aware sadly that Billy Beard is deceased and your father would be the only writer remaining.
I do not want to use any song without permission and there would be a fee payable.If this is something I could pursue it would be great to hear from you.
Hi. He is with us!
I saw the Centurys perform on National T.V in 1966 with the Four Seasons, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and Ernie Terrell. Not many Garage bands can say that! The show was called Jerry Blavits Summertime at the Pier in Atlantic City. That is a true fact!!!!
The TV Show that The Centurys played their song Hard Times on was The Steel Pier Show out of Atlantic City. (Ed Hurst) It was August 6th, 1966. The Four Seasons were the MC of the show that day. Like the other person said, Little Anthony & The Imperials were also on the show that day, along with Della Reese & Ernie Terrell, the Boxer that turned to singing. Have a Great Day. Bob Koch (The Centurys)
My name is John. I played in the Centurys with your Uncle Billy. My Son told me about this website. When I first started playing with the Centurys, I converted from a rythm guitar player in a different band to a bass player who didn’t know much about playing the bass. Your Uncle Billy and Larry took time to show me some bass runs that worked for most of the songs we played in those days. I then picked it up and got better by practicing allot. I was so impressed by Billys playing ability, that I worked as hard as I could so as not to make the band sound bad. I think he pretty much inspired everyone in the band to do their very best. He played the best, and Larry demanded the best. Those were the reasons for our success. None of us were natural musicians except for Billy, but we all worked very hard and became better for it.
I often thought of Billy over the years, and I miss his sense of humor. The world lost a good man.
John Iacavone December-08
You were a big hit at the Lykens Ballroom in my day, the mid 60s. Met Billy in a carpet store in the 80s. Had a great conversation with him. Was sorry to hear of his passing. Loved the band.
John: I discovered The Centurys music through a CD collection that I picked up at Borders Books and Music, and it’s fantastic! While reading the liner notes, I noticed that your band was from Lebanon, PA. I work near Reading, and a friend from work who grew up and still lives in Lebanon, remembered you guys. He told me that Billy had passed away, and I was very sorry to hear it. The day that I brought my CD home, I listened to “Hard Times” about 200 times throughout the day, and I’m listening to it as I post this comment. God bless Billy and all the guys from the Centurys. This is the grooviest, catchiest, purest rock n’ roll that can be found ANYWHERE, and I hope hope music fans all over will be fortunate enough to discover them just as I did.
So sorry too hear of Billys passing .When i was about 15 back in 1964 i spent two days at his Dads camp back of Bunker Hill Drinking Beer and shooting his Dads 38spl.And spent the nite b/4 at Coleman park watching the fireworks over the 4 of July. So many good times from the Lyken Ballroom with the Centurys.Great memories with a great band.
BOB KOCH is the man… We work with this dude. Noone plays the organ or sings like this man
Hard Times
I lost my job & my woman left me today-yay
The Landlord’s knocking down my door, said he needs to be pa-aid
I owe everybody in town, cept the pencil salesman
Now I’m down with the bums I’ll be seeing the jailman
Come on baby now come on home
Cause I need somebody to care for me
I’ll get another job & these times will be gone
We’ll have meat on the table just wait & see
I got fifteen cents to last me the rest of the day-yay
My draft board called, you know they wanna send me away-yay
I got blues on the brain, & they’re liable to drive me crazy
Sitting here doing nothing, drinks like to making me hazy
Come on baby now come on home
Cause I need somebody to care for me
I’ll get another job & these times will be gone
We’ll have meat on the table just wait & see
Come back home, baby
I need you
OK
I was surprised to read about the Centurys. I and four of my best friends started a group called The Centurys in 1961 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. We recorded a couple songs and were nearly picked up by a major record company but the British invasion stopped that dead in its tracks.
The group continued to play up until about 6 years ago as The Second Century Band.
Does the arrangement of “83” remind anyone else of “Just a Little Bit” by Tiny Topsy? I knew “83” first but just now figured out what the other reminds me of, in a good way.
Saw the Centuries somewhere in the Enola, PA area in the middle sixties. I was in a band too, and I remember their big sound and thought, ” These guys are the real deal!” I never forgot that night and remember they played Hey Little Girl, which sounded like the original.
Wow The Century’s.What can I say about the fabulous band from Lebanon,Pa.Well I knew John Iacavone,from Hershey,Pa. In fact John lived just up the street from me.The band used to practice there.Now I also played in a band in Hershey,in fact John’s Unger brother played in the band with us,and we used to walk up to John’s house,the place was empty except their instruments were in the basement room.Now here we come our band to listen to the Centurys practice,but like I said no one was there,so we walked in and started playing this instruments.We were in the middle of a song and guess what? All of them came around the corner and into the room.Im thinking oh no we’re busted.We were playing a song by the Turtles.It was all good,they watched us play the song.Later on in life,many years after the band broke up I met Marilyn McKinney,Larry’s wife,at Reese’s where we both worked.She told me about Larry and the Centurys,and how she did all the guys hair for the shows.I did get to meet Larry through his wife,and he’s a great guy too.Yeah I liked the Centurys,saw them play at Hershey Park the Hershey Ballroom I think.But knowing John and Larry was a thrill for me,even bigger than the band walking in on us playing their instruments.