There were many bands named the Chosen Few but this one was from Muncie, Indiana. Some of them were students at Ball State, and were originally known as the Invincibles.
According to comments people have left below, original members of the group were:
Jack Hamilton – bass
Rich Burmann – guitar
Steve Baba (also known as Hodgie or Hadji Baba) – vocals
Steve Nephew – drums
John Cascella joined on keyboards in 1966, and the band changed their name to the Chosen Few in early ’67. Baba was their original lead singer, but Steve Nephew and Jack Hamilton also took turns on vocals. Carl Storie joined in late summer or fall of ’67, giving the band two lead vocalists and a boost to their stage presence. This combination was together for almost a year. At times Jack switched to piano or harpsichord while Hadji played bass.
“It Just Don’t Rhyme”, released in May of ’67 is the first of four 45s they released on the Denim label, and the most rockin’. The guitarist’s snappy rhythm on the intro provides the hook as the singer tells the girl to get her head out of the clouds. Jack Hamilton handled the lead vocals on this song. The band liked it enough to record it a second time with fuller vocal tracks and heavier organ as the a-side of their third single, this time backed with a cover of “Lucille”.
“Don’t Say It” has a different kind of sound, rooted in 50’s r&b, featuring good horn arrangements and a nice bass line. “Don’t Say It” was written by Jack Hamilton, “It Just Don’t Rhyme” had music by Hamilton and words by Steve Nephew.
Their second 45 has the folk-rock sounds of “We Walk Together” (a Jack Hamilton composition) backed with the solid pop number “Foolin’ Around with Me” (co-written by Hamilton and Nephew). Production was by Bill Michael.
Sometime around late 1967 or 1968, Rich Burman and Steve Nephew left the band, and Dave Bennett (guitar) and Dave Barnes (drums) took their place. Hadji Baba left and joined the Ritual as their vocalist. The band’s later work is more pop based, as evidenced by their fourth and last Denim 45, “Pink Clouds and Lemonade”, backed by a cover of the Supremes hit, “Stop! In the Name of Love”.
After leaving Denim, The Chosen Few released a 45 on the Talun label “Maybe the Rain Will Fall” / “Deeper In” which was picked up by RCA. The band signed to RCA for an album deal in 1969. Their self-titled LP continues the pop sound of their later 45s, adding horns to the mix, though some of the band was disappointed in how it turned out.
The Chosen Few evolved into the Faith Band, who released five LPs in the 70’s. By this time Jack Hamilton had left and was replaced on bass by Mark Cawley, leaving John Cascella as the only member who had been with the original Chosen Few in ’67. John Cascella went on to join John Mellencamp’s group until he passed away in 1992. Carl Storie is still active in music with his own group.
Thanks to Ann Likes and Gary for sending in the great photos of the group.
Updates: I am very sorry to report that Jack Hamilton passed away on September 26, 2021, after a brief illness. His obituary is online at Legacy.
Timothy Cox of 60’s Indiana Band Szene sent me this label scan of an early single from the Limit on Denim Records DS-1076, that predates the Chosen Few 45s. Did the group play live as The Limit, and are there any photos of this lineup?
Thanks for posting this. “It Just Don’t Rhyme” has been a favorite, since finding a copy of the 45 at an Indianapolis record show a few years back.
I grew up in Muncie, lived just off Broadway out by 3 & 67. When I was 12 or 13, the side-road off of BW where I lived had a gated driveway with a lane that went back there to a house with a spiral staircase going up to the second floor. I didn’t see it til just before the whole area was cleared for the Muncie Mall. But nice place. Vandals had been at it, unfortunately. One day I was outside of the house, being a kid, when I heard some live rock and roll being played from somewhere down that lane. The iron gates were closed and chained, but maybe there was another way in. I just stood at the lane and railroad tracks and got a free concert. This was the Chosen Few and Hadji Baba period, 1967-68.
Hi Jerry, remember me? Frankie Van Horn
The Chosen Few were indeed from Muncie, IN. Mostly students at Ball State. Carl Storie still lives in Yorktown, IN the last I knew, and John Cascella went on to play keyboards with John Melencamp. He was the one to put accordian on “Cherry Bomb” Unfortunately, John passed away 10-12 years ago. The band was originally known as the Invincables, and Carl Storie still performs with the Faith Band around Indianapolis.
My name is Brent Nephew. My dad was Steve Nephew, the “Nephew” in “Hamilton-Nephew” He now lives in orange county florida with his family of the past 30 something years. That is if he is still alive. I never knew him personally. My mom and he got divorced when i was very small, like 1 yr old i believe. She gave me several of The Chosen Few 45’s when i was young and when in the army stationed at fort hood texas some lowlife took my collection out of a closet where i lived. the only ones i really cared about were the ones from The Chosen Few though. My favorite was a song called “Maybe The Rain Will Fall” I think. I can barely remember how it sounded. i never was able to recover them. My word against the lowlife who took them. I know it was him or his wife though. Anyway that was a long time ago. I was 18 or 19 then. I am now almost 40. Still no contact with my dad though. If anyone can tell me how to obtain more of their music i would love to know. Not many people know this but my mom tells me they also wrote “Hang on Sloopy” which was stolen by the McCoys in 1969, i believe. I dont know if that can be verified or not but it would be interesting to know more. Anyway Steve Nephew wrote some with Hamilton and i think he was the drummer then but from what i understand my dad quit the band to do other things. some say it was because of my mom. or maybe it was because i was born or something i dont know. i may never know the whole truth. i was told that she hounded him into selling vaccuum cleaners door to door so he quit. Several years ago as a young adult, after the military, i saw Carl Story at the Muncie Reservoir. They held fairs and fests there in the summer. I guess Faith was playing at a fest that year and i got to say hello and introduce myself to him. He remembered when i was born. It was kinda cool. Thanks for starting this web site i have often wondered if The Chosen Few were just simply forgotten. Its kind of like a part of my life has been confirmed or something. thank you again.
Sincerely,
Brent Nephew
Would love to make contact. I am Steve’s niece, doing a piece on his musical legacy.
Dave Bennett and Dave Barnes are both from New Castle 20 miles south of Muncie.
North of Muncie, not south….
Huh?
NewCastle is south of Muncie, pal.
Brent, I am a former regular attendee at The Tri-Angle Inn, Greenville, OH where The Few played for a couple years. A great band, the best! My recommendation is to Google “Dan’s Records, Muncie, IN”. Dan sells old records. I have been there twice and see Chosen Few records in his inventory. Best wishes.
Joe
The triangle in Greenville Ohio, that brings back a lot of memories during the late 60s and early 70s when I lived in Muncie and went to Ball state. If I remember correctly that place once was a hog barn converted over to a huge club. I was a drummer in a lot of different bands I used to sit in with the Chosen Few sometimes when they played there. A very good band with great musicians and people. You never know who is going to show up at the triangle, Rick Derringer, Joe Walsh and many other musicians that went on to become stars would come in there and jam My friends and me would going from Muncie there almost every weekend
Sorry to report that Don’s Downtown Records, Muncie, is no longer. I visited there a while back and was told thatDon was very ill, had sold the inventory to BSU, so the Chosen Few records there are gone. I tried to get Don to sell a CF record to me but that was a no-go from his private collection.
In the mid to late 60’s we were lucky enough to see The Chosen Few at the Swing Inn in Huntington, In. They were regulars for a couple of years. They always packed the place. I remember they used to wear the Dezie Arnez shirts withe the flury sleeves that drove the girls nuts. Great band, great memories!
Yes, I believe you can find Maybe the Rain Will Fall on you tube. That is one of my favs from this group and pink clouds and lemonade.
Hey, Brent,
About the Farfel story, a recent incarnation of the Farfel doggie puppet is: YouTube has a 1992 resurrection of Farfel. He had a strange, drawn-out way of singing “choc-late” at the end of the Nestles jingle. They kept that in the modern version. Cute! -Cindy
Someone requested “It Just Don’t Rhyme” on the next episode of my podcast, and, not having a copy of the record myself, I went online in search of it, and lo and behold, it was right here waiting for me to download from GarageHangover.com. Now even more people will get to hear this great track. Muchos gracias!
Jack says he did lead vocals on “It Just Don’t Rhyme”
HAPPY JACK
LOVE THAT CONNERSVILLE SPARTAN
TELL HIM THANKS FOR PLAYING OUR FORMAL DANCE AT MACONAQUAH HIGH SCHOOL! 1967??
I was a young boy in yorktown indiana, my mother was friends with one of the chosen fews mom. The lady
babysitted my older sister and me. I used to see carl storie and other members of the band often. I
was so motivated by them that I started playing the guitar and I have been ever since. I am now a very
successful busisness man worth millions and I still play the guitar. Thanks chosen few. I grew up and
went to school with a young girl named Pam Storie (Carls sister I think).I remember a song called Mayby the rain will fall.
I would really love to get a recording of that songand who knows Maby itll stop and ill be there by your side.
Carl you never knew me but I have been a fan of yours for many years. Keep on keepin on brother, PJ Paul Jeffers!!
I have been a Carl Storie fan and seen him many times and that does not sound like Carl Storie’s Chosen Few at all. http://www.carlstorie.com
My name is Cindy Hamilton, I just read your post and this reply out loud to my husband Jack, about his old band. Can’t believe I found anything about the Chosen Few on the internet, let alone your comment. Googled it while laughing w/my sister we could probably find *anything* on the internet! Brent, we are so sorry about your broken family ties and the (censored) who took your recordings, but want you to know we do (somewhere in this tumbledown house) have a few Chosen Few recordings and will try to get you copies. Jack was lucky his father kept some. God knows the whole band lived like gypsies for years, trying to make their dreams come true. Your dad wrote the lyrics and Jack wrote the music for “Just Don’t Rhyme” and they thought they had a hit. One reason Jack changed careers was the harshness of the record industry! Your mother was correct, Jack developed “Hang on Sloopy” as a really peppy new arrangement of an old song about a lady singer nicknamed Sloopy. Ricky Zehringer–a.k.a. Rick Derringer–who was probably only about 16 and driven by his Mom to Connersville, Indiana, to hear the Chosen Few at the Eagles Club, heard “Sloopy” and loved it. Soon after, Rick’s band played it at Indian Lake and another band (the Strangeloves?) put Rick and the Raiders on a plane for New York. Legend has it that they flew to NYC the same night! They got it on vinyl before the Chosen Few could cut it. It was one of the many blows Jack suffered in “the biz.” By the way, there were no hard feelings and Rick Z did come to New York City to help with the Chosen Few album production because Jack was convinced RCA didn’t understand the band’s vision. It really didn’t correct the problem, who knows why. Brent, we’d really like to tell you more about your Dad. Jack says he was extremely talented and imitated the television puppet Farfel so someone (in the band or in Sig Ep?) nicknamed him “Farfel.” I have lots to attend to, gotta go. Please reply, Brent and when I get just a little time I will let you know how I’m doing with finding the records / putting them onto CDs or MP3 / getting them to you. Please, stay in touch. And thanks so much to all you music buffs for caring about Chosen Few. –Jack and Cindy Hamilton
I’m sorry I didn’t know about the Chosen Few until about 1968 when I saw them at The Elks Club in Marion, Indiana. I was promised by a not very reliable friend a copyof their album on RCA years ago and you can probably guess the res of that story. I saw the Chosen Few/ Limousine (nobody mentioned that little part of their history and finally Faith Band after Mark Cawley joined the Band somewhere around 1973/74. I saw all three incarnations of the band all over Indiana more times than I could count. They played at my high school in 1972 I think. I used to date Hadjii Babas’s sister (name left out on purpose) in high school and by the time I knew about him he was playing with the Ritual. They all played through Vox Super Beatle amps in case you are having trouble believing all of this. The Chosen Few went without a bass player for years until Cawley joined the band and he also took over some/alot of the writing although I never thought they needed help with the writing. I saw them from Manchester College to as far south as Indianapolis. After seeing them in Indianapolis, my wife and I gave David Barnes a ride home to New Castle, Indiana. I have five albums by them the first titled Limousine. The name was changed to Faith Band and the cover art changed when Terry Knight (Grand Funk Railroad) took over as manager. The next album I purchased in San Diego (where I now reside permanently) called Excuse Me…I Just Cut An Album. They got very poppy in 1978 with the release of rock’n romance (sic) and had a hit with a song called Dancin’ Shoes. It received some airplay on the west coast but beyond that I don’t know. Next came two releases in 1979 the first called Face To Face and the second called Vital Signs. While I was happy for their success I always thought that they were best when I saw them as The Chosen Few and the first Limousine album. They did have a bass player the first 5-10 times I saw them as The Chosen Few but then until Mark Cawley came in and then Terry Knight and while that is when they achieved their most commercial success. I heard a rumor that Dave Bennett and John Cascella had moved out to L.A. to try and get a jazz thing going but until tonight I looked up the band on Firefox and found this post. I wasn’t moved to reply until I saw your post. Thank you for bringing back all the memories. If you want to correspond more you have my email.
I too saw The Chosen Few at The Elks Club near Marion, In. It was one of the greatest concerts I ever witnessed. I believe, if it was the same show, the show ended with Hadji and Carl jumping off the high dive board into the pool. I drove 14 people back into town in my Chevy II; it was crowded but lots of fun. I saw The Chosen Few many times over the years and they were one of my favorite groups.
Amazing story Cindy. I was in Connersville. I had some interesting twists. When my older bands friends went off to college I decided to promote dances. I got the Chosen Few to come back and play a New Year’s eve show 1969. The Hang On Sloopy tale is not uncommon. I went on to play with a band mostly from Anderson, Peddler, whose lead singer Mark Burton wrote a song we recorded locally “Certain kid of Lady”. He sent it to a studio in Chicago where he also had done some prior recording to see if we could get connected to a label. Coindentally it was where Styx did all their recording. It was not literally taken, but the song Lady by them has a striking resemblance. Influences like that happen.
I happened onto this website a couple of days ago. I often google stuff from the past (old girlfriend’s names, etc.)I decided to type in “The Chosen Few Muncie” having been a huge fan of them growing up in Muncie. I freaked out when I found this site and saw there were 2 songs I could actually play. I hadn’t heard It Just Don’t Rhyme in 40 years. It was great to hear it again. I’ve played it a dozen times. It awakened some memories in me having seen the band countless times in the mid to late 60’s. When I first saw the band in early 1967 they were wearing white blazers and polka-dot ties (very cool) I think they had just changed their name from the Invincibles to the Chosen Few and had recently acquired a Hammond organ. What I remember most about the band, especially in the pre-Carl Storie days,were the incredible vocal harmonies. They did a few Beatle songs that I remember Steve sang lead on, This Boy, he did an especially nice job on the bridge in that song,and If I needed Someone, they absolutely nailed that. I wondered if Richie got a 12 string guitar just to do that song, which was my personal favorite. But the most memorable thing they did was a song called A Day In The Life from St. Pepper’s. Steve played and sang that to perfection with dynamic timing changes on the drums. Vocally, he mimicked Lennon and McCartney’s voice perfectly. the song ended with one grand chord they all hit dead on. I could go on but I won’t. I just wanted to let you know that while the recordings were good they did not do justice to what a truly great band they were.
JUST READ YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT JACK AND THE CHOSEN FEW..WHAT A GREAT BAND. I LIVED IN ELWOOD AND THEY WOULD PLAY AT THE T-WAY PARKING LOT ON THE BACK OD A TRUCK ON SUNDAY NITES. I WOULD SEE THEM PLAY ALL OVER THE STATE AND EVEN WENT TO OHIO TO SEE THEM. I SAW THEM BEFORE THE CARL STORIE DAYS. WHO WAS THE SINGER HODGIE? WAS HE WITH THE BAND LONG? I WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO GET IT JUST DOINT RYHME IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I HAVE ALL THEIR LATER STUFF AS THE FAITH BAND…THERE WERE ALSO 2 OTHER BANDS FROM BALL STATE THE OTHER FIVE AND THE CYNDERS…DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM DAN KNOOTZ WAS DRUMMER FOR THE OTHER 5… THE MCCOYS ALSO PLAYED AT T-WAY. SO SAD ABOUT JOHN CASCELLA…WHAT DOES JACK DO THESE DAYS..I BELIEVE THE CHOSEN FEW WERE AN INCH FROM MAKING IT BIG TIME. WHAT A GREAT BAND
WARM REGARDS
JERRY
Hi Jerry:
Enjoyed your dialogue on the Chosen Few and The Other Five.
I am The Other Five Drummer, Dan Koontz. Following my Pre-Med at BSU, I studied chiropractic and naturopathic medicine and launched my practice in Phoenix AZ. I launched The Guaranteed Weight Loss Cure, stabilized over 50,000 Type II Diabetics , IV chelation for cardiovascular syndromes and also developed a unique IV for pain management.
My daily radio show began in 1975 Mon-Fri and presently on 1100kfnx.com which is America’s oldest live call in wellness medical talk show. You may access my website: HealthyHouseCall.com.
I also donate my time with Dr Malaterre in Nogales Sonora in surgery and cancer management. We offer a free cancer clinic and have helped thousands get well with integrative medicine.
We are expanding my radio show internationally to help as many folks as possible.
Thanks again for your comments. I will look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers!
I saw you at the Police Athletic Club in Marion Indiana but never realized you were also from Muncie. I saw all three incarnations of The Chosen Few and you and a band called Heavy which grew out of the defunct Hadjii Baba and the Ritual. Thank you!
