The Just VI formed at Tennyson High School in Hayward, California in late 1964.

The early lineup included:

Tony Rhodes – lead vocals
Mike Cantrell – guitar, vocals
Ken Houston – guitar, replaced by Kenny Simms in 1965
Don Cantrell Jr. – organ, vocals
Dennis Brock – bass
Sal Saccardo – drums

The band played out frequently, helped by their Cantrell’s father, Don Sr., who was a promoter and booking agent. Sometimes listed as the Just Six, they played at venues including the Coconut Grove in Santa Cruz, the Newark Pavilion, Frenchy’s, the Rollarena in San Leandro, Carpenters Hall, Maple Hall in San Pablo, at the Carousel Ballroom and Longshoreman’s Hall in San Francisco and the Avalon Ballroom on Catalina Island (with the Yardbirds), IDES Hall in Hayward, and at Battle of the Bands including at the Santa Clara Fair Grounds. They also appeared on Dick Clark’s Happening ’68 and toured with the Animals.

In November ’65 the Just VI cut two original songs, “Bo-Said” (written by Tony Rhodes and Mike Cantrell) b/w “You” (written by Kenny Simms and Tony Rhodes) at Golden State Recorders. Both sides published by Merrie Making Music, BMI.

The songs were issued on Wax W-211 and the single sold well, including a supposed sold 14,000 copies in Winchester, Missouri!

Over the next few years the band recorded additional songs that were not released at the time, including auditions for Capitol and Columbia.

On October 13, 1966, the Fremont News-Register reported on the upcoming Spotlight ’66 concert at Logan High School with Mel Carter, the Powers of Darkness and the New Chessmen:

“The Just VI have a record called “Bo Said.” Another record to be released soon is “Sumway” on the Capitol label. The New Chessmen’s latest release is “No Place for Love.”

This is the first time a concert like this has been presented to the student body and their guests. Logan has high hopes for its success.

I’m not sure what happened to “Sumway”. Big Beat included “I’m Gonna Be Gone” on the excellent compilation CD You Got Yours! East Bay Garage 1965-67. A photo in the liners shows the band in patriot dress like Paul Revere & the Raiders.

In 1968 Tony Rhodes left the group and Roger Corboy joined, along with his brother Dave Corboy from a Fremont group called the Differentiated Concepts. Dennis Brock left and Steve Lind took over on bass.

The band had a 45 as the White Haven Pillow “Wreck It” (K. Simms Jr., D. Corboy) / “Muisc Man” (D.E. Cantrell Jr.) on the MTA label in 1969.

After Sal Saccardo left the group hired Terry Rissman of Peter Wheat & the Breadmen to play drums. When Terry left, Mike Cantrell played drums until the group split in late ’69.

Most of the group had some involvement in music after the Just VI. Roger Corboy joined Helix, Sal Saccardo went into the Powers of Darkness and played with Little John, the Cantrell brothers had Crossfire in the ’70s, and Kenny Sims had a group called Truckin’ later on.

The best source of info for this article was Bruce G. Tahsler’s The San Francisco East Bay Scene: Garage Bands from the 60’s Then and Now, including the scan of the Yardbirds show poster.

Wax Records

Wax Records of Oakland started out with at least two soul singles in 1964, Tiny Powell’s “My Time After Awhile” / “Take Me With You”; and Sugar Pie DeSanto’s “Strange Feeling” / “Little Taste of Soul”.

In 1965, Wax released two 45s by the Cheaters of San Leandro, “Take It Easy” / “Girl – I Want” (Wax 210) and “My Favorite Girl” / “Suzanne” (Wax 213).

Certain later pressings had a yellow and orange design, large logo and featured the tagline “If It’s a Hit, It’s on Wax”.