Category Archives: Allen Park

Categories: Allen Park, Detroit, Michigan

The Lower Deck

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At the Chatter Box in Allen Park, from left: Tom Lojewski, Rick Rawson, Danny Balas (on drums), Mike Mac and Tom Madigan
At the Chatter Box in Allen Park, from left: Tom Lojewski, Rick Rawson, Danny Balas (on drums), Mike Mac and Tom Madigan

The Lower Deck first got together in 1965 or 66, I really can’t remember. We played the same places the Satellites did, school Homecomings, college frat parties, teen clubs, you name it. The Lower Deck’s bass and drummer went to the same school as the Satellites; Mike Mac and I went to St. Frances Cabrini in Allen Park, Tom Lojewski went to UD High. There was something about Allen Park in those days, seemed like everyone was in a band and most of them were really good.

Here’s a breakdown of personnel:

Mike Mac: keyboards and lead vocals
Tom Lojewski: rhythm guitar and vocals
Rick Rawson: bass
Danny Balas: drums and vocals
Tom Madigan: lead guitar and vocals

We did a show at a place in Indiana called “The Swinging Gate” which touted itself as the first teenage country club in the US. Both the Lower Deck and Satellites played and we also were televised live the next day on a local TV show.

Both bands were managed by Ann Marston. It mentions in her biography in “Shooting Star” that the Satellites were her bad boys and the Lower Deck were her good boys. We did as she asked and the Satellites did as they saw fit. We did some recording but I believe Ann Marston had the tapes and when she died they were either given away or pitched. I was in the Air Force by then and really have no idea where they would be.

The Satellites were together for a very long time. I remember them being an opening act for the MC5 at Weaver’s Music at the corner of Allen Rd and Southfield, now Marshall’s Music. They were a great band in every respect, singing, playing, showmanship, they were a blast to go and see. So were we. We did costume changes every set, going from shark skinned suits to hippie garb to herringbone walking suits.

I remember we did a party for one of the guys we went to high school with, he had a pool and we played on the roof of his house. We all had Vox Super Beatles and dragging them up was tough. The guy’s dad nailed in 2x4s so the equipment wouldn’t slide off. I wish I could remember his name, oh well.

Equipment: Rhythm player had a Mosrite and Vox Royal Guardsman. I had a Fender Jazzmaster and Vox Super Beatle. Bass player had a Gibson bass and Vox Super Beatle. Though the picture doesn’t show it the lead singer had a Vox Continental organ played thru a Bogan per-amp and Leslie. Drummer had a Ludwig set.

PA was a Vox Superbeatle head and two Vox Grenadier columns with 4 12’s each.

I’ve included a pic of the band from 1967 I believe, this was taken at The Chatter Box which was a teen nightclub in Allen Park. It’s now an ACO. That is Tom Lojewski with the Mosrite, I’m in the upper right corner, playing a 1964 Jazzmaster. Bought it for $100 from Dave Fero.

In ’69 I got my draft notice and joined the Air Force, didn’t want to go to Nam, spent 5 1/2 years in London instead.

Danny Balas was the best drummer I ever played with, not sure what he is doing now.

Tom Lojewski still dabbles in music, last I heard he was in California writing software.

Mike Mac is in either Denver or Portland, he’s a marine biologist, he still plays.

Rick Rawson still lives in Allen Park, not sure what he’s doing.

I’m still playing, currently in a band called The Calcutta Rugs. We’re a 6 piece group, keyboards, horns, two guitarists, bass and drums. We play 6-7 times a year, working on a CD and Facebook site.

Tom Madigan

Categories: Allen Park, Detroit, Michigan, Palmer

The Satellites and the Blue Feeling

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The Blue Feeling, formerly known as the Satellites
The Blue Feeling, formerly known as the Satellites

Dennis Girard of the Ruins sent in these great photos of the Blue Feeling, a band who had been widely known in the Detroit area as the Satellites.

Dennis writes:

These pics show the Satellites in 1968 when they changed their name to the “Blue Feeling”. Note that Ann Marston was representing them.

They were possibly the best group in the Downriver area. At any of their gigs, the front row of the audience was made up of local musicians.