Great to hear your story Dan, I often wondered what happened to you. Sounds like you’re doing great. You were an excellent drummer and a nice guy.
Stan, there’s a good chance that you’ll never read this. I’m surprised and pleased that this site is still up. I remember seeing you play a few times back in the ‘60s with the Cinders. You were simply amazing! I believe you were playing some sort of jazz-box type guitar that looked bigger than you were. You looked to be quite the prodigy. I was acquainted with Pat Black, your keyboardist and asked him how in the world you learned to play like that at such a young age? He told me you had taken lessons at Sowder’s music store in downtown Muncie. So, I started taking lessons there from a wonderful, patient man, I think his name was Connie?
Anyway, I thought it would be just a matter of time before my fingers would be wandering all over the fretboard like you. But this was never to be. A combination of laziness and lack of talent would keep me from ever being even mildly proficient on the guitar, although I still do like to play.
Later on (‘70s I think) I saw you perform at the Inn of the Four Winds near Bloomington, playing a classical guitar. I can still remember It was truly an inspiring performance. Also, I remember seeing you play at a coffee shop back in Muncie called the Two Bit Rush, maybe a couple of times. Again, you were amazing!
I don’t think we ever actually ever exchanged words but you made quite an impression on me all those years ago. I cannot imagine how good you must be now!
I hope you’re doing well, Cheers!
Dan, Greg Hood here. Hope your doing well. We had some great times together with Steve, Rosie, and Gary. Currently living in Florida loving my kids and grandkids. Life after the Malibous has been great.
Are you still practicing in Phoenix? I live in Mesa and know Dave Bennett and Dave Barnes. I am from New Castle as well.
Bill Powell
Hi Jerry:
We are in the planning stages of a new band with the same instrumentation as Chicago/Earth Wind Fire focusing on the Fortune 500 convention circuit which will include Dr John Terhune on bass, J Michael Henderson on guitar and hopefully, Pat Black on keyboards. This is the core of the new band. We plan to include Ralph Pressler also of Muncie on bass trombone and other Vegas brass musicians.
We also plan to record a series of Aerobic Dance DVD’s to stabilize Type II diabetics and other obesity challenges via permanent weight management. We will market the recordings on my international radio show and other venues.
I remember playing at the shopping plaza in Elwood. The groups name was Thee Cinders. That was the day I forgot my guitar! Had to run back to Muncie to get my guitar. That has never happened again. Thanks for the memory.
Brent, you are not the only one who’s busy…looks like I’ve been out of touch with this site for a month! Sorry. My brother has been working on converting some old recordings. I hope to hear from you again soon so I can get them to you. I’ll be checking this site more often, too– honest.
… is mostly working on music and musical instruments, but not in the public eye. There was a time in the 1980s when he worked with a band called Juke Joint. We don’t have a copy of “It Just Don’t Rhyme!!! Not that I can find, anyway. Oddly enough, at one of the local flea markets we found a copy of the “Chosen Few” album. Yeah, Hadji or Hodgie (Jack never described how he spelled it) did sing vocals at one point. I get all his band stories mixed up and Jack isn’t internet active. I’m going to see about putting some of this on CD to send out. Seems people want to hear it. This is such a big lift for Jack. He was disappointed in the RCA recording … Thanks so very very much. -Cindy Hamilton
This is Brent nephew here in chicago. ive been so busy lately with work that i have forgotten to check this site. it is so awsome to have heard from you and i would love to get any recordings you might find. sorry that it took so long to get back to you. this economy has me going constantly just to keep up. Lyle, my brother told me today that there was a response to my posting. how cool is this that you guys are out there and contacted me. thank you. ill check back more frequently from now on.
Brent
Brent again. i almost forgot to tell you thanks for the farfel story. it makes sense now. when i was a kid of about 8 or so we had a cocker spanial named farfel. cool memory. my mom Janice must have carried that on from him. she never told me about his puppet imitations though.
I grew up in Anserson, and was a big fan. I roadied several times when they were Faith Band. I have the Chosen Few album as MP3 files if anyone wants a copy I would be happy to send. Also have all the Faith Band albums as mp3. Let me know if you want a cpy. geoffb@aol.com
Brent nephew is my brother from the same mother.In the late 60s i recall running around the hullabaloo a club in indiana yelling thats my dad although steve nephew was my stepfather.Carl story, hadgie ,rita wife,and hamilton vaguely in my memories.mom has brought up the past rarely.I do remember tired steve nephew coming home with vaccuum cleaners in yorktown indiana.in third grade they divorced brent was one i was 8.I have 2 boys now dustin and aaragorn .Brent nephew has 2 sons lucas and andy.Either one of us would not do to our boys what steve did to brent.WHAT WERE YOU THINKING STEVE NEPHEW.??????? BY the way brent has the ability to play in any band.HE is incredable on his guitar,horn,or vocals.Too bad dad didnt teach him!!!!
Carl Storie is just awesome! He performed for a fundraiser I created in Muncie, in Aug. 2007! We planned the event- literally over the computer, from Muncie to Seattle, to Los Angeles to the East Coast! Souled Out Band from Muncie and Indy also played! Carl generously gave of his time and energy on a Saturday. He is a pleasure to work with, and very talented and respected. I remember seeing Carl with the Chosen Few in the late 1960’s at “Hulabaloo” in Yorktown, and of course, at the Muncie Fairgrounds. (anyone remember “Pink Clouds and Lemonade?”) His Faith Band is awesome…..search it, and check it out on-line. I can’t say enough about Carl Storie. He is a true professional and just a wonderful guy!
Hi read your blog. I live in Florida now but grew up in Middletown, IN. I was a big fan of the Carl Sory Music. If you could send me any or all of the Story music you have I would really appreciate it. They, the Chosen Few, played at our after prom party at the Ball State student center. Thanks, Russ Byrer
I’m looking a three records I bought at Joe’s Record Shop in Anderson- It Just Don’t Rhyme/Lucille and Foolin’ Around With Me/We Walk Together, both on the Denim label. Plus, Maybe The Rain Will Fall/Deeper In on the Talun Stereo label. And, I think I have Pink Clouds And Lemonade on RCA somewhere. The Chosen Few were big on 990 WERK and 1470 WHUT.
Thinking back, it’s strange that so many songs became hits in Indiana but not nationally. Some old songs I’ll always treasure like The Angel Song by SRC, I Confess by The New Colony Six, Sally Had A Party by Favor, Everyday And Every Night by The Trolls, and It Just Don’t Rhyme. Mark
That is not Carl Storie singing on either of those songs. I have been a fan for 30 years and seen him perform many, many times. Carl has recently moved to Texas does anyone onow anything about this?
I have noted a few people on here who want recordings. I have had some CDs made and would like to offer them ONLY to the people who have previously asked, such as Brent and Lyle (I don’t have time to keep on making copies, only have a few to give out). The CDs are rudimentary, made from LPs, but still highly listenable.
Please send me an e-mail at mhk123@sbcglobal.net with your name and the words “chosen few CD” in the subject line. This is an alternate address that’s not frequently checked. I’ll need your address so I can mail the material.
I won’t be answering tons of messages or sending out more CDs, at least for a while, but I do have 2 or 3. I’d really like to get them to you. God Bless you for being such devoted fans and I hope you can forgive your family who were so messed up. I’ll look for your e-mail that alternate address…thanks!!! -Cindy
Andy,
Carl will be playing 1-2-2009 at the rathskellar in indy. Just thought you may want to know. Hope you and your family are doing well.
… as I said, I’ve been able to copy just a few CDs for people who have requested them (Maybe the Rain Will Fall is on there)–just e-mail a snail-mail address where the CD will be mailed to mhk123@sbcglobal.net Thanks for your interest! Cindy
What a neat site, My brothers were part of the roady crew for these guys, Dave And Terry Jones they were the one in the red van with carringas on the side. Would love a copy of any music. Dan jones
Some of this information might be known but just in case it is not I will post it.
Carl Storie moved to Texas with his family last year. He still performs in the Midwest as bookings occur. He has a new CD in the can but as yet unreleased.
Dave Bennett released a solo CD called “Out of the Bleu” a few years back. It is mostly instrumental/jazz flavored. Have not seen him for awhile.
Dave Barnes still performs with a group called “The Fabulous Imports”. Mostly private parties and corporate gigs.
Hi Dan,
Nice to hear from you. I think Dave called here and Jack and Dave got together and hashed over old times back around 1996. Please say hi! I made a couple more copies on New Year’s holiday so if you want a CD, e-mail my alternate address mhk123@sbcglobal.net and give your mailing address -Cindy
HI CINDY
THANX A MILLION FOR SENDING THE CD.IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO YOU YOU LET ME KNOW. I AM WORKING ON GETTING SOME OF THE FAITH BANDS LPS. THE CHOSEN FEW ON DENIM STUFF IS I THINK SOME OF THEIR BEST. THANKS AGAIN. TAKE CARE
JA
Cindy, my name is Skip McCarthy, I was a fraternity brother of “Happy Jack” Hamilton, along with Rich Burmann, Steve Baba and Steve Nephew. Those four were the original members of the Chosen Few, contrary to some of the comments made on the “Garage Hangover” site. They started out as the “Invincibles”. Those 4 added another Sig Ep brother John Cascella in 1966. John went on to be involved with John Mellencamp, but he died at avery early age.
I did not pick up your connection to Happy Jack. If you see him tell him I said hi, and I hope all is well with him.
Skip McCarthy
I also grew up in Yorktown, Indiana during the 1970’s, and there was a family that lived behind us named Jeffers, they had a daughter my age named Angela (Angel) and one younger named Ginna (?) I was pretty sure that they also had two older kids… Just curious if this is your family?
Also, I remember the Faith Band, and how big a song, “Dancing Shoes” was @ middle school dances, and out at Skateaway, haha….
larry broadwater
lbroadwat_msdwc@hotmail
do remember the address of the OP (Other Place) Celina Ohio ?
What was once the “The Other Place – OP” is located approximately 4 miles north of Coldwater, Ohio on state route 118, and at the intersection of Route 29, which is about 3 miles west of Celina, Ohio. It supposedly began as a dance hall called “Green Acres” back in the early 60’s, and then it morphed into “The OP”. It is now home to a company called RCS Construction.
Also, during that time period, The Chosen Few played the ‘Bar E” located on 118 at Eldora Speedway.
My Place, Our Place, and The Other Place. Sure do! That‘s a l-o-n-g tome ago.
Hi Cindy
I got my cd thanks so much
Dan
Cindy and Jack,
I knew Happy Jack, Hodgie Baba, Farfel, Richi B. and John Cascella as the Invincibles at Ball State U. I was a member of the Sig Ep fraternity where they rocked the house on weekends! I’ve been searching for their records and excited to know someone who could make copies. Please contact me at csrenner@sbcglobal.net
I grew up with Dave and Terry Barnes. I heard they went to work for ticket master.
I followed the Few. Too bad they didn’t make it big. They got so close.
I believe that Terry Barnes (bro to Dave) had his own band that played music at the Triangle on occasion?
Jack and Cindy…
I am a big fan! I have been entertaining for 40 years and I would have to say that my to biggest influences were the Beatles and the Chosen Few/Faith.
As a youngster I saw you guys play many venues. Probably the strangest was the opening of Dorothy’s ladies wear in the Lafayette Square Mall…late 60’s I think.
You can see my site which promotes my music gigs at…
http://mikefoxmusic.tripod.com.
Guess what? I have “midi sequences” I layed down on my synth so that on some band gigs we can play Maybe the Rain Will Fall and Talk With Me. The trax have most of the parts except for guitar and vocals which are done live. If you would send me your email address I will send you the sequences as mp3 files for you to enjoy. If you think it would be appropriate I could post them on my website so that you could direct your friends there for “sign along nights”.
Guess what else??? When we do the tunes in the Muncie/Anderson region we still get a great response and people come up and want to talk about the tunes and your band.
Hope to hear from you,
Mike Fox
New a young man who said he was in the band Chosen Few in Indiana. I believe he was a key board player. We were in the Air Force stationed in Minot N.D. around 1969-1971 do not remember his name although Dave was his first name. Does this sound familar to anyone
Do you mean the singer, Hadji Baba? He was with The Ritual in Muncie.
I remember the Ritual very well. The song they did where a couple of them would get down on their knees and play guitars as they came up and down at the waist -pretty cool. Also they would stop at small store my mother worked at
called “Smith’s Market” on Broadway where 3 & 67 split.
Anyway they would come in and buy B-B’s, she ask them one day why so many B-B’s and they told her that they had
fights with B-B guns.
As for the Chosen Few – I had one of them for a teacher at Kuhner Jr. High.
Thanks,
Come visit
The Island Muncie
I used to see John and Carl at Meadowbrook Pizza many years ago. Good guys. I still see Carl around from time to time. This is great .
The band had two Dave’s, drummmer Dave Barnes and guitarist Dave Bennett, but neither were original members of the Chosen Few, and I really don’t think either was ever in the Air Force. The Muncie Evening Press did a feature on the band, and the original members (according to this article) were Jack Hamilton, Steve Nephew, Rich Burman (spelling?), Steven (Hadji) Baba, and John Cascella. At some point down the line, Burman and Nephew left the band, making way for Carl Storie, Dave Bennett and Dave Barnes to be join. Shortly thereafter, Hadji left to become the singer for the Ritual. I’m not sure at what point Jack Hamilton left the band, but he was replaced by Mark Cawley on bass at the time they became Faith Band. Both incarnations of this band were very successful within their time, but I think alot of people mistakenly think that Carl and the other members of the Faith Band were the original Chosen Few.
Just by any chance, does anyone remember that Faith Band released an album under the name Limousine in the early 70’s, but later released the same material again as Faith Band a while later?
I would be VERY interested if anyone has a copy of the original Chosen Few’s album that could be burnt onto cd. I had the album, but made the mistake of lending it out and it conveniently never found it’s way back to me. If anyone can help here, please send me an email. It would be greatly appreciated!
I too remember the Chosen Few very well as I played in a Band called the Five Guys in the central Indiana area in the 60’s. Being from Muncie we worked with Bill Craig Jr. Productions who’s offices were in the Village at Ball State. I knew Carl and John Casella well and even took some keyboard lessons from John. He was unbelievable. We opened for the Chosen Few and for Limousime in all the clubs in central Indiana and knew the music scene very well. I also got to see many bands because of the affiliation with BCJ Productions. I saw and met the Standells “Dirty Water” The Shadows of Night “Gloria” and got to be backstage when Hendrix did the Delaware County Fairgrounds in 1968. My Band The Five Guys won the Battle of the Bands (remember those?) at the Fairgrounds in 1968 and went on to win the Battle of the Bands at the Indiana State Fair. Hope I got the dates right it’s been a long time. I will look, I bought a copy of the one and only Limousine album and may still have it somewhere. Those were some of the very best years of my life. My former band members still live in the Muncie and Yorktown area if you know them give them a shout out fro me. Rick and Bruce Cantrell, Raymond Jett, Doug Collins and Gary Renegar….love you guys!
Does anyone know how to get a list of the bands that were in The Battle of The Bands at the State Fair between 1964 – 1967?
Bruce Engle,
How the hell are you. Long time, huh. Neat post . I just happened to find this site.
I have always wondered where the hell you were. Email me.
Doug
You can reach me at engelmauiwowi@gmail.com
I have an MP3 version of the Chosen Few album.
Hi D Lyons,
Will try to answer your post as well as a couple others here–As I have stated on the site before, I am Jack Hamilton’s wife and although he is not internet active, I am trying to keep up with the posts here on the great site garagehangover. The histories people are providing (especially you frat brothers, shout out! from Jack) are pretty accurate… Jack doesn’t know of anyone from Chosen Few going into the military (says it couldn’t be Dave Barnes–medical reasons) but when you search Chosen Few, you’ll see a note indicating there were several bands using the name, keep looking around.
Anyway, I have an alternate email so that I can use it just to take requests for CDs as I get time. We have a master and make copies as we get the opportunity, so if you want a CD of the old vinyl, post an email with “Chosen Few CD” in the subject line to: mhk123@sbcglobalnet and I’ll get to it as I can.
If I am not contacting you directly, it doesn’t mean I don’t *want* to, it means I probably haven’t checked every chain thoroughly — I get to this site infrequently because life has other things for us to do! We appreciate everyone’s interest, and are trying to get copies to those who want them. Try again if I’m “missing” you.
Thanks again for contacting Jack/ the Chosen Few through garagehangover! + Once again, kudos to the site.
Cindy
I recently posted a few Faith Band photos at my flickr account.
Go to flickr.com/rmikeh and search them. Does anyone else have any?
Long time no see remmber me your Ex Wife? How have you been? get in touch
They were for sure from Muncie. Their first album is reviewed by a disc jockey from Muncie. I saw them often in Muncie. I think later when they were the Faith Band – they were from Indianapolis.
I used to see the Chosen Few in Muncie frequently in the 60s — More recently, I have had the chance to see Carl’s performances at various places – Rochester, Tipton,Kokomo, Slater Hawkins in Muncie, etc. — I sure hated to see him move to Texas — Indiana has lost an Icon.
Does anyone know why Carl moved to Texas?
Carls former wife was from Texas.
