Category Archives: US

The Good Humour Band on Ignite

The Good Humor Band, 1968, from left: Ken Cottrell, Jesse Preciphs, Mona Bateman, Jimmy Rogers, David Jones and Bobby Henderson

Good Humour Band Ignite 45 You'll Get ByThe Good Humour Band came from Austin, Texas, forming about May of 1968 and playing a number of shows at the New Orleans club in June and July. Gig notices always billed them as The Good Humor Band.

The Austin American-Statesman ran a photo of the group on July 27, 1968. The lineup at this time was:

Jesse Preciphs – lead vocals
Kenneth Cottrell – organ
David Jones – lead guitar
Mona Bateman – rhythm guitar
Bobby Henderson – bass
Jimmy Rogers – drums

Good Humor Band Eternal Life Corp New Orleans Club Austin Daily Texan June 14, 1968

A September 19, 1968 article in the Austin Daily Texan describes a talent show of UT students:

“The hypnotic throb of the Good Humor Band assailed the eardrums of a packed Hogg Auditorium audience Wednesday night as the Forty Acres Talent Show stages its ninth annual performance.” The article discusses some solo performers at the show: Wayne Holtzman, Roger Woest and David Flack.

On December 11, 1968, the Good Humor Band played a benefit concert for the Zachary Scott Theater Center with the Shadows of Doubt. A news item mentions the group recently completed a recording session at Robin Hood Brians studio in Tyler, and that Ken Cottrell was also their manager & spokesman.

In January, 1969 the band played three nights at the Pusi-Kat in San Antonio with Joe Thomas and the Virgil Foxx Group.

According to a short notice about the group from February 28, 1969, the lineup had changed, dropping Jesse Preciphs, Mona Bateman and Jimmy Rogers; and including Billy Jones on drums:

Ken Cottrell – organ and piano
David Jones – lead guitar
Bobby Henderson – bass
Billy Jones – drums

The February 28 article has this tantalizing note:

… the first Good Humour record – “You’ll Get By” on the A side – was released here this week and the band’s initial album – Aunt Mabel’s Golden Tonic – will be out next month.

Unfortunately the album was never to see the light.

Ken Cottrell and David Jones wrote both songs on their only single on Ignite Records H-692, “You’ll Get By” / “The Man”. Library of Congress registration on March 28, 1969 lists words by Jones and music by Cottrell.

The man’s been driving by my house today,
I think it’s time I got away …

Good Humour Band Ignite 45 The ManBruce H. Hooper produced the single. He also produced the Shiva’s Head Band single on Ignite, but not the Richard Dean 45, which was C.F. Rowsey (Fred Rowsey). Ignite Music BMI published the songs.

A Brite Star Promotions ad in Billboard on May 24, 1969 lists both the Good Humour Band and the Shiva’s Head Band singles on Ignite.

Billboard listed in Buyer’s Guide of August 30, 1969 lists Ignite as label, publisher and recording studio at 308 W. Sixth St., Austin, with President Bruce H. Hooper, and Vice President C.F. Rowsey. The 1970 guide drops Rowsey and adds Richard Gembler as General Manager.

One interesting note about the studio is 308 W. Sixth St. became Odyssey Sound, Ltd., owned by Jay Aaron Podolnick and Steve Shields, from February 1972 until August 1978. In 1978, John Ingle and Larson Lundahl purchased Odyssey and renamed it Pecan Street Studios after remodeling.

I’d like to know what other recordings were made at 308 W. Sixth St. in those early days before it became Odyssey.

Ken Cottrell passed away on July 9, 2009 at the age of 60, according to a website devoted to him, www.kennethcottrell.com

More info or photos of the group would be appreciated.

Good Humor Band Eternal Life Corp Good Deeds New OrleansClubAustin Daily Texan July 2, 1968
July 4 weekend with the Good Deeds (“1st Austin appearance winner of Corpus Christi Battle of Bands”) and New Orleans Club regulars the Eternal Life Corp
Good Humor Band Pusi-Kat San-Antonio-Express-And-News, Jan 19, 1969
At the Pusi-Kat in San Antonio, January 1969

Thank you to Jonas Carlsson for help with this article.

The Motovators of Fort Worth

July 31, 1965, from left: Jimmy Smith, Terry Lee Hungerford, Roger Young on drums, Mike Langston, and Phil Reece
Terry Lee Hungerford with Gretsch guitar and amp, June, 1964

The Motovators formed in the spring of 1964 in Haltom City, just northeast of Fort Worth, Texas. The original lineup was:

Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums
Terry Fagan – lead and rhythm guitar
Jimmy Nobles – rhythm guitar

Terry Lee Hungerford (b. June 28, 1947) and Roger Young played in all iterations of the group.