You can see all of their Vox equipment. Several Beatle amps and the infamous Vox T-60 are visible. They even used two Vox Beatle amps for their PA. In fact I bought a Beatle chrome amp stand from them.

The Satellites did the sound track for Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons (“Wait a Minute”).

Dave Fero……lead guitar
Frank Schiavulli….drums (deceased 01-23-97)
Ken Sipos……guitar
Carl Sweets….bass
Frank Vargo….lead vocals

I had kept in touch with Frank Schiavulli up until his death. Dave Fero is still playing and lives in Ann Arbor.

The Blue Feeling, formerly known as the Satellites. Notice the Ann Marston Presents and Espial Light Company posters on wall
The Blue Feeling, formerly known as the Satellites. Notice the Ann Marston Presents and Espial Light Company posters on wall

Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons Palmer 45 OpeliaThe Satellites were freshmen at Allen Park High School. They signed with Ann Marston in October, 1965, partly because she liked their wholesome appearance. Ann Marston was a former archery champion, TV personality and Miss Michigan of 1960, who started managing bands after promoting live concerts with WKNR’s Frank Sweeney.

Ann booked them into venues including the Chatterbox teen club in Allen Park, the Southgate Teen Center, the Harbor Theater in Lincoln Park and the Grosse Ile Naval Base, getting them regular work. Around this time Ann produced a demo of the band at Pioneer Studios, “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” and “You Really Got a Hold on Me”.

Dave Fero and Frank Schiavulli had been part of the group backing Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons on their huge local hit, “Wait a Minute”, an unusual blend of doo wop with a contemporary rock sound. Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons were six vocalists who also met at Allen Park High. Rick Wiesend (Tim Tam) was lead vocalist, along with Danny Wiesend, Don Grundman, Nick Butsicaris, John Ogen and Earl Rennie. If you haven’t heard “Wait a Minute”, search it out on the internet and you’ll hear why it was such a sensation.

‘Wait a Minute” was released in February of 1966 on Palmer Records 5002, selling 30,000 copies in the first month of release. Frank was interviewed on the air by WKNR DJ Scott Regan about playing drums on “Wait a Minute.” Tim Tam and the Turn-Ons would release three more 45s on Palmer. Rick Wiesend passed away five years ago today (on October 22, 2003).

I’m not sure who is playing on the flip side, the fine surf instrumental “Opelia”, songwriting credited to Morton Patlow. Is this the Satellites?

Tim Tam & the Turn Ons next single was the very doo-wop sounding “Cheryl Ann” b/w a vocal with garage backing, “Seal It With A Kiss” (Palmer 5003)

On June 13, 1966, the Satellites went to United Sound Studios to record another demo of two songs, “I Believe” and “Midnight Hour”. These were mixed by Les Cooley who would soon engineer Bob Seger’s “Persecution Smith”.

The band won WXYZ-TV’s Talent Town competition, hosted by Rita Bell. The stereo console they won went into Frank Vargo’s basement where the band practiced.

The band clashed with Ann when they gave up their straight image, but nevertheless she continued to manage them into 1968. I’ve never heard any of their demos, I don’t know if they still exist or not.

The Blue Feeling
The Blue Feeling
Ann Marston presents The Blue Feeling and the Espial Light Company
“Ann Marston presents The Blue Feeling and the Espial Light Company”

Shooting Star; the Amazing Life of Ann MarstonSources include: Shooting Star: The Amazing Life of Ann Marston by Alana Paluszewski, and the Tim Tam & the Turn Ons entry on myfirstband.com.

Special thanks to Dennis Girard for the scans of the photos and for sending me a copy of Shooting Star.

Ann Marston’s busy and unusual life is chronicled in Shooting Star. Those interested in her interactions with bands will find about seven pages on her time managing the very young MC5, a few pages on the Satellites, and mentions of other bands she worked with, like the Lower Deck, the Renegades, Julia, and Tom & the Fugitives. There are also photos of Ann with the Beatles and the Dave Clark Five.

Shooting Star lists Frank Vargo as the drummer on “Wait a Minute” and as the member of the Satellites interviewed on-air by Scott Regan, but this may be a mistake. Dan Wiesend, who was at the session, recounts Frank Schiavulli as the drummer.