My Nephew talked with Carl shortly before he moved. Carl said that his Father-in law had offered him a job in his (stone quarry business) – I believe that’s what he has. — Carl said he would be collecting rock samples to be analized and things of that sort. He told my Nephew that he had spent a lot of years playing “Rock”, now He’s going to go play with “hard rock” . — I hope all goes well for he and his family in Texas!
Indeed-the Hang on Sloopy story is for real. The song-written by Carl Storie was picked up by the McCoys at a bar in Greenville Ohio called The Triangle during a Sunday jam session. If you find an old copy of the single it says “C. Story” under the songs title.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ORotir1HQE
1964 recording written by Bert Burns performed by the Vibrations
nothing is new under the sun
Like many others on here, I can’t believe I stumbled onto this page. I was a Sig Ep at Ball State in the late 60’s. I was a fraternity brother of John Cascella. My favorite group of all time from Indiana is The Chosen Few. Every single member was very talented. Saw them play numerous times in Muncie, At The Sig Ep House, Indiana Beach, Indianapolis, Bloomington etc. Actually “hung around” with them sometimes after gigs, at parties etc. They were all so cool. They were like my idols. Also remember Hadji Baba as their singer in the early years, then Carl Storie joined later. A friend of mine actually has a cassette recording of them playing at Indiana Beach, but I think he wore it out playing it so much. This page has brought back great memories. Thanks!
Chuck! I did have that recording and am looking for it. The Chosen Few were great. Opening for the WHO, playing at fraternity partiers (when Jack was still on bass, and Hadji was there). I will contact Cindy and see if I can (may) post these for free download.
Hi Mike,
There’s no copyright infringement on that stuff, as far as I know. I tried to make some CDs but I’m just so slow at getting around and the recordings weren’t that great (vinyl to tape to CD).
The irony is that you posted just a couple days after Jack passed. We didn’t know how ill he was. (No it wasn’t COVID.) The doctors couldn’t even tell until a couple courses of antibiotic proved fruitless. Anyway, The only reason I limited the broadcast of the CDs was they were quite a bit of trouble (burning one at a time) and I didn’t think they were that fabulous. Jack would always appreciate someone sharing his music, of that I’m certain. So unless you can think of someone else who might be offended, have at it. And thank you for the enormous effort, the dedication, and the respect you’ve offered.
AND … since Mike’s post, some of you saw my post including Jack’s obituary, went to the Tobias site and offered your heartfelt condolences. It comforts me to know how Jack touched lives for all these decades. As I told Jack, love is forever. You all knew that too. Thank you.
Greetings Cindy;
I am so sorry to hear of Jack passing!! I got to know about Garage hangover from a friend who knew the band & my dad (Bob Cowgill Jr.) worked at the Triangle in Greenville. Anyhoo, long story short I had contacted you & you were so wonderful in burning me aa CD with a lot of their songs!! My dad used to take me to the Triangle when I was young & I would watch the guys setting up. Then when it came time for them to go on I was always ushered out due to the alcohol!!! I really had a great time at the Triangle when the live bands would play; especially the Chosen Few!!!! Take care Cindy!!!!
Rex…
Rex,
Sorry I missed this post, 2021 was incredibly tough, and I’m still dealing with the mementos and unresolved business of my mother, our best buddy, and Jack passing. (We just got Mom’s life insurance done, it was an ancient policy my brother unearthed that paid each of us kids about $350! The company probably had to seek out the record in a vault somewhere. You wonder if it’s worth it.) I sure wish Jack could have got on here and interacted with everyone himself. What always tickled Jack were how the band unified on stage (or didn’t, and how to fix that) and the people relating to the band, as you’ve done. At his memorial I told a story about a memorable band gig with an awkward fan interaction that Jack lifted out of mire and into an entertaining moment! He just really shone, as do all the musicians and the fans too. Won’t forget how supportive everyone has been. You take care too, okay Rex?
Blessings,
Cindy
My dad grew up in Indy.
For the last 7 years he has had me searching for albums from Faith Band & Limousine. I was able to find a couple of the Faith Band albums for him & suprise him with them for Christimas, but no luck as far as anything on Limousine….and obvisoulsy I’m still looking.
Any ideas???
Did The Few ever play The Hullabaloo? I did see The Ritual there and remember the song where they played guitar on their knees. I saw SRC play The Angel Song at the Muncie Fieldhouse in the late 60s. Actually, the Hullabaloo hosted a lot of good groups including The Who. Anyone here get to see them? There were a lot of odd groups that played there including Max Frost & the Troopers and Paul Bearer & the Morticians. I could go on, but I’ll check back later.
“Hang on Sloopy” was around before the Chosen Few or the McCoys ever recorded it. It was called “My Girl Sloopy” and was a hit for a group called the Vibrations. The Chosen Few had made the major changes to the song that you hear in most of the later versions, such as call-and-response and the “Louie Louie” chords/beat. They never recorded their own version of it. (They were told they’d made a major error in this, because early on they had been in studio to make a demo, but didn’t record the song on the, because it wasn’t an original tune.) We don’t know anything about the name “C. Storie” appearing on any of the different versions, but the way the McCoys got hold of this particular *arrangement* of the song was through the Chosen Few. Chosen Few were playing at the Eagles lodge in Connersville, Indiana and the McCoys had a nearby gig (this happened a lot because the bands had the same booking agent, BCJ Productions). Rick and Randy Zehringer were so young that their mother drove them to their gigs, and after their own job, they stopped into the Eagles to see if they could catch any of the Chosen Few’s last set. The Chosen Few were playing “Hang on Sloopy” as their typical finale, stretching the song to a 15-minute “dialog” with the audience and revving the audience up so they’d be sure to catch the next Chosen Few appearance. The rest of the song’s development by the McCoys is there on Wikipedia for all to see. Jack remembers that the McCoys were headed somewhere like Indian Lake, where the Strangeloves saw the McCoys’ performance, and you can read the rest for yourself. Would love to see a photo of that record with “C. Storie” on it!
Like most of the people who’ve contributed to this page I grew up in Muncie & enjoyed seeing the ‘FEW’ at Hullabaloo in Yorktown, at The Water Bowl in the summers, and later at Granny’s out on 32(with a heavy BUZZ on…it WAS the 70s after all). The main difference for me is that I was playing in bands as well(by my senior year in high school I had ‘graduated’ from playing in HS bands & was ‘recruited’ to play with Roosevelt Johnson & The Seven C’s…THAT was quite an eye opener for a kid of 17!)
Anyway, I was lucky enough to be considered a ‘junior peer’ & was included in several Jam Sessions over the years…always a joy & an inspiration for me, as I was about 5-6 years younger than they were & could only learn from the experience.
I remember going on a 2 or 3 day road trip to NYC with Chick Brown,Dave Bennett & his wife…we went to Manny’s Music Store, and several other ‘Rock & Roll’ kind of hot spots.
Dave Bennett & I even traded amps, he had a sweet old school Fender Showman with the cream colored Tolex, & I had some piece of shit solid state amp (I can’t even remember the brand!), to this day I don’t know why he’d want that thing over the Fender…but I sure enjoyed using that Showman with its smooth, fat sound for years, until I finally traded for a Marshall in the late 70s!
Here’s a request, if anybody has an mp3 conversion of the ‘Few’ doing ‘Stop In The Name Of Love’, the b-side of ‘Pink Clouds And Lemonade’, please reply…I lost mine & just loved the way they rearranged the Supremes song.
By the time I heard the band, they had changed their name to Limousine. I heard them play two or three gigs at Wright State University near Dayton, Ohio. They recorded an album on GSR as Limousine. Somehow, Terry Knight, who had produced Grand Funk Railroad, heard of them and decided that he was going to make them stars. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, mostly because Knight managed to PO too many people. Here is the story from http://gardenofsounds.blogspot.com/2007/10/faith-same-usa-1973.html:
“As summer 1973 began, Knight launched his boldest promotional stratagem, the band Faith. Drummer Dave Barnes told me the story:
We were called Limousine when we found out from our manager Bill Craig Jr. that we were going to meet Terry Knight. We just knew we were on our way to stardom. Terry Knight flew us in to New York from our hometown Muncie, Indiana for our meeting. We met with his photographer that took the famous portrait of our backside, so no one would see our faces.
The gimmick with Faith owed to their anonymity and Knight’s strategically-planted rumors the band was comprised of heavyweight members from various, legendary 1960s groups from London. Supposedly the musicians – Noel Redding and Keith Relf were among the names whispered – came together to forge an illustrious new career without cashing in on prior glories or running afoul of contractual complications. Sold as a “mystery supergroup,” Faith is a bizarre twist of art imitating art: Knight took the cue from none other than his collective nemesis, Rolling Stone magazine.
In 1969, Greil Marcus penned for Rolling Stone a spoof record review of an album by “The Masked Marauders.” Tantalizingly, the group supposedly included Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger (performing such obviously satire titles as “I Can’t Get No Nookie”). The presumably stoned public rushed to stores to snap the record up. When no such record could be located, Marcus decided to pursue the gag and, calling in some favors (and some not-so-heavy session musicians), a “Masked Marauders” record was rushed out to an underwhelmed audience. Soon enough, Rolling Stone exposed the very hoax they created.
Without examining the consequences of jiving Rolling Stone with their own jive, Knight decided to take up the idea for his own.
Lead singer Carl Storie recounts the experience:
The album had been released before the Brown Bag deal. We were called Limousine – the record was on GSR. He bought the rights to it and took it to his studio and remixed the masters. He made a lot of changes; the album really sounded different, better – he had a real talent for that.
We met with Terry only once – in his New York office. I never questioned the mystique, the gimmick. He believed in the music, he believed in us as musicians; he felt the skill of the band would overcome any negative stuff resulting from the ad campaign.
We had this huge billboard on the Sunset Strip, so everybody who was anybody would see it and be talking about Terry Knight’s new mystery group – it was the cover of the album, specially designed so the heads of the band came out over the top of the billboard. He had the Faith logo put on matches, patches for clothes, postcards – anything it could be printed on. He did it all, he put our names on everything; it was incredible.
He paid us to rehearse; we worked on our show up here [in Indiana] all summer long. He would call us everyday from New York or wherever, asking us “Are you getting the act down tight?” “Yes, Terry, that’s all we’re doing, working on our show.” We played in this cabin; no one was to know what we were doing or whom we were. It was a wonderful time in our lives. We had our debut show planned for Madison Square Garden; Styx was going to open.
Then Rolling Stone exposed us; they busted the plan. They called us hicks – we were devastated, the joke of the town, they came down on “the hype.” The show didn’t happen; Terry folded the label shortly after the album came out.
Rolling Stone didn’t bother to review Faith. Robert Christgau’s Creem review was an exercise in humiliation, stating only “I was curious enough to play the first side of this record the day I got it. It took me two months to get to side two.”
Like Windmill In A Jet Filled Sky, Faith is a classy album, displaying some excellent writing and playing. The opening track, “Sometimes, Sometimes” is an alluring blend of funky backbeats, uptown riffing and heavy-duty soul shouting. The gospel-inflicted piano ballad, “Answer To The Master,” features the sort of honky-tonk epiphany that made the young Rod Stewart such a white-hot comet. The melancholy acoustic serenade, “We’re All Heading In The Way / The Last Song” is both philosophical and emotional.
It didn’t matter – summer ’73 belonged to Led Zeppelin’s Houses Of The Holy and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon.”
Excerpted from I (Who Have Nothing): The Terry Knight Story by Barry Stoller
Hello, I’m John Cascella’s daughter. I have really enjoyed looking through the comments on this site.
Julia,
Your dad was a very kind man. Funny, always considerate, and serious about his music. He left a fine legacy that we should all emulate.
He took me under his wing during his time at Ball State. I could never thank him enough for letting me have been a small part of his life. John’s work ethic set an example for me to emulate and pass on to my children.
You should be very proud.
IS CONNIE YOUR MOM
ONE OF THE MACONAQUAH TWINS??
I know Donovan and or Arlo Guthrie , quite possibly both at different times ,played there back in the 60’s.. I was really young and wanted to go really bad , but my dad would,nt let me… I remember seeing Donovans name on the marquee , as we drove by the Hullabaloo couple times a week.
Check out comments on wikipedia (Google Faith Band Indianapolis)
The Chosen Few: A tribute
The era of the late 1960’s and early 70’s was a very uncomfortable time for everyone facing the military draft and Vietnam War. After turning 18, (not knowing when our number would be up) and now capable of legally consuming tankers of 3.2% Stroh’s Bohemian Style Lager, my friends and I headed out for the Triangle Inn near Greenville, Ohio. We played in our own “Local Garage Band”, and had heard rave reviews about a band that was headlining the Triangle called “The Chose Few”. We would set up camp on either side of the stage, and were completely spell bound with the overwhelming talent and sound quality from all band members (cannot be described, must be experienced). Our garage band tried to emulate the sound of the Few in a small way, but could never duplicate the sound and musical talent of any of the band members. We were not even close, but we had fun. The Few Band played every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Night. I can vividly remember that no one would be dancing on the dance floor. That’s right, everyone in the place would stand in awe from 9 pm till 1 am. We’re talking a packed house with well over 1000 fans every single night. The entire state of Indiana was well represented by Earlham and Ball State students as well, and they did not have to be 21 to drink in Ohio (a plus for sure). The Few Band didn’t play gigs; they put on clinics/concerts that made even the best bands in the country pale in comparison. They played the work of the original artists much better than the original artists. Yes, they smoked them all! I can vividly remember the bass guitar riff that Jack Hamilton played on “Keep on Runnin”. Good stuff! On occasion, others would sit in (like Rick Zehringer and Connie Little). “Big Brother and Janice” could not hold a candle (so to speak) on the song “Piece of my Heart”.
The Few band that you hear on vinyl is not the band that we experienced live. Not even close. I could never understand how a recording studio with all of those producers and engineers could not get the sound quality even close to right. Weird!! I could have extracted better sound quality with a simple reel-to-reel tape recorder.
In closing, I can remember when The Chosen Few announced that they were no longer going to play the Triangle which was a darke day for all of us, because our music lessons were coming to an end. They were headed to a place called Indiana Beach. Soon after they departed, many of us were drafted and have not returned to the Triangle since. For anyone that did not experience The Chosen Few in live performances, it is difficult to articulate what you missed out on. The years have passed, and it is becoming a lost and forgotten era, but for many of us, it still seems just like yesterday. We greatly miss “The Few-So Chosen”, and as Bob Hope would say, “Thanks for the Memories”.
Just one last thing, would you please post ”The Chosen Few” set/play-list from that era?
j
The Few was da’ best!! I am j’s friend, one of the people providing comment about The Few’s earlier days. While in the Navy (circa 1969 through 1973), I and other locals from Greenville, OH traveled back from Chicago (NTC) nearly every weekend to see The Few perform at the Tri-Angle Inn. The Few always packed the palce to the gills, and they should have eeked more money for their performances out of ole Helen Wilson. The music, the era, and The Few certainly bring back very fond memories. I totally agree with all of “j’s” commentary, and only add that I truly believe that The Few could have usurped the Bee-Gee sound, as well as their own unique contributions if they had more significant sponsorship (funding) and promotion from a well-connected source such as other local bands (Rick Zerringer – aka Rick-Z-Combo, Rick and The Raiders, then The McCoys). Rick was a local too (Union City, IN, I think). Heck, The Few guys did well recording what they did without major sponsorship. I still have at least two of their albums before they renamed to The Faith Band, Limousine, which in our opinions only, didn’t continue The Few sound we originally enjoyed. Stuff happens. Dave Barnes dual bass drum editions during Keep On Dancing will last until the last Boomer dies that heard them. I wish the best to those that remain, and thank them for the memories, the early/good years, and the contributions they made!! Always inspiring and memorable …. v/r j2 🙂
I really enjoyed the various bands from the Few on up, particularly Cascella’s expertise.
On the question about where to get recordings – try Dan’s Records downtown Muncie right nest to where the Frisch used to be. He generally has vintage copies of all of them.
Like every one else, I have really enjoyed reading all the comments about the band. I recall in the late 60’s, the Delaware County Fair in Muncie, hosted a battle of the bands between The Chosen Few and the McCoys. Well, everyone in attendance knew hands down that Carl and the boys won that matchup. Like one of the previous contributors, I along with a lot of other wannabe’s were in awe of the band never missed an appearance. They even played our JR-SR Prom. Thanks for the postings.
Jack,
Haven’t seen you since the class reunion where you ended up as part of the entertainment. Good to hear you’re still out there! Live in Bigfork, MT on a small horse ranch. Hope you still remember me. Baseball, football and basketball great times.
Tom Carter
Join the facebook fan site for I love Faith Band there are several pictures and the members of the band post whats new with them . Dave Bennett and Carl Storie are still putting out albums they are not together but they are still making music .
Carl lives in Texas now. I work with his sister and he also talked of this when he came to do a benefir for Life Stream in June.
John, are you the same guitar player from Muncie named John Hiatt that played with Paul Michael Sandefur – keyboardist singer – from Anderson sometime in the 70’s?
i was 8 years old living in Indiana and steven edward nephew was still attending ball state u. when he sang hang on sloopy to me i am brents older and only sister
What a cool site…I would like to have the Faith Albums as well as the LIMOUSINE album.