At least six other musicians would be in the group before their breakup in August of 1965:

Jimmy Moore – guitar
Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Dale Morgan – lead guitar
David Morris – lead and rhythm guitar
Phil Reece – lead guitar
Jimmy Smith – keyboards

The Motovators recorded two songs in March, 1965, but only two demo acetates were made and the record was never released.

Terry Lee Hungerford’s mother Blanche kept an excellent scrapbook of photos and clippings. She also kept a detailed log of the Motovators’ live shows, beginning with a steak house in Whitewright, TX, and notable events in the history of the band. Thanks to her work, and the help of Wm. Lewis Wms., I can present this detailed history of the Motovators and the Fort Worth scene in 1964-66.

Motorvators practice photo, 1964, from left: Mike Langston, Terry Lee Hungerford, Roger Young and Terry Fagan

May, 1964 – The Joker Club – Terry, Roger, Fagan, Jimmy (first paying gig)

May 29, 1964 – The Jolly Roger Lounge

In June of 1964, Jimmy Nobles moved out of state and was replaced by Jimmy Moore. That summer Mike Langston joined on vocals and maracas.

Motovators lineup at this time was:

Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Terry Fagan – lead and rhythm guitar
Jimmy Moore – guitar
Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums

December 5, 1964 to January 1, 1965 – ten shows at the Hi-De-Ho Club

December 24, 1964 – Jimmy Moore leaves band, replaced by Dale Morgan on lead, and Terry Fagan moves to rhythm guitar.

Lineup December 24, 1964 – March 5, 1965

Motovators business card January or February 1965

Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Dale Morgan – guitar
Terry Fagan – rhythm guitar
Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums

January 8, 9, 15, 16, 1965 – Club Contempo, 609 Riverside Drive (billed as Terry and the Motovators”

January 23, 1965 – Holiday Skating Rink ‘Battle-of-the-Bands” with the United Sounds, the Jades (2nd place), the Barons (1st place), the Coachmen and the Images, emcee is Mark Stevens WFJZ DJ.

February 6, 1965 – The Inn’s Tavern, 3132 East Lancaster

February 13, 1965 – Holiday Skating Rink – Valentine Dance “Holiday Hop” with the Images

February 20, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink audition with KXOL DJ Bob Allen and rink manager Mr. Goodwin

February 27, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink with the Barons

March 1, 1965 – Panther Hall audition with KCUL DJ Ron McCoy

The Motivators, spring of 1965, from left: Mike Langston, Terry Lee Hungerford, Roger Young, Phil Reece (correct ID?), and Terry Fagan
Receipt from Clifford Herring Sound Equipment: 1 hour studio time, 1 1/4″ tape and 2 acetate 45s for $28.05
Terry Lee Hungerford’s lyrics for “She’s Gone”

March 4, 1965 – Clifford Herring Recording Studio, “She’s Gone” by Terry Hungerford and “Darling, Don’t Go”, 1 hour of studio time, tape and two acetate demos $28.05. (Clifford Herring’s studio shared an address with the Sound City studio.)

March 5 – Dale Morgan quits band to join Bobby Crown’s band. Phil Reece joins on lead guitar.

Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Phil Reece – lead guitar
Terry Fagan – rhythm guitar
Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums

March 5 – Cowtown Bowling Palace with the Barons and KXOL DJ Bill Warren

March 6, 1965 – Holiday Skating Rink with the Barons

March 8, 1965 – Panther Hall audition with KCUL DJ Ron McCoy and hall owner Bill Kuykendall. Other bands at the audition were the Chantones and the Images

March 10, 1965 – Panther Hall rehearsal for “Panther-a-Go-Go”

March 12, 1965 – Panther-a-Go-Go with the Images and the Sounds Unlimited. Host Ron McCoy, with Kay Harris and go-go-dancers. The Motovators on top stage with the Images and the Sounds Unlimited on the sides. Robin Hood Brians & His Merry Men were the main attraction.
Outline of show

March 13, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink with the Kasuals. The Motovators play “She’s Gone”. Phil Reece announces on Monday that he’s joining Bobby Crown’s band. However, it seems that Phil would rejoin the Motovators for in late April.

