The Paper Fortress started out as the Royal Teens, making one single for the Rev Records label, “Tears in My Eyes” (Chirico) / “Chicanery” (Chirico, Whittle) in 1967.

Members were:

Sam Chirico – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
Jim Whittle – lead guitar, vocals
Joey Campo – bass, vocals
Evan Zang – drums, vocals

The following year, they went into the studio with Tandyn Almer and Eddie Hodges to make “Butterfly High” / “Sleepy Hollow People”, released on VMC V719 at the Paper Fortress. Although the single used studio musicians, Sam Chirico sang lead vocals, with Evan Zang harmonizing, and Jim Whittle and Joey Campo adding backing vocals.

Evan Zang sent in the photos seen here and wrote to me about the group:

We were all from Redondo Beach. For various reasons the band went through three name changes in four years. We were initially The Royal Teens [but] learned there was another vocal group called the Royal Teens. Then the Candy Company, and finally the Paper Fortress.

From 1967 and on, and with many thanks to a local DJ, Casey Kasem, who managed us, we were one of the very rare South Bay pop bands that graduated from playing high school dances to the more lucrative and prestigious Hollywood scene. The other South Bay local band that cracked the Hollywood market were the Indescribably Delicious (who were also friends of ours. The Indescribably Delicious were like The Rolling Stones, while we were more like the Beatles).

We always played our originals in our live performances. We had an actual show, with routines and dialogue built into our sets. We also had revolving costume changes depending on the gig.

The venues where we were booked were the typically the hottest clubs in Hollywood, like the Whiskey A Go-Go, Pandora’s Box, the Hullabaloo (the club and the TV show), Arthur, the Roxy, Blue Law, and the Pendulum Club.

We also were fortunate enough to play at the Ice House and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, both located in Pasadena. At the Pasadena Civic, we were the opening act for The Strawberry Alarm Clock, Electric Flag, Iron Butterfly, Standells, and The Merry-Go-Round.

Our center of the universe was Hollywood, and we felt we’d made it when the money started pouring in. In 1968-69 while my friends were working at McDonald’s and driving used VW Bugs, Sam had a new Corvette and I had a new Lotus Europa! We definitely were grateful for the good timing and fortune to have experienced so much, in such a great period of music.

We did appear on Felony Squad as a band called The Candy Company. We were on screen about 4 minutes but it took all day to film. Several years ago Dennis Cole, the star of Felony Squad, sent me a DVD of that episode which also guest starred Roddy McDowall who played the role of our manager. It was called “The Flip Side of Fear.” Cole’s beautiful wife at the time was Jacklyn Smith, and she was on the set that day. Like Roddy, and Dennis, she was very nice and talkative with us.

Again using the name, The Candy Company, we performed 2 songs on the Woody Woodbury Show. Woody was a very gracious host to us. I believe I have the ONLY existing recording of that performance. After we performed our songs we were invited to sit with the other talk show guests. I sat next to the late Red Foxx. He was outrageously funny.

We were recording our own original songs at several Hollywood studios, but nothing really hit. At one point we were then approached by VMC who introduced us to song writer, Tandyn Almer. Tandyn already had a huge hit with “Along Comes Mary” by The Association, and “Sail On Sailor”, which he co-wrote with Brian Wilson for The Beach Boys. Tandyn offered us two wonderful songs, “Butterfly High”, and “Sleepy Hollow People”.

Jim Whittle, vocalist and lead guitar, got married, which swiftly became the demise of the band. We were at our peak with recordings and gigs, but Jim didn’t think it’d make for a good marriage. He was undoubtedly right. Sadly, Jim passed away from a heart attack only five years after leaving the band. Jim taught me how to drive even before I had my license.

Sam Chirico, the lead vocalist and rhythm guitar has never stopped playing professionally. He lives in Las Vegas and gigs when the mood suits him. Sam often performs under the name, Sam Walker.

Joey Campo, Sam’s cousin, vocalist and bass player, stopped playing professionally. He recently retired as a Firefighter Captain.

I went off to UC Berkeley after the band broke up. While in college, I continued to play drums for several well established country singers in Northern California, and began writing songs on my own having taught myself to play piano and guitar. I’ve actually sold a handful of original tunes to be used for commercials.

In the 80’s I found myself on the ground floor of a start up Arizona based company called PET FOOD WAREHOUSE. Prior to taking our rapidly growing chain of stores public, we changed our name to PETsMART.

One of the Founders, Tye Smith, and I had previously worked together at another company. We became tight friends, especially since both of us had also been drummers in different California bands when we were teenagers. Playing music again was inevitable, and he and I, plus a local doctor, Tom Moss, formed a 3-piece combo band, humorously calling ourselves “The Barking Geezers.” Tye played drums, Tom manned the rhythm guitar, and I played bass guitar and piano.

“The Barking Geezers” unique (and then untested) niche was “live Karaoke,” and audience members could join us onstage to sing with a “real rock and roll band.” Initially I didn’t think the concept would get very far. I was dead wrong!

Apparently EVERYONE (especially after a few beers) wanted to experience their own 5 minutes of “rock and roll fame!” The concept was very well received and The Barking Geezers continued to gig in Arizona, California and Oregon for the next 14 years.

I still write and record in my home studio.

Our road manager, Al Taylor, passed away a few weeks ago. Al was a wonderful friend and asset to our band. He lived in Hermosa Beach.

Sam and I have remained in close touch, like brothers. I felt very fortunate to be a teenager in a band that had records playing on the radio, and very loyal fans.

Unreleased songs by the Royal Teens include “Run”, “The Beginning, and “Everybody Knows”. Evan added:

“Run” was the most popular song we played, and teenagers asked for it repeatedly. Jim Whittle, the lead guitarist, does some very nice riffs on “Run.”

Thank you to Evan Zang for contributing the photos and information for this article.