Also I am seeking to find specific dates and Posters/Flyers from all the great acts that played up at Indiana Beach.. back in the day..During this time Jerry Lee Lewis, Al Hirt, The Who, Simon and Garfunkel, Peter, Paul, and Marry, Jefferson Airplane, Iron Butterfly, The Turtles, REO Speedwagon, Alice Cooper, Chicago and many others played there. However,there doesn’t seem to be much to find on the net…
Thanks for any and all help that anyone can provide.
Alan Kaye
akaeroplay@yahoo.com
Yo—
Don’t forget me if you get any of the early Chosen Few recordings into mp3’s or digital in any form.
Thanks in advance,
Dave Barnes
Hello Happy Jack and Cindy, are you guys still in Dayton?
STEVE, JACK
CONTACT YOUR BIGGEST FAN
YOU WERE MY IDOLS AT INDIANA BEACH AN MACONAQUAH HIGH SCHOOL!
MEZ
BASIL
I’m not a computer guy … my wife handles this (yah it’s me Cindy typing). We’ve been married 40 years, still in Dayton and still up and around, as slow as we are. Not on here much, as Cindy’s mom is in her 90s and her aunt is nearing 100 years old. Caring for our elderly while feeling rather elderly ourselves, and still working a bit (haven’t gigged for 30 years, though)!! Glad to hear from you! Mez Basil.
Hey Skippy!!!
I remember the Ritual having 6 Vox Super Beatle amplifiers Stanley Garrison owmed a couple of those vox super Beatles …Not many people from around Muncie owned those terrific amplifiers that were promoted and used by the Beatles In 1967 those amplifiers were $1200 apiece I remember Stanley Garrison I always held him in very high regard probably the best guitar player that I ever got to meet in person. Not only could he play he could build the instruments. Sadly passed away last year. One of the finest woodworking individuals that I ever had met and always a real gentleman Banjo player and guitar player.
a guy from east Chicago,went to Ball State to be a science teacher, met Burman,Nephew and Happy Jack Hamilton, the Invincibles were born, left in 68 joined the Ritual, eventually ended up with Duke Tomatoe, got a real job in 1972.lives in Valparaiso.IN.
Hey Steve, still got your Honda CB160?
Doug
hey hadji:
what’s up good buddy it’s your old friend and fan FRITZ here
i recall all the great times he had and you shaking hands with me at the hallabaloo when happy jack hamilton dedicated pink clouds and lemonade to me one question what ever happened to sherry stevens I always thought the world of her
YOUR OLD BUDDY
FRITZ
EMIAL fredhellm@aol.com
i remember you very well, also your sister, lila. i saw your mom a couple of years ago. i was the go-go dancer with the chosen few band in 1967 &68. i later became a law enforcement person, now im retired and still live in indiana.
Everything that has been said about the Chosen being gifted beyond reason is true. Jack H was a visionary, period. Hadji had the ‘it’ factor big time. Carl has always been one of my favorite vocal talents of all time and I’ve heard a few. Johnny C – the world of music lost a virtuoso and his music can only be referred to as savant-like and Mellencamp would never have attained his strength without Johnny in the breach. Barnesy and Bennett were simply incredible in driving this band and it’s awestruck fans into frenzies. This was a legendary band. This was a group of guys that tutored rock in the period of their existence and the bands that branched out and off them were astounding. I was so fortunate to have known and loved them all and do so to this day. There was ‘The Few’ and then there were ‘the far betweens’.
I am working on a book called Lost Muncie… focusing on Muncie from 1950 – mid 1980’s… I am looking for pictures, promos, posters, anything Chosen Few related (or Muncie in general)… Please contact me
Larry Broadwater
lbroadwat_msdwc@hotmail.com
Hadji was a showman. I remember back in 1967 when me and some buddies used to go see the Chosen Few. We really went to see Hadji, he put everything into those 60’s soul songs he used to sing. There were two Otis Redding songs he used to perform, “Try a Little Tenderness”, where the song would start out soft and mellow with a nice interplay between Hadji singing and John Cascella playing the organ. The song would slowly build in intensity and by the end of the song, (You’ve got to hold her, please her, never leave her) , he would be on his knees totally into it along with everyone in the audience. The other Otis Redding song he would do is “Respect”. He really belted out that up tempo song. He was also a great dancer climbing up on top of Cascella’s Hammond and really getting the crowd into it. No other bands were doing that kind of stuff. And I’ll also never forget the Jr Walker song, “Shotgun”. I think he might be doing that in one of the photos. When Carl joined the band with that incredible voice, he never in any way overshadowed Hadji’s showmanship. And I will always have fond memories of watching Steve Hadji Baba up there on stage.
Hi Cindy,
I grew up in Muncie, and loved listening to the Few. If you ever have an extra CD copy, I would love to have one. I would gladly pay you for your time and trouble. My address is : Bob Johnsonbaugh, 20128 N. 259th Ln. Buckeye, Arizona, 85396. Thanks in advance, Bob
mp3 Files for “Excuse Me…I Just Cut An Album” are here: http://www.mediafire.com/?k3sbw1ho2cbdk
Forgive me if I ramble. Everything is in my head and may come out incoherently jumbled. I’m just going to try to put it out here.
I’m now 50 years old, was born in Anderson in 1960. Mom was just 18 when she had me, so she was pretty young, and she had a younger brother, Craig Bodenhorn, and when he was a teenager (during the 60’s) he was on one of the local dance (American Bandstand) type shows. At least I think it was local, at the time I thought he was actually on Bandstand, but as I got older that seemed unlikely. Anyway, he became friends with a local band “The Chosen Few”, who later changed their name to Limousine and then later, Faith and then Faith Band. I know (at least) one of them passed away a bit back, but I digress…
Okay, so my uncle hooked up with The Chosen Few and became a defacto “roadie” for them, traveling with them to gigs, etc. and just generally hanging out with them. He was with them when they opened for The Who at Indiana Beach, which may have been on The Who’s first U.S. tour. Of course, back then, this was a teen-dance, daytime affair, and afterward there was a party. My uncle said that the guys from The Who were all nice except Pete Townsend, who he said went around with his new toy, a hand-held tape recorder, ( the very cutting edge of technology, for the time!) recording other people’s conversations, etc. I guess he didn’t really talk to anyone, just eavesdropped on others. My uncle thought he was a weirdo, we laughed about it later, wondering what could have eventually happened to those tapes!
As my uncle’s time went on with The Chosen Few, the time came for them to record an album, and select a single, etc. I remember my uncle talking about a song that he wrote called “Maybe The Rain (Will Fall)”, anyway, this song wound up on the album and was indeed selected as the lead-off single (I actually seem to remember seeing the lyrics written on a piece of lined paper in a notebook, but maybe I’m fabricating this memory, as we all know can, and does, happen). My uncle was upset that he’d gotten no writers credit for the song and it caused a rift amongst the band and him. This was all conversation around my grandparent’s house, and I was very young, my recollections may not be the best, but I do remember this being the topic of heated discussion amongst the family members. The song went on to be played on American Bandstand’s “Rate A Record” (you know, “It’s got a good beat, and you can dance to it”…) where it bested it’s competitor on the flipside. We were all watching, and it was exciting.
My mom had been a stay-at-home mom for years and when she finally decided to go into the work force, she used her musical connections to get a job with Bill Craig’s Booking Agency . Bill Craig’s claim to fame was that he had booked The Kingsmen in Indiana the week that Louie Louie was banned. This gave him some sort of reputation and residual “cache”. My mom was a secretary at his agency in the early 70’s. The booking office was in Muncie, in The Village, as it was called. There was a Boutique (The Kaleidoscope), a “head shop” a record store and other things all in the same complex. They also booked Pure Funk, who went on to change their name to Roadmaster, and then Asher Benrubi left. Later, Toby Myers would play bass for John Cougar Mellencamp for years (maybe still does?) Small world.
My uncle passed away last year, but I used to send him links to sites like this so we could reminisce together. I also remember that Nigel Olsson, the drummer for Elton John’s classic band, had a Top 40 hit with a cover of “Put On Your Dancin’ Shoes” in the 80’s. I met him years later, (here in Boston, where I live now) and told him that I know the guy who wrote that song. I grew up around all of these musicians because of my Mom and uncle’s connections. We used to have out of town bands over to our house for dinner sometimes. I also remember when Terry Knight was going to produce them and initiated a name/image change to Faith. This must’ve been early 70’s. He gave them a mystique; had them pose with no shirts, from behind, they had their arms around each other and their hair was draping down their backs, in a black and white print ad. I think the idea was to make it “look like” they we a hot new British rock band. That album flopped.
Here is an mp3 file of the single, “Maybe the Rain Will Fall.”
http://www.mediafire.com/?1iv52644v5zbu1o
I have all the Faith, and Chosen Few albums as MP3 send me an email. and I will send them to you geoffb@aol.com
Kurt,
You don’t mention that you had a pretty successful career of your own as Yukkie Gipe the lead singer for Bullet LaVolta. Assuming you are the same Kirt Davis. You were friends with my sister Jennifer, and one of my best friends, Bill johnston, really is a small world.
Geoff Baxter
I wish I could find this song and litsen to it.Dave I’m from new castle and I used to work with some one who know well Jesse Butler He said you might be able to help.Hey GOD BLESS and you guys were the best and I’ll never forget you guys.
I traveled with the ‘Few (Hadjii, Dave & Dave, Carl, Jack and John during my junior and senior years in high school in New Castle doing lights for them. Late 67-summer of 69. Somewhere around here I still have some original tapes done on an old reel to reel of the band trying some new stuff out. I know one of them was Carl singing a cover of BS&T’s “I’ll Love You More Than You Will Ever Know” off the original BS&T’s “Child is Father To the Man” album.
Oh the stories I could tell of that old bus with Hadjii driving — or the Carringa’s having to haul Johnny’s Hammond B3 up and down steep, cramped icy steps to a gig.
My favorite memory? Easy! Indiana Beach, with The Who, and the almost fight of misunderstanding up in the rooms afterward, lol!
It is hard to understand now, to tell people about a time, a place, an era that has so long since passed. While they had a number of places they played often there were others, small towns and events, where having the Chosen Few in to play was a Big Event for them.
Then, also, we had our share of other moments – listen to Seeger’s “Turn the Page” – trying to get a bite to eat without the band getting hassled over hair and dress was a bummer.
A good time! I even met my wife at one of their gigs… Still together all these years later.
Great memories here….I remember the transition from “The Chosen Few to Limosine, to Faith”. I listened to them many times at “The Other Place” also called the OP in Celina, Ohio. I was but 15 to 16 years old at the time….and sneaked in with fake id’s. We were from Decatur, Indiana….and getting a taste of 3.2 beer was something that added to the effect.
These guys were simply fantastic musicians. I remember the B-3….and for a while with a keyboard bass being played as well.
Sometimes, sometimes…barriers….dancing shoes. Nobody. Oils touch their shows. I distictly remember them rockin’ up “Rockin Robin”. That made a real impression on me.
I have the Limosine and the same Faith album on cd….as well as most or allvof the rest of the Faith albums…..but that first Limosine/Faith album is forever engrained in my youth.
One other place they played near me was Shoneys in Fort Wayne. They took up a good 1/3 of the place with their stage set up…which included fgeae HUGE pa bass bins. I even remember the old Sony field mixers used for the pa.
I agree that these gentlemen were one of the very best. They should have “made it”, but alas…..this was not to be.
I have played in many bands through the years….and in warming up my Rickenbacker bass….I find myself running through a few of the bass riffs from these songs.
Again…..great site…..great memories. Thank you.
Ed Dyer….Decatur, Indiana.
First of all, I apologize for the misspellings of my post above. It is hard sometimes to type much on my smartphone. I am now on my desktop PC and this should be better.
I remember when most every band would just do the ‘3 minute cover’ of a song they liked on the radio…..These guys would take that song….start it like the cover, do extra leads, go completely into another riff, change the beat, do a synthasizer lead, add some syncopation, and then get back to the ending of the song they started. What most bands would do a cover in 3 minutes, these guys would take 12-15 minutes to do. It was so different from everyone else….It simply amazed me how smoothly they did this.
And their using the B-3….this at a time when very few bands had anything more than the basic ‘lead, rhythm, bass and drums’. The sounds of the Leslie being driven hard into controlled distortion, with the tremolo swelling for emphasis…..Wow !
As I stated above, for a while they even used a ‘keyboard bass’…..which I loved to hear, but did not care for too terribly much, as I was the bass player in my band. I joked that he was trying to put bass players out of work.
I watched many shows…..mostly at the OP in Celina, Ohio.
There was one other band in that era that played at the OP that I never heard of again. They were named ‘Boot’. It sounds like a country band, but they played covers very nicely…..and they did several Beatles songs to perfection. They could have been what is now called a Beatles Tribute Band. They had all Custom amps….all new, all the same blue color. Even the big pa head on a chrome stand. They made an impression. But nothing like The Chosed Few/Limosine/Faith.
After finding this site the other day, I dug out some of my old cd’s and spent an afternoon reliving the days of my youth.
I would think that this music would still be fresh today, and this band would still have a great following.
I know I would be in the front row.
Ed, Would you have any of these recordings you could send? have been a great fan of the Faith Band and Carl Storie for many years. Thanks.
Andy,
First of all….2:43 am. Wow ! You keep some of the same late night hours on the internet that I do.
I would be glad to share some music with you.
I will need to copy my cd’s to mp3 I suppose to email them to you. Would that work.
I would need your email to do so.
Let me know.
Ed
I thought this was an interesting evolutionary course for this song to take given the history here. I hope this link can be posted.http://www.sgsosu.net/osu/songs/hang_on_sloopy.html
Ed, I do keep late hours at times. Yes that would work. Thanks, my email is andygoar@comcast.net I have Rockin Romance on CD and the Carl Storie CD from I think 1998, Thats it. What else do you have? Let me know, thanks.
Brent, I just found this website and was looking for your dad. I’d thought that he was once in the band The Chosen Few. He was my English teacher in 7th grade at Kuhner Jr High. Do you have any information on him, email address? home address? I’m in Las Vegas. Thanks.
Hi Dave
My name is Bill Shearer I was the drummer for the Daze we had Bill Creag in Munice Indiana the same time the chosen few were playing. We played several places as you did, that was the good days. The chosen Few was a real good group, I always liked lisening to you. The Daze played the same time at the Holoblue club in Dayton Ohio. Remember the Roof in Munice,thats were we had the Daze group picture taken.I always liked to here you play drums.If I remember right you had lissons by buddy rich. I have some of your records and still trying to find the ones I do not have. The Daze cut a record on King label it is on the internet under Kieth Murphy and the Daze. Hope you are doing ok, thanks to the internet we can bring back a little history. hope to here from you.
My email is wshearer1@indy.rr.com
Bill
Hi…I attended Ball State in the late sixties and remember hearing The Chosen Few being played on the campus radio station quite often. I thought they were great, purchased their album “The Chosen Few” and still have it today. It could use a good home if anyone is interested! Great site!
I am enjoying this posting/blog thoroughly. I remember the music of that time period. We’d drive from Farmland and Parker Indiana to the Triangle near Greenville to hear Chosen Few. I still have a 45 of “Pink Clowds” somewhere in a box I have been moving from Indiana to Florida to Colorado for 40+ years. But the Hullabaloo….and its strobe/black light invasion….”far out.” Saw the Lemon Pipers there in 1968. Thanks for the incredible memories.
Hadji was indeed a showman! One of my favorite memories growing up in Indiana was going up to the lakes in the summer and catching the Chosen Few at one of the teen clubs. I used to watch Hadji throw the mic stand forward and catch the base with his foot! It was a move I imitated in my band, the Sixth Street Express! They were my idols, and one of the reasons I went into music! I’m still in music in New Jersey, playing saxophone and teaching privately.
I’m just a bit disappointed there aren’t any photos of that great bus, with the label right above the gas cap that read “gasshole!”- Rick Brunermer, RBHorn1@gmail.com
The Chosen Few were originally called The Invincibles when I was a freshman at Ball State U., Muncie IN, in 1965-’66. Great group. I remember the very first time I saw them; it was at a free outdoor campus event, and Steve (Hadji) Baba was belting out “Shotgun” as another band member wailed on the saxophone. I was blown away, awestruck, mouth probably hanging open!
During my sophomore year I helped form a group called The Reason Why. I was on lead guitar. We played mostly campus gigs. We were okay — but not great. The crowds seemed to like our danceable music, so we continued to get occasional bookings. At the end of that academic year (1966-’67), we merged with another group and became The Styx ‘n’ Stones, a six-man group; the merger made us much better, and we became one of the top three (IMHO!) most popular bands on campus the next two years, albeit not the most technically proficient band — for that designation would have gone to either The Chosen Few or The Other Five (who would later become The Other). But we were a crowd-pleasing group and put on a great show, and we were booked pretty much every Friday and Saturday night as I can best recall, along with the occasional mid-week gig.
Toward the end of my time at Ball State (the summer of ’69, when I played with The Carringas, former roadies, aka “carryin’ guys” for The Chosen Few), Hadji Baba fronted a group called Hadji Baba and the Ritual; I saw them at the armory (aka the “fieldhouse”?) in Muncie, as I recall, and at one point Hadji spewed out a mouthful of lighter fluid and ignited it — this was pretty radical showmanship back then, my friends!
I started teaching school that fall, and at some point John Hiatt (yes, THAT John Hiatt!) replaced me in The Carringas.