March 26, 1965 – Motovators turn down Panther-a-Go-Go show with the Images and Jerry Lee Lewis.

March 27, 1965 – The Inn’s Tavern

March 29, 1965 – band buys new striped coats and yellow shirts from Foreman & Clark, $13.84 each.

April 2, 1965 – National Hall Battle-of-the-Bands with the Capris, the United Sounds, and Charlie Christy & the Crystals. Emcees Bob Allen and Bill Warren of KXOL. The Crystals won the battle for 30% of the door.

April 3, 1965 – Holiday Skating Rink with the Barons. Photos bay Donnie Fisher

April 5, 1965 – The Teragon Club audition with the Coachmen, but lost the job to Jerry Williams & the Epics

April 10, 1965 – Terry & Roger made two trips to Dallas to see Marvin Montgomery about releasing their record, but he was out both times.

April 16 & 17, 1965 – The Inn’s Tavern

Transcription of “She’s Gone”, a necessary step for copyright registration

April 19, 1965 – Terry & Roger went to see Red Woodward at 3132 Waits to have lead sheet made of their song for $7.50. Filled out form Copy E to register with Library of Congress for a $4 fee

April 20, 1965 – Fagan leaves band, and Phil Reece rejoins on lead. David plays rhythm

Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Phil Reece – lead guitar
David Morris – rhythm guitar
Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums

April 23, 1965 – The Teragon Club, lineup was Terry, Roger, Mike, David and Phil.

April 24, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink, one band, 10 til midnight, $8 per person

April 30, 1965 – Colonial Country Club for the Lake Worth High School Senior banquet

May 1, 1965 – audition at the Pit in Dallas was cancelled, but the group auditions for Louann’s Club. $80 a night if booked.

May 5, 1965 – police called for loud practice at 11 PM.

May 7 & 8 – Safari Club at 3535 E. Belknap (private club)

May 13-15, 1965 – booked to play Jacque’s Lounge in Roswell, New Mexico for $125 per night, but cancelled when the owner found out the group was underage.

May 14, 1965 – Skyliner Ballroom
lineup was Terry, Roger, Mike and Phil with David Morris, car stolen. Last show with David Morris.

May 15, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink with the Coachmen (“one of the Coachmen played as 5th member of Motovators”)

May 16, 1965 – “Jimmy Smith joined band – playing the organ”

Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Phil Reece – lead guitar
Jimmy Smith – organ
Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums

May 19, 1965 – practice in Terry’s garage is broken up by police at 9:30

May 21, 1965 – Panther-a-Go-Go (TV broadcast on May 23 on Channel 11) with Lady Wild & the Warlocks, the Velvateens from Lubbock/Texas Tech), Cecil Lang McCullough, and the Warlocks, plus Panther-a-Go-Go drummer Al Breaux. Kay Harris was one of the dancers.

May 21, 1965 – Louann’s Club, for two hours after playing Panther Hall

May 27, 1965 – Kenney’s Club – Terry played with Tommy Skagg’s band.

May 28, 1965 – Skyliner Ballroom

May 29, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink

June 1, 1965 – Ft. Hood Crossroads Club, lineup with Terry, Roger, Mike, Phil and Jimmy, with Tommy Skaggs and Patti Myers joining on vocals. $170

June 2, 1965 – Roger has his hair cut short

Motovators Shindig Will Rogers Auditorium, June 4, 1965
Ad for the Shindig autograph party where the Motovators and the Elites played live, June 4, 1965

June 4, 1965 – Motovators and the Elites booked by Ray Beard for Shindig! autograph party at Round-Up Inn behind Will Roger’s Coliseum, with DJ Mark Stevens.

June 5, 1965 – appointment for audition at Studio Club in Dallas

June 5, 1965 – Ft. Hood N.C.O club, lineup with Terry, Roger, Mike, Phil and Jimmy, with Tommy Skaggs and Patti Myers joining on vocals. $170

Terry Lee Hungerford bass equipment
Terry trades his original Gretsch “bikini” bass for a new Gibson at C&S Music, salesman Eddie Hale, June 8, 1965

June 11, 1965 – Teen a-Go-Go at Round-Up Inn

June 12, 1965 – Ft. Hood poolside party with Tommy Skaggs

June 17, 1965 – with Sandy Black at the Coronado Club, 3203 Holtzer St.

Motovators in plaid suitsJune 18, 1965 – New coats, blue plaid with black satin lapels from Al’s Formal Wear at $32.64 each

June 18, 1965 – National Hall Battle-of-the-Bands.