I enjoyed reading the post describing how the guys in The Chosen Few were always getting hassled because of their hair and clothing. Here is a little trivia on that subject: In the fall of 1965, I was B.S.U.’s first-ever male “longhair.” I acquired the nickname (not MY idea!) of “Alice,” and there was even at least one plot to hold me down and shave my head. Later, Hadji became the first guy on campus to sport a pony-tail. So we have something in common as far as pioneering hairstyles that, years later, no one would crane his neck to stare at the way folks did “back in the day”!
I don’t have a lot of material on The Styx ‘n’ Stones, but maybe I will contribute some more memories later — while I still have a few brain cells left! It would be great to hear from some of our old fans who might be reading stuff on this terrific website.
–Bob Friend (aka “Bobi Frendrix”)
Wauconda, Illinois
bobandkerstin@sbcglobal.net
Hi Bob, I do remember your band, Styx ‘n’ Stones. I saw you guys play just one time. I think it was at the Catholic Newman Center, Noel Hall. Anyway, I remember a nice tight band with a very good lead singer. I sort of remember a song you guys covered by the Strawberry Alarm Clock
that made an impression on me. It went like this, “who cares what games you choose with little to win and nothing to lose” What the heck does that mean anyway…?
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ITS ANGIE I WAS MARIED TO BRENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL IF YOU SEE HIM TELL HIM I SAID HI AND EMAIL ME! I HAVE 3 KIDS NOW ITS 2011
Was setting around talking with the OL about the days when music was music not the BS dribble most are today. I started thinking of the crazy times ( yes mind alterng substances were involved) years back and going to see the Chosen Few. So I decided to hit the internet I put the name in and poof this came up, man it brought back some more memories. Because of Carl and the Chosen Few I ended up doing lights and sound for different bands over the years ( I wasn’t musically inclined as far as playing an insterment (sp) and when I tried to sing I couldn’t hold a tune in a dump truck, still can’t) so I chose the next best thing Lights and Sound. I also want to say the record companies “DID NOT” do them justice on the recordings . I grew up in Chesterfield IN. which is close to Muncie and Elwood so it was just a short putt over to see them play but that isn’t saying I didn’t jump on the bike to go see them no matter where they were, it was worth it. I moved out west and lost track of them, as we say life goes on. In the early 90s I moved back to Anderson IN and was working at a Club called ELLIOT’S. We had a band come into play and as they were setting up I get this tap on the shoulder and bam it was Carl. yea it was old times all over again. I guess what I want to say to Carl and the Chosen Few is ” THANK YOU ” for opening my eyes to the music world in a light I couldn’t have ever imagined back then. I no longer do the Lights and Sound gigs anymore and haven’t for awhile but the memories will go on. Y’all will always hold a special place in the ole heart. Again I have to say “THANK YOU” for giving me have a reason to live my dreams it may not have been with Y’all but I did live it because of you !
Respects to all of you
Steve “Animal” McDuffee
Was setting around talking with the OL about the days when music was music not the BS dribble most are today. I started thinking of the crazy times ( yes mind alterng substances were involved) years back and going to see the Chosen Few. So I decided to hit the internet I put the name in and poof this came up, man it brought back some more memories. Because of Carl and the Chosen Few I ended up doing lights and sound for different bands over the years ( I wasn’t musically inclined as far as playing an insterment (sp) and when I tried to sing I couldn’t hold a tune in a dump truck, still can’t) so I chose the next best thing Lights and Sound. I also want to say the record companies “DID NOT” do them justice on the recordings . I grew up in Chesterfield IN. which is close to Muncie and Elwood so it was just a short putt over to see them play but that isn’t saying I didn’t jump on the bike to go see them no matter where they were, it was worth it. I moved out west and lost track of them, as we say life goes on. In the early 90s I moved back to Anderson IN and was working at a Club called ELLIOT’S. We had a band come into play and as they were setting up I get this tap on the shoulder and bam it was Carl. yea it was old times all over again. I guess what I want to say to Carl and the Chosen Few is ” THANK YOU ” for opening my eyes to the music world in a light I couldn’t have ever imagined back then. I no longer do the Lights and Sound gigs anymore and haven’t for awhile but the memories will go on. Y’all will always hold a special place in the ole heart. Again I have to say “THANK YOU” for giving me have a reason to live my dreams it may not have been with Y’all but I did live it because of you !
Respects to all of you
Steve “Animal” McDuffee
I may have done this twice, sorry
In Case you missed them:
In case you missed “The Chosen Few” performing live, all is not lost. There are videos currently available on YouTube that feature many of the “The Chosen Few” band members from the late 60’s and early 70’s.
The videos (shot maybe in the 80’s? and as the “Faith Band”) feature John Cascella on keyboards, saxophone, and background vocals, Dave Bennett on guitar, Dave Barnes on drums, Carl Storie on lead vocals and harmonica, and Mark Cawley on bass guitar. Their performance is excellent, and is more reminiscent of the band(s) that we all followed those many years ago. And even more, all of the band members are individually featured in lead performances on the videos.
When you Google “YouTube Faith Band Legacy”, you will find: Possess You, Such a Lady, Statesboro (Blues), Dancin’ Shoes and many more. Unless other contributors to “garagehangover” have video of “The Chosen Few” live, this is about as close as you’re going to get.
Timing is everything, and it is too bad that Dave Letterman of the “Tonight Show” (and Ball State Alumnus) did not have them on his show as featured performers.
Mike
My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting Jack Hamilton today. Jack is a very interesting person and an extremely talented musician. He recounted stories about his days with The Chosen Few. He also played an original composition of his on our piano. I was blown away! I could listen to him play all day. Afterward, I had to Google The Chosen Few to learn more about his band. I was surprised to discover that he was the bass player rather than the keyboardist. He’s an amazing pianist.
I saw the Chosen Few many times when they played at Indiana Beach in the late sixties. There’s a couple of songs that I remember that the bass player Jack was really outstanding on. The Beatles song “A Little Help from my Friends”, he played that very prominent bass line perfectly just like the record. and also I loved the way he sang “Expressway to Your Heart” by the Soul Sensations. I youtubed that video the other day and it sounded just like Jack. He was a very talented guy.
Would love to have the music from limousime. If possible please reply
We are still in Dayton. Sorry my health has kept me from doing anything for quite awhile, Jack is doing pretty good, we try to keep up but are still working and just sort of flop at the end of the day, aging sucks! How the heck is everybody!!!??? Cindy Hamilton
Jack so enjoys his life and being in music without the constant waking up in another city and all that jazz. We really appreciate that his customers enjoy his work. I don’t get on here too often and have really had challenges keeping us quite busy with other things this past year, so I’m late with several replies… but just know we are so grateful for all the news and memories and just “good vibes.” Blessings for the holidays and coming year from the Hamiltons.
Thanks so much for the compliment and just know Jack loves to see people smile even at the memory of the Chosen Few. Hey, people, if you know anybody who can help Chas with the CMS stuff (see home page of garagehangover), try to hook up with him and keep this page alive. As little as I come here, I’m still so thrilled every time I bring up these pages. God Bless — Cindy
I worked with your Dad in the mid to late 80s, early 90s. He was with John Mellencamp band at the time but also did jingles with TRC.
I worked for an ad agency in Chicago and we did tons of jingles for McDonald’s. They were always great. And your dad could whip them out in a night. What a talented, talented man.
But what was most impressive is what a gentleman he was. Always very kind to my wife and I. He was in one of the biggest rock bands in the world, but always humble, thoughful and gracious. He used to send me postcards from all over the world when he toured because he knew what I kick I got out of showing them to my kids.
He was one of a kind. I really miss him.
DEAR CINDY:
I WAS A HUGE FAN OF JACK’S AND THE FIRST TIME I MET
WAS AT THE HALLABALOO I TOOK MY COPY OF PINK CLOUDS AND LEMON ADE THE 45 AND HE AND THE OTHER GUYS INCLUDING HADJI ALL SIGNED IT FOR ME BUT BEFORE WE PARTED FOR HIM TO GET READY FOR THE NEST SET HE ASKED ME WHAT MY FAVORITE SONG WAS WELL i SAID PINK CLOUDS
SO HE MADE SURE THAT SONG WAS DEDICATED TO ME BUT YEARS LATER I’M WORKING AT BALL STATE A FRIEND OF MINE WAS RETIRING SO MY MANAGER ASKED IF I WOULD SING A SONG FOR HER WHICH I DID AND DID PINK CLOUDS I HIT EVERY NOTE JUST PERFECT WANTED TO SHARE THIS STORY WITH YOU IF YOU WOULD LET JACK KNOW ME I’D SURE APPERICIARATE IT
FRITZ
So tired of giving my excuses for not getting on this site more often. Lots of health challenges for everyone in the family. So far we are getting through them. Yea! Tom, Jack says your Dad was his little leage coach. He especially remembers baseball. Montana, huh? That’s really great. We have been out West a few times and hope to make it back there. Jack loves Yellowstone. We stayed in West Yell. MT both times we were there. Love living in the Midwest but travel when we can. Has been difficult lately but we hope to get back to it. Thanks for letting us hear from you and enjoy the Big Skies. I apologize again for not keeping up with the site.
Cindy
Skip. Jack says hi. I’m Jack’s wife. Number two and try harder ha ha. Jack and I are old and creaky but keepin on tickin. It’s so nice to hear from you, I read your post then Jack says hey a frat brother from New York … right? Or is Jack so old his memory fails him? Thanks for saying hello.
Hi Stan, Hi Becky,
I tried to reply to this post awhile ago and it’s not in the right place. So I just wanted to say thanks directly to your post.
Went on YouTube today and listened to the Vibrations’ “My Girl Sloopy.” Read a bunch of the posts on here and thought, what a great thing that this site exists.
My brother in law (to be at that time) was a Carringa. Scott Thompson. Good little band as well.
Wow, I had to read this article twice because I thought I may have submitted it!! Every word is exactly how I would describe the period and The Few. Ditto. The Few and that era have never been surpassed in my opinion. I too remember the announcement about The Few no longer performing at The Tri-Angle Inn. What a loss. Helen Wilson needed to pay this group whatever was required to retain them. I’m certain four decades later that it was all about the money. Like others, I was drafted and never returned to The Triangle, except for a couple sessions when I could get back to Greenville on leave. It just wasn’t the same without The Few — and unfortunately never would be again.
Just dropping by to say hello from Toronto.
I’m “typing” (keyboarding) thanks in small part to Jack’s help back when he was a teaching assistant in my typing class at Chrysler High School in New Castle, Indiana. That would’ve been around 1965. And to think I’m still using the “skills” he helped me with way back when! And speaking of writing, I wrote the lyrics for two of the songs on the Chosen Few album — “Deeper In” and “I Will Miss You”). That album was produced by Jack Richardson in Toronto. (Jack is known for his work with Guess Who, Gypsy, Bob Seger, Badfinger, Alice Cooper and many more.) From the “it’s a small world” category, Jack is a very good friend of one of my best friends — Bernie Labarge (http://www.bernielabarge.com/index.html) — a killer guitarist/songwriter here in Toronto where I live. BTW… my alias is Zeb Jenkins (a name I inherited decades ago from Carl Storie).
Some high school friends and I booked the Ritual into our local armory in 1971…I remember the lead singer having long hair, crazy sideburns and walking through the crowd with a big sword…one of the pictures above of hadji baba looks like he could be the guy…but I thought the lead singers name was Joey…of course my memory and perception of reality could be way off…I always enjoyed the Few and remember seeing them at IU and The Other Place (the OP) in Ohio…I still have my Limousine and Faith albums…
David-some of those friends included me and Vince Pentecost and Brad Hall at Carroll Hlgh Schools after prom Great time !! Yeah Joey ray was the rituals lead singer then, having replaced Hadji baba,Joey blew lighter fluid fire from his mouth that night and almost caught ceiling on fire! Paffman was pissed! Hoe your’e well! Peace Always! Dave Cooper
There was an interim time that they were known as Limousine. It was on a label I unfortunately forget the name of that was headed up by Terry Kath of Chicago. After Kath’s death, the album was picked up and re-released by Brown Bag Records. BBR was the label of Terry Knight long-time manager and major domo behind Grand Funk RR. The Brown Bag album cover showed them from the back. The pre-release hype had Terry running around all over creation supposedly putting together a super group to replace Grand Funk. Needless to say the rock press wasn’t all that happy that they had been lead so far astray and took it out on the band. I often wonder if they wouldn’t have done better if TK had played it straight.
Following the demise of BBR, they then went to Village Records which was a regional label put together by a couple people from Sunshine Productions, the big concert promotion company based in Indy. They put out a couple more for VR before that went the way of all good things.
I was a disc jockey at WHUT in Anderson from 1965 – 1974 and remember playing the Chose Few’s records. Did Jimi Hendrix ever play the Hullabaloo in Yorktown?
Jim, I don’t think he ever played the Yorktown Hullabaloo. But I was there (with about 300 or so other people) when he played the Teen America building at the Muncie fairgrounds. I think it must have been some time in 1968 but I’m not sure. I do remember before he started playing, he announced to the crowed, “It’s good to be here in Muncie Indianapolis”. I didn’t know if that was a joke or if he was just high. BTW, he was great!
A first cousin told me a few years ago that he saw Hendrix twice in one day, my guess is in 1967, first in Yorktown, then at Muncie. He said it was a “rec center” in Yorktown, and at the county fair.
Yes, Jimi Hendrix played at the Yorktown Hullabaloo a couple of times. So did The Who, The Lemon Pipers etc.. I went there often back in the late 60’s.
I was there at the Teen America building Hendrix concert also – quite the thing to see him in Muncie !
I have a history group on facebook called Lost Muncie… I am looking for pictures of The Chosen Few, or any band related to Muncie, or Ball State. Also interested in things related to WERK radio, and the Hullaballoo.
please message me on facebook or email.
Larry Broadwater
This may be a little long and will probably ramble, but here goes. I’m the youngest of three brothers with something like 14-16 years difference in age between myself and the youngest of the two. Because of that age difference my memories are a little sketchy but my middle brother had some kind of connection with “the Few” and the “McCoys.” I suspect he worked for the booking agency mentioned earlier, but I’m not 100% sure. While I don’t have clear memories of it I believe some, possibly most or all of the original line-ups of these bands had visited my childhood home “back in the day.” As a teenager I have many memories of seeing the “Faith Band” in concert many times… a vague recollection of seeing the “Few” once or twice. I also remember the Ritual and “Haji Baba.” In fact I was on a committee in school (Junior high I think.. maybe freshman year) and arranged for the Ritual do perform for a fund raising dance at my school.
Something I’ve not seen anyone mention is yet another band name between “The Chosen Few” and “Limousine.” I recall attending a free concert in Muncie. The stage was set up at the base of the hill with the Soap Box Derby track, the hill serving as “seating.” A very 60’s/70’s free festival kind of thing. There were multiple bands playing but the one I most clearly recall was a band calling them self something like “Brothern Rabbit” or something very similar to that. “Formally the Chosen Few.” Without question Carl Storie was the frontman and, I’m fairly certain, the rest of the line-up was the same as what would shortly become “Limousine.” Anyone else have any recollections of that name?
Probably the hot-spot for the under 21 crowd to see bands like Limousine and others was a little club called “the Cave” that was beneath the old Muncie PAL club location in downtown Muncie. (I had the pleasure of appearing there with my crappy little high-school band as and “opening act” once. Probably in 72 or 73). I also recall a lot of concerts being held at the Delaware County Fairgrounds as well as a couple other free concerts in the park like the one described above. There was a really good music scene in and around Muncie in those days.
As I got older I too made the trek to “the Triangle” to see bands and enjoy the 18 year old beer drinking age in Ohio. That was after the days of “the Few” playing there. I remember “the 7 Cs” clearly. They were another of my favorite local bands. For some reason I also recall a band called “the Beggars Opera” from New York playing in Muncie on several occasions. I saw a lot of other local and regional bands but the names escape me.
I still have a copy of the self titled album, “The Chosen Few.” I have the cover for my “Limousine” album but some scumbag stole the vinyl! A few years ago I scored a copy of the first “Faith Band” album on ebay and I still have my original copy of “Rock and Romance.” There are a lot of fond memories involving Limousine/the Faith Band, the Ritual, Roadmaster, etc. I’m glad I stumbled across this page.
To everyone who has been on here and has emailed, it’s been great. I suffered a debilitating event in 2011 and have barely been keeping up with life. Doing a tiny bit better every day. So, if you have written to our alternate email lately, bear with us. Jack just got a call from someone who says he was there when the Strangeloves got ahold of RIck and the band and took them to New York…he says it happened in Dayton, Ohio, not Indian Lake! It seems everyone remembers it differently. That’s the Sixties … if you remember those years, you weren’t there….
Cindy/Jack,
I remember Jack when he played with the “Delphis” at the Connersville YMCA back in the sixties. Randy Maxwell played drums, Kenny McFall played sax, can’t remember the other musicians though.
The “Houserockers”band I played in idolized “The Chosen Few” I heard them at the Tar Pit (Purdue) many times. Music was the best during the 60’s and 70’s.
Hi Bill, I remember you! Some of the Cville old musicians from Classes of 69 70 are going to have a ROCK & SOUL REVIVIAL jam fundraiser for House of Ruth (Recover house helping those shattered by drug abuse). They have a women’s house and getting a men’s. You may know how the town has been like many hit with the heroin and meth epidemic. Sept 12. Write me if you wan to be there. Trying to get Carl Storie there.
Bob, interesting that you mention Beggars Opera. I was trying to figure out a little quirk in the Chosen Few history. Specifically, how did Mark Cawley join the band in or about 1971? I saw Beggars Opera once in Muncie, and Mark Cawley was the bass player. They were a good band. It wasn’t long after that he was in the Chosen Few.
How did that happen? Was he stolen away? Did the Few make him an offer too good to refuse? I can’t remember Hamilton phasing out as well as I do Cawley phasing in, but that must have happened at the same time. If anyone knows the answer to this trivial question, I’d like to know how that transformation took place.
[Mark Cawley now has a presence on the web at idocoach.com]
As to Dan Koontz’ comment from earlier this year, I wish him the best with the new band. I hope all the recruits mentioned (Henderson, Black, and Terhune) are available. I just wanted to mention that I play guitar and tambourine, and I’m about as old as the rest of you. I’m all for better health and aerobic dancing. I’d be more than happy with a little part in the back-up line. [oooohwahhhhh la la la la]
Doug, I remember you from the “Brothers Supreme”. What a great, unique band that I’ll never forget. (loved those Motown harmonies) Mike Henderson was a musical genius. What ever happened to him.
Ouch, on this website, I’m surprised by a reply in under a year’s time. Thanks for the kind words about Brothers Supreme. Good memory. We did do a lot of that type of harmony.
Mike Henderson lives in southern California. As far as I know, he performs solo at a regular gig for a restaurant/bar which has an outside patio/stage. He gives private music lessons, as well. Mike has a website, jmichaelhenderson.com. You can get a full run down there.
I appreciate the comment, as I appreciate all of the comments here.
Jimi Hendricks did play at Hullabaloo in Yorktown. I sat on the stage beside him while he played. Most people don’t know the faith Band’s first album was music originally from Beggars Opera and band from New York state. Their bass player came to thee Chosen Few and they recorded all that music, most written by Jack Grahm of the Beggars Opera. Beggars Opera played at the Plaza Room in Anderson.
Well, I just stumbled upon this site by Googling (how else?!) “The
Chosen Few”, and these comments really bring back old memories.
(RATS! I AM old!)
@Cindy: Jack was my hero when I was one of the “groupies” that
followed The Few around Muncie, Marion, and Monticello [I had to use
“Monticello” for alliteration, instead of “Indiana Beach” :D] around
1969-1971. I even styled my hair like Jack’s. [That was back when I
HAD hair.] I think I might have caught The Few playing at
Purdue University when I was a student there (but my brain is too
worn out to be 100% sure!). Jack did mostly backup vocals then and
Carl was the front man; I wish I had heard them when Jack was singing
lead. I loved watching him play the bass! Didn’t know he played keys,
either, but I’ve learned a lot since reading the comments on this
site. But I digress… [I always do].
Three of us friends from Marion used to catch The Chosen Few whenever
we could: Tommy Wells [R.I.P.], Greg, and me. We would hang out with
the band before concerts and, during the concerts, catch flying
equipment (mostly Dave Barnes’ cymbal stands and tom-toms; he really
played the HECK out of his double-bass drums, too!)
The other Chosen Few groupie, our buddy Greg, subbed for Jack on the
bass one night at a concert The Few did at a country club in Marion.
Jack didn’t show up (You’ll have to ask Jack what his excuse was ;-),
and the other guys didn’t want to leave Jack’s spot empty and the
bass leaning up against the amp, so Greg–with his freaky long hair
that fit in pretty well with what the rest of the band looked
like–“played” the bass. What he actually did was fake it while
Johnny played the bass notes on a side keyboard with his left hand
and played the B3 with his right! [So much for my close brush with
Chosen Few fame!]
I’ve rambled on long enough for now, but it’s been fun to reminisce
about the band that made me love rock and roll!
I was member of Sigma Phi Epilson on the Ball State Campus during the 1960’s. I still remember returning to the Sig Ep house on Friday afternoons and could here the band playing through the open front door. Those were the days. This band was incredible. They should have been one of the most remembered bands of the 1960’s. Jerry McVicker
Between the Chosen Few and Faith, there was a stint where they were known as Limousine, still playing in Muncie, often at the Muncie Water Bowl.
OK, this is going to sound crazy, but is it possible that The Who played the Muncie Fairgrounds in the mid-sixties? It was in one of the 4-H or exhibit buildings. I am sure I saw a band there that destroyed its all instruments. They kept telling the (small) audience that, “Back in England we’re bigger than the Beatles.” They said that several times. They smashed thousands of dollars worth of gear. Also several small fights broke out in the audience during the show. It was a tense and exciting night.
They played two sets and closed each one with My Generation. At the end of the first set Keith seemed to get irritated about something and kicked over parts of the drum kit. But nothing was really smashed until the end of the last set, when all hell broke lose. I am pretty sure they played I Can See For Miles ( which they said was going to be their next single). I don’t think the appearance was advertised. Maybe it was a fill in gig between other cities. Maybe someone reading this site was there. Or did I just dream all this?
Yes, they were there and so was I. I don’t remember too much detail but I know they were booked by BCJ productions. They were the tightest most dynamic band I ever saw as I stood about 15-20 feet away. Had the privilege of seeing them again later that same year at Indiana Beach. I believe it was 1968.
Just saying, I have no memory of this Who appearance in Muncie. Wikipedia shows the Who concert schedule of 1968 included a show at Monticello (i.e., Indiana Beach) in July, 1968. I don’t see how they could have earned enough in Muncie to pay for all the equipment they routinely destroyed. Must have happened. A belated, “sorry I missed it.” Chalk another one up for BCJ Productions.
In the final week of August, 1968, Vanilla Fudge also appeared at Indiana Beach. The Chosen Few opened for both The Who and Vanilla Fudge that fateful summer preceding the election of Richard Nixon.
IB was a strange place. It was sort of a remnant from an earlier time, even way back then, like Miami Beach or Riverside Amusement Park (Indianapolis), if you know what I mean. I’ll go so far as to say those concerts at IB, in the summer of ’68, were two occasions when the Chosen Few performed in the Twilight Zone.
Smoke bombs on the amps and easily replaceable necks for the Strat. Not all that costly. Townsend was a master of illusion.
MY NAME IS EDDIE RAY RUSSELL AN ARTIST MYSELF AND PAST RECORDING ARTIST I TAUGHT DAVID BENNETT TO PLAY BAR CORDS ON I AVE. IN NEW CASTLE IN. HE WAS AND IS A DEAR FRIEND I NEW HIS FIRST PRODUCER AND THERE FIRST RECORD LABEL TALUN RECORDS.
I saw the WHO in Muncie in 1967 and in fact was among a group of about 5 guys who spoke with Pete Townsend after the show. The dressing room was in a separate building behind the building where the show took place. I was all of 14 years old. They had a bus and Keith Moon was hanging upside down with his legs hanging at the knees from the window chatting with some chicks. John Entwistle walked out alone with Roger Daultry and Pete walking out together. Pete walked over and spoke with us for maybe 15 minutes. This was November 1967 and the following March, Jimi Hendrix appeared at the same hall. Both shows were produced by Bill Craig Jr., who owned the local radio station WERK. He was also the manager of the Chosen Few and the Ritual, which is how the Chosen Few opened for both acts. Since I knew where the dressing room was,I also spoke with Jimi. As he was getting into a limo. I was on other side and said “Hi Jimi” and as he got in he said “Hey man”. How can I ever forget that.
RE: INDIANA BEACH, THE WHO, CHOSEN FEW
Sorry to comment on the Indiana Beach Who/Chosen Few comments after so many months. Nobody has time to read all the reasons I’ve been unable to get here (plus, I thought the site would be taken down–kudos to the person/s who help keep it going). This is something the band members should tell. So, Chosen Few guys … do you want to comment on the Indiana Beach gig with the Who? I am not going to speak for Jack on this one. He will have to get on here himself! I hear these stories and think I know them all very well, but find out later I left something out–I’m not sure, at our ages, that Jack tells it right or that I hear it right. It’s hard for me to get done all that I have to do, and typing Jack’s dictation is not something I can squeeze in–plus, this might be a dicey story and not something I want to get involved in. … … care to fill them in, Pete Townshend? Roger Daltrey? Probably not.
Hi Cindy, my name is Scott Thompson I was a roadie for the band for about two and a half years. I met Jack at Burris High School in Muncie. He was a student teacher in my biology class. I sat in the back of the class. The first day he was there, he introduced himself to the class and mentioned he played in a band “The Invisibles”. Occasionally I would chat with him before and after class mostly asking questions about his band. I was a lover of all things rock and roll. One day he mentioned that their sax player was getting a Hammond organ and they wanted to hire someone to help cart it around. I was and am just a little guy and thought I would have no chance of being the one they hired. However, I asked Jack if he would consider me for the job. I think he said, “I don’t see why not but see if you can find another guy to help you” So almost exactly 50 years ago (Spring 1967) a guy named Dave and I started traveling with the band. They called us carrying guys and eventually “Carringas”.
Let me tell you, it was an incredible experience for a 16 year old kid. I could go on and on about the adventures I had while hanging out with those guys but what I remember most was riding in back seat of Cassella’s Corvaire, chain smoking and listening to Jack and John talk. It would be mostly Jack doing the talking. What a fascinating character. All the guys in the band were interesting and remarkable but Jack, with his warped sense of humor was really something else.
I was there the night they played with “The Who”. I do remember they shared a dressing room (an upstairs penthouse type thing) Dave Bennett and Pete Townshend got into some verbal altercation over what I believe was a remark Townsend made about having to share this room with this other band. Ask Jack if my memory is correct but I believe at one point Bennett said to Townshend “I’m better than you!” Keith Moon pulled his pants down and mooned a crowd that had gathered down below from the terrace of the penthouse. My experience was very positive. I got to talk with all the guys from the Who while the Chosen Few were playing. After the show, Pete Townshend got his tool box out and took one of the bent tuners from a guitar he had destroyed and gave it to me and then gave the neck to somebody else.
I check into this site from time to time and have often though of chiming in. I guess now is as good a time as any. I’ve enjoyed reading your comments over the time this site has been up. Also, I’m sorry to hear about your health problems and hope it’s better now. Tell Jack hi. Scott
Hi Scott.
I said to Jack, hey honey let me read this. When I said your name, Jack knew what it was about and said, “Oh my Gosh,” I read your account of the confrontation and the long rides in the Corvair. Jack says you had the “patience of Job.” Says you were like a little brother. He remembers the “Carringas” starting their own band … what all happened with that? Jack mentions Don Gronendyke? Dave Jones came over one time back in the 1990s and they rehashed old times. I had a broken wrist at the time and don’t remember much of it … I have had a lot of problems with my bones. The doctors gave me bisphosphonates for it, and it made it worse; I broke a femur just walking. So I deal with being slow. But this is supposed to be about the Chosen Few. Jack is still funny but has mellowed … he wants you to know he now appreciates you more than ever. He said man those guys gave blood and sweat to carry that stuff. Much love from “yer teach” and big bro. I hope you will get on here from time to time and tell some of the stories. I can’t get Jack to jump on and tell it himself … but he helps me and everyone from my very elderly family to our foster/step grandkids. He’s such an “old man” now! Ol’ Happy Jack is still there, though. You’ll appreciate this, Scott: he still makes up odd words! Hope to see you on here telling more stories … no matter how embarrassing (nothing embarrasses him actually; rock-n-rollers don’t blush, eh?). I hope he didn’t corrupt you too much. Doesn’t sound like it. THANKS so much.
Donny Gronendyke was indeed one of the original “carrying guys” with Scotty Thompson. The original Carringa’s (the band): Scotty Thompson, Bill Jones, Marc Hertz, Craig Roth and (I think) Jeff Johnston.
Scotty! How the hell/where the hell are you?!?!
Have read this thread a few times and finally decided to add a few comments. I was a member of the “carriers” (Donnie Gronendyke, Randy Brown, and myself Randy Shields from about July ’70 to March ’71. It was a turbulent time for the band – Jack Hamilton left soon after I started, leaving them playing with just Carl, John, Bennett and Barnes for a short spell. I think Carl even missed a couple of gigs during this period. Donnie, Randy and myself lived together in Muncie during that time. We drove a blue (Olds?) station wagon, seating 8, (we were all thin). We pulled the gear in a U-haul all over but mostly a days drive from Muncie. The wagon didn’t even have a trailer hitch, just a bar strapped on the bumper. I have a lot of stories, most of which I wouldn’t tell.
I notice that nobody has mentioned that THE CHOSEN FEW were on Saturday Night Live , am I the only one that saw them ?
Randy Shields. Trying to put a face with that name. Is the Randy Brown you mention the same that lived in the old brown apartment house at the corner of Dicks and Martin for a time?
“The wagon didn’t even have a trailer hitch, just a bar strapped on the bumper.” A common practice at one time. I can remember the day I walked into a U-Haul and was told they didn’t do strap on trailer hitches anymore. That was a sad moment, an end to an era, so to speak.
Marc Hertz, you crazy fock. Did not recall that you were a Carringa. In fact, I never saw the Carringas perform, but I think Big Bill Jones was a Carringa, probably after Craig Roth opted to pursue doctorhood, and I used to see him perform in a different band, the name of which I don’t remember. I certainly remember the Carringas by reputation. Everyone had heard of them, even if they had not heard them.
Don’t know. I believe both Brown and Gronendyk are not with us now.
Many years ago, when I was stationed with the US Navy at Patuxent River, MD, there was a guy who lived in the barracks named Steve Pryor. He told me he had been a drummer with Faith Band before they became famous. Always wondered if there was any truth to his story? Thanks. Pete
Hi Pete, Thanks for chiming in. Not sure about any Steve Pryor. I asked Jack (Hamilton, my husband) and he was pre-Faith band but knows the original lineup of that band … we think you may be thinking of a very talented musician from Oklahoma. He may have known the folks in *Blind Faith* … the reason we say this is he has worked with a bunch of folks from that era (the local news says he toured with Paul Butterfield and Joe Cocker) and one of his big cover songs is “Can’t Find My Way Home.” Steve died tragically in May of 2016 in a motorcycle crash. The only thing is, I don’t have any record of military service for Pryor. Possibly a bum steer. We don’t mean to lead you in the wrong direction but Jack is saying Steve Nephew (original “Chosen Few”) and Dave Barnes (just before and after the change to “Faith Band”) were the drummers and neither was military. Anybody else have any info?
Thanks for your reply, Cindy. More than likely I was told a bunch of lies. That’s probably the case. Peter
You never know, Peter. When Jack talks about “Sloopy,” people are pretty skeptical, but there are a few people still alive who remember–however vaguely–that his account is pretty accurate. Some have shown up here. So you may want to do an online search of Steve Pryor musician and look at the youtube videos and the FB page, as well as all the photos in the writeup of his passing. You may pick out a face that harkens back to those Navy days! and by the way, thank you for your service.
Hi Cindy,
Over the years, I have occasionally done searches for Steve, but no luck. We weren’t the closest of friends; just stationed at the same base in MD. I had (still have, for that matter) one of Faith Band’s LPs, “Excuse Me, I Just Cut An Album”. Steve lived in the room next to mine in the barracks. He had told me he’d been a drummer with the band prior to their becoming the Faith Band. He wasn’t too fond of Carl Storie, but don’t remember the details. But as I recall, Steve was quite arrogant, and who knows if anything he even told me was the truth. Last time I saw him was around ’77. I had gotten out of the Navy for 4.5 years (76-80), then went back on active duty until I retired in ’97.
Forgot to mention I am originally from Indy. I remember when Faith Band was playing local gigs in town, but never got the chance to see them. WNAP radio station, I think, used to release LPs with local bands songs. Sales went to benefit different causes. I think Faith Band had some songs on one, but not positive.
Jack can’t say either way. When he split the band it was still Chosen Few. He knew the guys well, still like them but was frustrated w/ how they sounded in studio, and also management (back then, Jack says, the big shots at the label wanted to hop on trends and would say, hey this sound is popular so more cowbell or whatever, right about that point the artists began getting more control) … we actually saw Faith Band at some point in the 1970s but we can’t remember. I was thining it was 1978 and they were at one of the downtown theaters in Dayton, OH. I begged him to go say hello. He didn’t want to “bother” them. That was puzzling. But I never played several sets onstage; it’s tiring and he knows how much musicians just want to downshift/refresh, not visit. Still, it would have been good to see them together. I just checked the Wikipedia listing and sure enough, only Dave Barnes is listed as drummer. So … maybe this Navy guy wanted to impress you… or was just confused? Benefit of the doubt, eh? Keep on lookin’ and sorry my hunch about the talented Okie didn’t pan out.
Total different band, but just wanted to comment. Saw the Sanford Townsend Band in Broad Ripple. They were amazing! Sat through two shows. Johnny Townsend is still recording, but don’t think Ed Sanford is.