June 19, 1965 – Coronado Club

June 25, 1965 – Skyliner Ballroom

June 26, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink -after the show Terry, Roger and Donnie left to Villa Acuna, Mexico at 4:15 AM, returned later than they expected on Monday causing Donnie to lose his job. This Monday was also Terry’s 18th birthday.

July 1, 1965 – audition at the Party Line Club

July 2, 1965 – National Hall with DJ Bill Warren for 25% of door

July 3, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink with DJ Bob Allen

July 5, 1965 – Mike Langston leaves the group, which will continue as a four-piece: Terry, Roger, Phil and Jimmy

July 9, 1965 – Phil buys a new Fender amp, Jimmy a Sears amp

July 9, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink

July 10, 1965 – Holiday a-Go-Go with the Blue Notes and DJ Mark Stevens. The Blue Notes ask Terry to join them for a three-day tour, but turns it down because of the Motovators bookings

July 13, 1965 – Mike Langston back in band

July 16, 1965 – Panther-a-Go-Go with Johnny Green & the Greenmen, Van Johnson, the TrenTones, Larry & Don. Joe Knapp taped the Motovators show and Terry Guinn took photos.

Terry turns down offer to join the Greenmen to finish education.

July 17, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink with Bob Allen

July 18, 1965 – broadcast of Panther-A-Go-Go taped on July 16

July 24, 1965 – Caravan of Stars at Arlington Recreation Hall with KFJZ DJ Khan Hamon

Motovators drum head

July 25, 1965 – “sign made for Roger’s drums. Art shop on Commerce St.”

July 25, 1965 – Panther-a-Go-Go “Battle-of-the-Rock N Roll Bands” with Larry & the Blue Notes, the Jades, the Images, the Kasuals, the Visions, the Naturals, the Barons, Chas Christy & the Crystals, Jack & the Rippers and the Coachmen. Emcee was Bill Warren of WXOL, show host was Mr. Fred Slater.

1st place – Charles Christy & the Crystals
2nd place – Larry and the Blue Notes
3rd place – The Images

Prizes were a trip to the West Coast, 1 year of guaranteed bookings, and opening slot with the Righteous Brothers at Will Rogers Coliseum.

July 31, 1965 – professional photos taken of band at L.S.G.C. Auditorium by Bill Wood

July 31, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink, Bob Allen DJ

August 1, 1965 – Panther-A-Go-Go rerun on TV with the Motovators doing “Walkin’ the Dog”

August 19, 1965 – KXOL DJ Bill Warren wants to manage the Motovators.

August 19, 1965 – Band offered to play six nights a week at Suite 225 club at 3520 Camp Bowie, but had to turn down because of Jolly Time booking on August 21.

August 19, 1965 – Phil Reece and Jimmy join Gary Payne and the Playmates, and the Motovators split up.

Terry Lee Hungerford portrait (front page of scrapbook)

Terry Lee Hungerford would join Jerry Williams & the Epics in 1966. Starting in the 1970s he would be part of several bands including Ripe Chops, the Freedom Band, the Other Brothers Band, No Respect, Road Crew, and the Terry Hungerford Blues Band. He worked for Pacific Bell and even opened his own BBQ restaurant, Hungerford’s Finest in Watsonville.

Terry passed away on February 20, 2019.

All the posts based on Terry Hungerford’s scrapbook can be viewed at this tag link.

Special thank you to Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

The Kasuals “Girl (You Better Stop Your Lying)” on Spotlite

The Kasuals at Panther Hall July 25, 1965

Kasuals Spotlite 45 Girl (You Better Stop Your Lying)The Kasuals who cut “Girl (You Better Stop Your Lying)” / “You’re Gonna Break My Heart” were from Fort Worth, Texas. They are not to be confused with the Dallas group Kenny & the Kasuals.

Members were:

Ronnie Wright – lead vocals
David Morris – lead guitar
Mike Thomas – rhythm guitar
Tom Myers – saxophone
Larry Boynton – bass
Charles Bassham – drums

David Morris wrote both sides of their only single on Spotlite SP2001. Publishing by Bluebonnet Pub. Co.

Kasuals Spotlite 45 You're Gonna Break My HeartSpotlite issued singles by other Fort Worth artists like the Chocolate Moose.

The photo comes from Panther Hall’s Panther A-Go-Go on July 25, 1965, where the Kasuals competed with 10 other bands.