Steve Nephew was my 7th grade English teacher at Kuhner junior high in Muncie. I believe 66-67 year. Of course being a rocker he was easy for me to relate to. I am not sure his teacher piers appreciated his other job/profession. I saw the Chosen Few and I believe the Invincibles a couple of times as well at all the WERK radio valentines day parties at Gibsons skating arena and the Teen America Building, maybe the Field House as well. It was a magical time to begin my teenage years. Steve was a inspiration an I have tried to figure out what might have become of him. I saw the post from his son so I guess Florida. Sorry he didn’t turn out to be a great father. First marriages take their toll on all of us I guess.
For those still looking, I came across what claims to be a full cut of the Limousine album ( 1972) on Youtube. 37 min Try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obLKJpELpso
Happy holidays to all my fellow former and current Muncie rats, Burris alums, BSU alums, and the motley bunch of guys who used to play in garage bands in the 60s – 70s. Yeehaw to Carl Storie. Hope he doesn’t come home singing “All My Exes Live in Texas.”
Another interesting link.
http://melodic-hardrock.com/blinding-tears-blinding-tears-1986/
Carl Storie 1986 Seems to be a full play of the Blinding Tears album.
Carl was never better than this. IMHO
I’m not sure how often anyone checks this blog, but I’m looking for some information and thought I’d give it a try. Steve “Hadji” Baba, who passed away last fall, signed with Blytham Ltd. (Irving Azoff’s management company) in Champaign, IL in mid-1970 and joined a group named U.S. Kids. I’m trying to find out if anyone knows the circumstances of how that signing came about. I’ve asked one of his former Kids bandmates, who has no recollection, though he does recall the Muncie connection. Anyone?
Dave, thanks for that info. I wish I were able to help with your question, and I hope you’ll let us know if you find the answer.
Hadji Baba, dead at 72. As the comments on this site attest, there are many who will never forget him.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/stephen-baba-obituary?pid=186454489&view=guestbook
Dave, I had another thought about your question. Yes, it seems at the moment we may be the only men still alive on this site. The point i want to raise is the “Muncie connection .”
A Muncie connection would have been the work of Bill Craig, Junior, the owner of BCJ Productions, the booking agent for the Chosen Few and its successors. BCJ was associated with big times in Muncie, such as the coming of The Who. BCJ could probably answer any question you have on the subject, but he died in about 2005. Anything of the sort you are describing that came out of Muncie was associated with BCJ.
BCJ was survived by his wife, Jackie. She was very involved in BCJ’s business and might know the answer. How’s that for a long shot? I do believe she is still alive. She was much younger than her husband.
You came to the right place. There are people out there who have information on the matter. But we may not find them perusing this website for another five or ten years.
The following are selected excerpts from the obituary of Steve Baba
VALPARAISO, IN
Stephen Thomas Baba died August 18, 2017 at the age of 72.
Known as Hadji Baba too many, Steve was a gifted musician and professional candy eater.
The man, the myth, the legend. Steve was an architect of mass destruction, and a master builder of mess, especially around the house or in his garage, where his brilliant mind lead to many creative endeavors, some awesome, some requiring the fire department. He was a proud pyromaniac when given the opportunity, especially when trying to impress his grandchildren. Steve was also incredibly proud to wear his speedo bathing suit to the beach, impressing the locals with his European flare, while horrifying the rest of us. Steve also had the incredible ability to eat pounds of sugar, salt and butter, which in his later years lead to healthier eating choices.
Steve’s dedication and love for the people he worked with enabled him to share his genuine tender heart. There wasn’t an animal he wouldn’t pet, feed, or try and save. Steve is now reunited with other family members, which may lead to the heavens opening and dropping meteorites on our heads!
Guest Book: I’ve been a funeral director for 23 years. I don’t know Steve but wish I did. This obit is the most impressive obit I’ve ever seen. God bless your family and whoever wrote this …you’ve touched hearts from people that did not know him in life. What a man he was. I’m sure he’s still that man in heaven. But in my lifetime career never been so impressed with a man I never met. Wish I did. Rest In Peace.
Guest Book: Played in a band with Steve back in the early 90’s. Was the best time I ever had playing in any band! Steve kept me laughing all the time! Have been trying to get in touch with other musicians that we mutually knew. I hope they have all been contacted about this, so we can all get together and celebrate the life of my Romanian buddy I thought would live forever! He was indestructible! RIP my brother until I see you again!
Thank you, Judy
Nice edition, Rob. On Memorial Day, I remember Hadji Baba singing “Respect” as though he were preaching a Hell fire sermon.
Hadji projected soul, brother. Never had such a wild and amusing rendition (of “Respect”) been seen, or even imagined, in Muncie, Indiana. Suddenly, there was a world of new possibilities for every aspiring young musician in the local scene. He made it look easy, becoming the wild man vocalist. More of this was what people wanted.
It is a great obituary. I’ve read it several times. Can you believe the contribution from the funeral director who was responding to the tenor of the the obit, had never even heard of Steve Baba, but was obviously moved from reading it?
Which brings me to this. Did Hadji write the obit, or rather the most of it? People do write their own. Doctor Ball from Muncie, not long ago, passed away, and he wrote his own obit. He did publish the fact, but many might be disinclined to do so, even though they were the writers. The obit has a special quality, as the responses to it attest. The author does not reveal its identity. I’m betting Hadji wrote it, or one of his offspring who carries him on.
Doug, I have read Hajji’s obit several times as well, yet it is not known to me if Hajji participated in writing his finale? It does appear that contributions were made by those close to him who had witnessed his “performances” both on and off stage. In any case, the author(s) constructed a most profound and fitting sendoff.
Many of us were simply “Fans Of The Few From Afar”, meaning that we traveled near and far to watch the band perform. We were not Ball Staters’, but some attended other schools in the MAC.
It’s been almost a half-century since watching The Few Band perform. I feel the bands vocals sounded best with 3 part harmonies that included Hajji, Jack, and Carl.
Recently, I watched a talented vocalist by the name of Anthony Vincent on YouTube. This guy is “wired up”, and I was somewhat taken aback by the similarities of how I remember Hajji (Wild Man) during his performances with The Few.
Thank you, Judy
Rob, that was a great response. It seems my question was answered by Judy. Judy wrote the obit.
Judy, thanks for the input. I stand by what I already said above about the obituary.
Back to what I was saying earlier about Hadji’s memorable performance of the song, “Respect”, I want to clarify something on the subject. The song was destroyed by Aretha Franklin in the later sixties, but her song got a lot of play, and it may be the only version some people can recall.
Hadji sang the original version, which was recorded by Otis Redding, around 1965.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvC9V_lBnDQ
If you dare listen, it brings a lot back.
Doug Myers, you were a crazy Fock yourself. I have thought about, and told stories about you so many over the years it kind of makes me a bit sad the play didn’t have such a limited run. Email me!
I recently found that Hadji (Steve Baba) had passed. So sad. He was my closest friend in the years I did lighting for them. I was just a stupid nerd in High School with electrical experience when I started a small light show for Terry Barnes’ “Pitney Bowes Stamp Machine” then got an offer from Dave Barnes to throw some light on the “‘Few”. I had the time of my life for the next couple of years! Hadji, Jack, Dave & Dave, and of course John. One of my favorite memories was of John getting all pissed at me for having the strobes turned on the band – which played hob with him seeing his keyboard. We went ’round and ’round about that (I lost) with John putting a little bed-side light on that Hammond B3 – which of course ruined the effect. Ha! Great times!
I just happened to stumble on this running conversation about the Chosen Few and the many bands and people associated with Bill Craig and the music scene in Muncie.
I have too much to say and too little time to covey how the short period of a musical ‘Golden Age” surrounding Ball State and Muncie meant to me. To my surprise, two people that figure prominently in my memories are Doug Myers and Bruce Engle, both old friends and band mates who happen to be contributors to this amazing site.
To comply with the Chosen Few thread, I met John Casella at BCJ Productions office when I was accompanying fellow band members (probably Myers and Bo, Doug’s cousin) to Bill’s office with the intention of basically bugging him about jobs. John became a good friend and mentor, working with me extensively in practice rooms at Emens, making a former classical piano aspirant into a musician more capable to play the music of the era. I still possess sheet music with exercises Johnnie wrote for me to practice.
I would meet him at the Sig Ep house, and we would walk across the street to the music department for the “lessons”. I will never forget his generosity and friendship.
Dooglahs,
The old “musical ‘Golden Age’ surrounding Ball State and Muncie.” Exactly the way I remember it. But I’ve had times that I wondered whether I might have been a more normal and productive person, had the band hook up never taken place.
Last I heard, you were living on the lake and teaching high school. I remember buying some wedding rings from you back around 1980. I thought you gave me a “hell of a deal”, which was the way you expressed it yourself. But, as it turned out, the marriage failed. The rings were not suited for the purpose intended. Had you not sniffed at the rings in a concerted nasal assessment, I would not have trusted you so completely. ((((((hell of a deal))))) echoed through my mind. I’m not asking for my money back. I believed in gold. That was my own mistake.
We definitely lived the dream in our own little way. We played in a band. We smoked, drank, and turned on the girls everywhere we performed. We had amps and guitars, just like the Beatles. You had the old marred and beaten Hammond organ with a back facing outward Leslie.
It was a matter of timing, and we were the lucky ones. It could never happen that way again.
Dan Koontz
Thank you for all the pictures and memories.
Presently, I practice in Phoenix AZ and broadcast my daily radio show,
Healthy House Call.
I still enjoy performing at local casino’s playing drums with touring national groups. My performances and showmanship add a new dimension to the concerts.
Brent,
It’s too bad that negative things have been said about Steve. I don’t think you’ve been told all of the facts. It was not his choice to leave. He also got an attorney and tried to adopt you and then tried to set up child support. He never got any communication back. You should ask your mom what really happened and why he left.
Addie,
After years of being completely tied up with ailing family and friends since my father died in 2015, as a cripple myself due to bone issues, I came to the site to post the obit of my husband, Jack Hamilton. Catching up on lots of comments I missed, I was struck by the boldness of your defense of Steve Nephew. It takes real spirit to tell your truth.
Read my response to Brent Nephew. “we are so sorry about your broken family ties and the (censored) who took your recordings… .” Notice we didn’t apologize *for* any named individual’s supposed wrongdoing. The best way we could say it was we’re sorry your family ties were broken … people rarely caught on that we always refused to join in the blame game. Nobody is more aware than I am that it was entirely possible we didn’t know the whole story. And now I’ve probably tipped my own hand on that topic! What I’ve seen in my own family has been so very hurtful. With the loss of my mother, a close friend (he carried my injured husband up the front steps after Jack’s horrific injury in a car accident), and now Happy Jack himself, it’s very raw. Many’s the time I’ve taken documentation out of a drawer and been tempted to mail copies to the people who should know. I always think better of it and hope God can sort it out for us (and I’m going to grief counseling).
Unfortunately, back in the psychedelic free-spirit days everybody just did what they wanted, and told any version they liked–just look at the stories about “Hang on Sloopy” and how it became a hit for Rick and his band instead of the Chosen Few. As our now-deceased friend (August 7) Jimmy H always said, “Everybody’s parents mess up their heads, it’s just a matter of how.” But I have to say, now that you’ve put it out there I hope you just go ahead and show the court papers. And Brent, I’m still sorry for you … indeed, the parents always seem to goof somewhere.
Please, honor our friends from the Few living and deceased. Speak the truth in love. Thanks! Tearfully, -C
During rush in 1966, each fraternity had what they called “smokers,” where men who were entering rush could come and meet the brothers. Sig Ep had the best smoker because they had their own band (the Chosen Few) that would entertain and they were good. Nephew (Hadji) Baba was a talented vocalist and Cassella was a genius who could play just about any instrument. At one time they might have been called the “Brothers four, but I may be mixing them up with someone else. One time the entire band set up in front of the house for practice and we had the best impromptu party you could imagine.
Sorry – I mis-typed and mixed up Steve Nephew and Steve Baba – knew them both as a pledge – so I’ll give you 50
I grew up working at Indiana Beach in the 60’s and 70’s. Is this the band that played at Indiana Beach during that timeframe?
A thought for Carl Storie, if he’s still down thar in Texas. I’m not a big country fan, but George Strait is just too cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuJroujjYDk
If Tennessee is the ultimate destination, I’m right over here in North Carolina with Gomer and Andy. Someone tell Carl I’m here to help if the song touches home.
To Timothy Juntgen:
I saw them play there once in about 1968. To that extent , I can confirm this is the band you remember. I’m just imagining the stories you could tell from that experience. As I recall, IB didn’t have the greatest of beaches, but the pavilion was a nice spot, and it was, indeed, in Indiana.
I submitted the obit to the moderator of this site, but it isn’t on here, so here goes. I now mourn my dear husband of 42 years, who passed just weeks after our friend Jimmy H who wrote a book (still unpublished) on our local music scene, and only seven months after my mother passed. I’m looking for those pink clouds sweetie. For his friends and fans: ack P. Hamilton II, 77, of Dayton, Ohio, was called home by The LORD on September 26, 2021, after a brief illness.
He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and spent his youth in Indiana.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Cynthia (nee Jackson), son Jack P. Hamilton III (wife Prissy), sister-in-law Sharon Callahan, brother-in-law Jeffrey Jackson, and his grandchildren Nolan, Reid, and Myra, as well as the cherished young people fostered in his home who generously shared their families with Jack.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Virginia Hamilton; his mother-in-law Wilma Jackson; father-in-law Neil Jackson, and brother-in-law Timothy Callahan. Jack certainly would like all to remember that he was preceded in death and survived by a host of beloved pets.
Folks may remember Jack as a graduate of Ball State and Indiana University, musician (Chosen Few, The Force, Invincibles, Juke Joint and his recent independent recordings), teacher (junior high school business and careers), or fixture at the local piano store, but more likely he’s remembered as the most cheerful, entertaining man who tuned your piano and a bright light at any gathering he attended. Jack discovered his love of bringing a piano to its very best tune in 1978 and he never worked a day in his life after that. It was his pleasure to improve each instrument he encountered. As a performer, it was much the same (except the load-in/load-out). Jack was nostalgic and even his new songs featured the sound of early blues, jazz and rock-n-roll music. Most interesting was his engagement of onlookers, be it onstage or in the piano owner’s home. A constant personality, Jack just naturally generated fun and the joy we all found through him should be passed along. No public services will be held due to circumstances of health, but the family asks everyone to enjoy or perhaps even compose a piece of music on October 11, 2021, with a special sentiment or prayer of thanksgiving for the entertainers, long-suffering spouses, caring parents, and eternally compassionate pet lovers in this world. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your religious institution, Hospice of Dayton, or PCAA (Preventing Child Abuse America).
How did I not know the “drop cap” in Jack’s first name wouldn’t copy from the funeral home website???? Apologies, baby, it’s not perfect but it’s done with love. -CJH
Hello Cindy, so sorry to hear about Jack. He was a unique person. Not your average bear at all. He had a brand of wry/wicked humor that was all his own. I remember him as being an immensely talented and precise musician. If the band had a leader, it was Jack. It’s been several decades but I remember him vividly. He’s one of my most unforgettable characters. Sorry to hear of your other hardships as well.
I remember the band had a “portable” harpsichord for a while. It would go way out of tune because it didn’t travel well. Jack would spend what seemed like an hour tuning it before gigs. Best wishes, Scott (former roadie)
Scott,
Thanks for your kind thoughts … you DID read my quote from Jack on roadies, I hope. Blood and sweat, he mentioned. He loved you all.
Sincerely,
CJH
I remember when I was a kid of about 9 or 10 in the late 60s, the Chosen Few would practice right across the street from our house in a small building at 20th and Macedonia in Muncie Indiana. They had their band bus that had “The Chosen Few” painted on the sides parked there at times. Dad used to have to call the police to get them to stop playing when it got late at night. They were pretty loud all the time! Good memories!
Timothy Cox of 60’s Indiana Band Szene sent me this label scan of an early single from the Limit on Denim Records DS-1076, that predates the Chosen Few 45s. Steve Nephew wrote “Don’t Say It” and Jack Hamilton wrote “Melissa”. Was this a similar lineup to the Chosen Few? Did they play live as The Limit, and are there any photos of this lineup?
Chris,
I haven’t been on here in awhile. I’ve been clearing up estates and dealing with my physical issues (I’m benched right now, so I have more computer time). Thank you for posting this. Jack’s piano tuning business customers from years ago still call. It takes time, but they are a comfort to me. Denim records reflect earlier incarnations–have never heard anyone call the band “The Limit.” However, it’s so common to see the names of the band change that this doesn’t surprise me. In the photos we kept, there were no prints with names of band/players on them. I do not know which names or members switched, when, but there were five on the RCA Chosen Few album: Dave Barnes, Dave Bennett, John Cascella, Jack Hamilton, and Carl Storie. However, Steve Nephew and Rich Burmann had everything to do with the development of the group, and I’m forgetting the personnel from the Invincibles. Some of them could have been part of a “transition” group. I will try to check in and see if anyone else has info. I keep listening to remastered oldies that I find or that get released, so if I find anything I will give a holler. It’s so hard to keep track of personnel and with the names … well … See my comment about new details of the “Sloopy” story for more evidence of “musical chairs” with names of groups and even the individuals composing and producing music!! So, word to the digital generation: Try to physically label copies of your photos and recordings, or keep ’em in a digital file that allows for it.
After years of wondering where the Strangeloves picked up Rick and the Raiders (or whatever their name was, they were fresh and new and playing with their name and sound) … it seems to have been sorted out in the Rock Doc film “BANG (The Bert Berns Story).” The Strangeloves had a gig right here in Dayton, Ohio where they supposedly encountered the Zehringers and company, and say that they named them the McCoys on the airplane on the way to New York. Composer credits are “Bert Russell, Wes Farrell.” That’s confusing. Bert Berns worked under the name Bert Russell and other names!! Okay, the Strangeloves continue to tell the story that Berns was on vacation in upstate New York and they presented the song to him on a little portable turntable at a dining table in a big resort?? And Bert said, “Hey, that’s my song,” approved it there and then, and the Strangeloves took them to their studio, part of a convoluted group of record labels and sub-labels. Their production company, FGG was credited for that hit. Lately Rick Zehringer has been questioning their treatment of his band. What a weird followup. I wish I had known this sooner. Jack might have commiserated and/or enjoyed these details. I would always gripe, people are so stupid and he’d say he always just tried to enjoy their stupidity. The record “biz” was unkind to him–just as I pointed out years ago on this very site. Guess it was just plain old unfair in those days. I hope it has improved.
Hello Cindy, as I remember…The band’s name was changed directly from the Invincibles to the Chosen Few with the release of “It Just Don’t Rhyme” and John getting his Hammond organ. I do vaguely remember seeing that record with “The Limit” on it but I can’t remember why. I believe Richie Burmann and Steve Nephew quit the band when they graduated with Jack from Ball State in 1967. I recall that Jack then hired Bennett and Barnes to replace those guys after seeing them perform at the Triangle bar. I think they were part of the house band at the time. (brilliant move BTW)
I found this interview with Rick Zehringer (or whatever his name is) talking about Sloopy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6yAMuaPHNo
Be well, Scott
Another tidbit of the band’s history occurred to me. I believe Steve Nephew was the original lead guitar player for the Invincibles and switched to the drums when their drummer at the time, quit (I was told). I have no idea who that person was. Steve was a good drummer and had a pleasant singing voice. I believe he sang lead on “Melissa”. He wasn’t nearly the masterful drummer that Dave Barnes was but he was a superb timekeeper. I remember he held the sticks upside down to get more punch.
Thanks, Scott. Did not see the interview you linked until tonight. I was injured early in July and by about the 17th, got up, spent weeks playing catch up. In the Sloopy interview, Rick remembers the trip with the Strangeloves as his dad driving to New York with a trailer, but in the film I mentioned (Bang! The Bert Berns story), the Strangeloves say they flew them to NYC just as Jack recalled. Strangeloves even talk about why they chose the new name McCoys while on the airplane. Yet, there is, as I asserted, a lot more going on because more than one NYC trip seems to have been made. Guess nobody remembers with 100% accuracy.
You are clearly right, though, about Steve Nephew. Most of the band could switch instruments readily and it makes sense.
Looking at what Rick is *now* saying about it (the interview is from 12/1/2007 per YouTube), you’ll see new perspectives on “Sloopy.” When I say that Rick now questions the treatment the McCoys received from Strangeloves/Bang!, what I am talking about is, the remaining Zehringers and members of “Raiders/McCoys” filed a lawsuit. Wish I had found this info before Jack passed. But at the time of the filing a lot of people in our family/social circle faced health problems–we were fighting several battles. So … anyway, a decade plus has passed since I said here on the site that the music biz was not something Jack liked; he was about the music, couldn’t really hack the business. You can see his reasons, just watch “Bang! the Bert Berns Story” and look at the lawsuit. And like all of us Rick has fuzzy memory; recording “Sloopy” involved more than a vacation, probably more than one trip–which means likely the Raiders or McCoys flew to NYC to get the first take on the recording, and there were subsequent/overlapping trips, possibly by motor vehicle, at least on the part of the parents, to layer or refine tracks onto the first attempt and *SIGN THE CONTRACT* … signed a month after the first recorded track and it had to involve the parents because, remember, all accounts match perfectly on this, Jack, Rick, the film–they were young, Rick says he was 16 just as Jack said/I typed on this site. One reason the film adds a lot: its rich detail, like the Strangeloves brag on Rick’s one-take guitar solo, which Rick wouldn’t do–our music heroes seldom brag on themselves. I feel that Jack is vindicated in his unflattering assessment of “the business” by the fact that Rick filed the suit. Neither Rick nor Jack has any grudge against the other, and probably lots of bands covered “Sloopy” in similar ways, all influencing one another. The “biz” made it ugly though, Jack was hurt back then, now the McCoys air grievances. I’m sad to post it but if you want to see what Rick et. al. now assert, it’s at https://casetext.com/case/derringer-v-fgg-prods-inc.
Lots of the (unprintable) things Jack said come up in the lawsuit and in the film about Bert’s associates and “way of doing business.” Strongly suggest checking out the film and linking to the text of the suit.
Haven’t read it yet, but there’s also an even less flattering *book* about Berns, who helped compose the song “My Girl Sloopy” under the name Bert Russell (see, not just bands changed names!). The title is Here Comes the Night: Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues. Can hardly wait, but too busy now.
Sorry so long and so very nasty when it comes to recording execs. Proud of both Jack and Rick for musicianship and forthrightness. Thanks to you again, Scott. Those of you who were there are a blessing! Much love.
Scott, In the hopes that you can recognize whether these are from Indiana Beach, I have located some photos of The Who 1968., including a tuning head (sound familiar?) … see at the site https://echo-boy.com/Who.htm
Reading up through the chapter “Hang on Sloopy (1965)” in the Bert Berns book (and continuing to read, it is full of rich detail) … Joel Selvin, who appears to be a top notch researcher, verifies that the Strangeloves did pick up the McCoys in Dayton (why Jack thought Indian Lake, who knows, he may have thought that’s where they were headed for a job after the gig Rick dropped in on–and I did report in an earlier post that someone who said he was there had also said it happened in Dayton). *More importantly* the book reports a road trip in two vehicles to NYC, just as Rick Z relates in the linked video you posted. Why the Strangeloves are on video in the rock doc “Bang! The Bert Berns Story” describing a plane trip is anybody’s guess. Reading about them in the book tells me I shouldn’t pay any attention and that Jack’s derogatory comments weren’t unfounded.
I’m glad all you guys did the good work of rock ‘n roll, even if some simply wanted to capitalize. Earlier someone on here asked the meaning of the lyrics “Who cares what games we choose, little to win, and nothing to lose” in the song “Incense and Peppermints.” Seeing the different stories about FGG (a.k.a. the Strangeloves) gives me some ideas about those lyrics. Oh yeah, it was from a certain era so the song has to be about drugs, ha ha.
But I did want to clear up that the first NYC trip by the Rick and the Raiders McCoys with the Strangeloves was indeed over the roads. I still believe there might have been more than one voyage, but Rick doesn’t say so, and he oughta know. I should not have had any faith in what was reported in the rock doc. Not after what Jack told me, and not after what I just read.
Oh, and Selvin also reports that by the end of 1965 there were no fewer than 15 different “Sloopy” recordings! Everyone from Jan and Dean and Gil Hamilton (as Johnny Thunder) to Ramsey Lewis recorded some version, and it was originally offered to the Dave Clark Five, also mentioned on this page, but they never got around to recording it. Amazing.
Keep searching and sharing, everybody.
Thanks -Cindy
Cindy, Thanks for posting! That’s definitely Indiana Beach and It looks like Townshend. You will notice the white squares near the ceiling. They had lighting in them (I think.) Those white boxes are in some of the photos of the Chosen Few on this page. The other photos were taken at a fraternity house. John had his original blonde organ. The rest were taken at Indiana Beach later on when John had his Iconic B3. The tuner I received from PT looks like the one in the picture except mine was bent at the shaft. Sad story: I kept the tuner in my parents safe and I forgot about it. When my folks moved, they had no idea what it was, so they pitched it.
I was looking through some stuff the other day and found a 45 record of “Pink Clouds and Lemonade” with “Stop In The Name of Love” on the B side. I also found a newspaper clipping about the Carringas now having their own Carringas. Just imagine this next generation of Carringas starting bands and spawning more Carringas. Where does it end?
Quick story about Pink Clouds & Lemonade. The guys in the band liked the song, but thought it was just a bit “bubble gum.” They were playing at a club in Indy one night and after they played the song, they threw a bunch of Bazooka bubble gum into the crowd. They didn’t realize that the guy who wrote the song (Michael Holliday) was in the crowd. Talk about awkward! I hope he got some free gum.
I’m going to try to find that documentary film or the book. The fellow Bert Berns was quite a complex character apparently and from what I can tell, extremely gifted.
Scott,
The people who comment here are just amazing. I wish I had been able to carve out the time to reply to every single comment … I wasn’t there, I didn’t feel qualified in most cases, and Jack was such a “doing this now, past is past” guy that he hadn’t the time to sit at a computer or on a phone reading and typing. He would simply make a verbal comment and I’d try to type it. I’m a fast typist; but as folks may remember, Jack could talk at a pace few could match! His made-up words and name-dropping (Who? How is it spelled?) made me crazy. But I digress.
How astute of you to pick up on Bert Berns’ talent. Yes, his ear for hits, writing and recording them, was immense. As most do, he had a tough time breaking into music and it hardened him. By the time his song about Sloopy came up with the McCoys in his own production realm, he had many demons. His composing pseudonyms and label changes reflect that.
You can make it easy on yourself finding the film and book if you have a library card. There’s a site for that, of course! It’s a worldwide library catalog called worldcat … For the film, the link would be https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Bang%3A+The+Bert+Berns+story and for the book it would be https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=Here+comes+the+night+Bert+Berns
–Free, and when you put in your zip code the site will find a library that can lend it to you through an inter-library loan. You can talk to a librarian at the library where you have a card/membership and ask for ILL with the info from worldcat, and they have it shipped right to your local branch for pickup. It’s done online at many branches—you don’t even have to go there to request an item. In fact, some libraries will allow you to view a film or download an audiobook through Hoopla digital and you never leave the sofa.
The film and book (I think it best to do them in that order) opened my eyes to every little comment Jack made, many of which I thought was exaggeration. No exaggeration. When I got to somewhere in the last third of the book, page 230 or so, and read about a musician stumbling on a “meeting” involving Berns and one of the Zehringers, I thought my heart would stop. What a disappointment that the artists of that time had to deal with the money side of the music. In most cases, they loved their art, fellow artists, and consumers of their art far beyond any concern for the intrigue of making deals. They deserved more respect.
It’s so beautiful to enjoy the Chosen Few / their supporters here where none of that applies (except for the very dedicated Chris Bishop having to do the business of keeping up the site)!
Sure do appreciate you, Chris, and all the folks who contribute.
Stay well, be blessed. -Cindy
Sad news about Chosen Few member, Dave Bennett
https://www.hinsey-brown.com/m/obituaries/David-Bennett-32/Memories?fbclid=IwAR1O7FbDsgM9I_7FtdanJP8BCr2EkpRlX9a3xEcBzVTEI4A7qyJ006Viw2s
Diana,
So sorry to hear–so I hope it helps all of us to see them in their heyday and be thankful for memories they made together for themselves and for all of us. For those who know there is a hereafter, or just hope for one, we know what they’re doing. They’re making more happy memories. Thank you so much for posting!
Blessings to all, Cindy Hamilton
Dave was a gifted guitarist and a nice guy who treated the roadies as equals and with respect. I never knew what he did after “Faith Band”. I found this and thought it should be posted here. I’m so sorry to hear of his passing.
https://whoshaq.wordpress.com/2021/07/13/the-who-and-the-chosen-few-mayhem-in-monticello-the-indiana-ballroom-july-12-1968/comment-page-1/?unapproved=467&moderation-hash=b89b9ca38cbe1caf6cb55c84a04981d0#comment-467
Thank you Scott! What a great read.
Some of the info matched what Jack always said, but, as usual, not all. However, the core of it is all true. Room trashed, girlfriend accosted, Chosen Few standing up to the Who (Jack said the manager threatened them all bodily when banning them for life??) … So, that’s rock ‘n roll, I guess. Ha.
I always took a lot of pride in my research skills, but didn’t take the time in the busy-ness of life to make more of an effort on when that show occurred. My bad. The concert date info is not where Dave Bennett looked, at least not when he checked, but it is in an archived article of the Journal & Courier, which I believe is in Lafayette, IN. Specifically, Dave did not remember whether the melee in Monticello happened in 1968 or 1969. The article, which celebrates the heyday of Indiana Beach, says the Who played Indiana Beach on July 12, 1968. It even mentions the ticket price: $3.25. February 2020 is when Indiana Beach announced it was closing, and that is the date I thought was the original publish date. But upon closer inspection, it turns out the piece is a reprint of a 2011 article! So check it out. Also, I am not on Facebook but … search results seem to show some video footage of Indiana Beach perhaps including the Who have been posted on someone’s Fb page. But it couldn’t be as good as Bennett’s story and the antics of the wild musicians in the Who and the Chosen Few! Thanks again, Scott. –Cindy Hamilton https://www.jconline.com/story/news/2020/02/19/indiana-beach-who-zappa-janis-joplin-look-back-big-acts-played-there/4805171002/
It was the second time that I had seen The Who that same year, 1968. Bill Craig Jr. had booked them to play at the Teen America building at the Muncie fairgrounds. They were fabulous. The Chosen Few played a gig there, opening for the McCoys, but that’s another story. I did try to keep this short.
That crazy night at Indiana Beach, I do remember a very heated exchange between Bennett and Townshend. At some point, the Who’s manager walked in and calmed everybody down. Dave had told PT (in so many words) that he wasn’t much of a guitar player. I don’t remember them trashing the room or dumping an ice bucket on Jane’s head. I was there in the room most of that time. The Who guys were having some beers and making themselves at home while the Chosen Few were playing. I believe they thought they were sharing the dressing room. Neither band was staying there. Keith Moon was running around all over the place. He did ask a young lady if she wanted to take a shower with him. She declined. Moon also “shot the moon” from the terrace over a crowd that had formed down below. He actually pulled his pants down and flashed his butt.
If Dave threw guitar cases down the stairs, I didn’t see it. It very well could have happened. The Who guys stuck around for a bit after the show. I asked for a souvenir after I saw PT give somebody the broken neck from his Strat. Townshend said to the guy he had given the neck to “Give me that” He then got his toolbox out unscrewed one of the tuners and handed it to me. We were all friendly at that point. Some girls next door were taking pictures. I’d love to see those if they still exist somewhere.
When they did leave, I remember running down a long stairway right behind them. I got to shake a couple of their hands before they departed. To me the guys from the Who seemed like very nice fellows. They did put on an astonishing show! They were the tightest, most dynamic band I had ever seen. Their vocal harmonies were piercing and precise. That drummer was a sight to behold. He filled in the holes and made it all work with just one guitar, bass, and drums. BTW, I believe they were quite well known at the time. “I Can’t Explain” and “I Can See For Miles” were huge hits. They mentioned an album coming out called… We thought they said “Magical Box”. It turned out to be “Magic Bus.”
About the sign: As I remember (and maybe you know) Jack had a longtime fascination with “The Untouchables” TV show and talked about his adventures as a kid with a BB gun. Anyway, we all ended up getting BB guns. We would often shoot at lighted signs late at night. I vaguely remember us all unloading on that big old IB sign from the windows of the bus, and of course, we never got caught. After all, we were the Untouchables!
Scott,
Absolutely right about the signs and BB guns. Jack spoke of it many times. I thought he was exaggerating. And then when reading the article you linked, threads of conversations played in my head. (I have also “replayed” many conversations with Jack about the Strangeloves and the airplane ride to New York with “Rick and the Raiders” since seeing the film about Bert Berns–finally have the book reserved at a local library.)
The Chosen Few vs. The McCoys
https://www.newspapers.com/article/29147324/chosen_few_battle_the_mccoys_at_teen/
“No clear winner.” Thank you for posting that! I do remember seeing a battle/bands article in an old album somewhere. What a lot of stuff I still have to look through. Jack never looked through his father’s photos/papers!!
Cindy,
I just stumbled onto this website by accident a few nights ago while looking up Carl Storie to see if he was going to be in the area anytime soon. Wow…what a wonderful trip back in time this has been!! It took me a couple nights to read all of the postings, but it was like old home week as myself and a few of my high school buddies would drive over to the Triangle from Middletown IN just about every Fri and Sat night to see the Band and dance with the Ohio girls. We were only Freshmen or Sophomores in high school at the time but we all had fake IDs so we could buy that “delicious 3.2% beer” and most of us were on a first name basis with Helen we were there so often!!
At any rate, Thanks for the Memories. Hope you are well and my condolences for the loss of your Husband and your Mom.
Dave D
So appreciative of your kind thoughts and addition of precious memories Dave. What a great ride, though rough at times of course, both of them had. What fantastic (again, though rough at times) memories. Would love to time-machine travel to some of those gigs, especially the Triangle, and just be a wallflower watching and listening. Ha! A sweet dream. I’m as well as possible considering, and hope the same for you.
-Cindy
Crossdog??? That’s a new one for me. Look into the article. If that was their new name, it didn’t last long. (Maybe a weekend)
https://www.newspapers.com/article/muncie-evening-press-wind-sherry-stevens/17827918/
Wow, Scott. that is fantastic.
What were they thinking? sheesh. With a name like the Chosen Few, it’s absurd to think of changing to “Crossdog.”
You come up with cool stuff. Thanks.