An article by Sarah Harris in the Georgetown Megaphone from February 25, 1966 notes that the Kasuals appeared at Club 62 in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The band seems to have been popular in Georgetown, 160 miles to the south of Fort Worth. They played a Zeta Tau Alpha “Pop Art” dance at a steak house,

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing the photo from Panther Hall.

Article in the Georgetown Megaphone, February 25, 1966
Announcement of the Kasuals to appear at Georgetown’s first coffee house on S. Austin Ave, run by Keith Kellow with Jon Bertolet, Ray Anderson, David Detwiler and Bill Paul.
Georgetown Megaphone May 8, 1966. Imagine what this “pop art” must have looked like.

The Motovators at Panther A-Go-Go, Panther Hall in Fort Worth

The Motovators on the top stage of Panther Hall for Panther A-Go-Go, March 1965
Weekend lineup with the Greenmen, the Motovators, Wanda Jackson and the Partytimers, July 16-17, 1965

Bill and Corky Kuykendall built Panther Hall in 1961 as a bowling alley, located at 600 Collard St on the east side of Fort Worth. When bowling didn’t succeed, the owners reopened on July 4, 1963 as a live music venue.

By 1965, KTVT, channel 11, was broadcasting an hour of the Cowtown Jamboree live on Saturday evenings. Friday nights were “Panther A-Go-Go” from 7 PM to midnight, and taped portions were shown on KTVT on Sunday evenings.

Panther a Go Go would feature four stages for these 1965 shows: a main center stage, smaller stages on the left and right, and a fourth in a balcony above the main stage. Panther a Go Go continued into 1966 and 1967 but on the footage I’ve seen these shows took place on the main stage.

The Sounds Unlimited at Panther Hall, March 12, 1965. Clockwise from left: Steve (last name unknown) on bass, Bill Mercer on red guitar, David Thompson with tambourine, Ron Davis on guitar and Mike Collier on drums

The Motovators appeared at Panther A-Go-Go at least five times in 1965. They auditioned twice, on March 1 and March 8, 1965 the second time with KCUL DJ Ron McCoy and hall owner Bill Kuykendall. Other bands at the audition on the 8th were the Chantones and the Images.

Two days later they rehearsed at the hall, and on March 12 they played with the Images and the Sounds Unlimited, plus Ron McCoy as host, and Kay Harris leading the go-go-dancers. The Motovators were on the top stage, with the Images and the Sounds Unlimited on the sides. Robin Hood Brians & His Merry Men were the main attraction. A detailed set of instructions refers to Gary Carter instead of Robin Hood, I’m not sure why.

The Sounds Unlimited were a Dallas group. The photo at right is an early version of the group with Bill Mercer, David Thompson, Steve (last name unknown), Ron Davis, and Mike Collier. By 1966 Ron Davis had formed a new version of the Sounds Unlimited with Paul Jarvis, Steve Webb, Phil Ferrell and Chuck Hodges (and Ron Mears replacing Chuck Hodges). This later version cut their only single, “Keep Your Hands Off of It” / “About You” on Solar Records.

The stage set up at Panther A-Go-Go, Panther Hall, March 1965
Panther A-Go-Go stage Instructions, March 12, 1965

On March 26 the Motovators turned down a Panther A-Go-Go show with the Images and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Show schedule for the May 21, 1965 Panther A-Go-Go

They appeared on the May 21 Panther A-Go-Go with Lady Wilde & the Warlocks, the Velvateens from Lubbock/Texas Tech, Cecil Lang McCullough, and the Warlocks, plus “Panther-a-Go-Go drummer” Al Breaux.

The Velveteens played one side of their single, “Ching Bam Bah”, which had been released in February.

Lady Wilde is the same singer who cut two 1965 singles, “Poor Kid” / “Another Year” on ARA and “Noise Of Sound” / “Poor Kid” on Chicory, both produced by Royce McAfee. Her real name was Marie Smith.

Sonny Ray & the Dynamics, Ringo Ringo, Panther A-Go-Go, Webb Pierce, June 4, 1965
I don’t have a record of the Motovators at this show on June 4, 1965, but this ad was in the scrapbook.

The Warlocks were the Dallas band that included Dusty Hill, Rocky Hill, Philip Vickery and Kean McClelland. In 1966 they cut the great singles “Life’s a Misery” / “Splash Day” on Paradise and “If You Really Want Me to Stay” / “Good Time Trippin'” on ARA. At some point after the singles, the Warlocks added Frank Beard on drums and became the American Blues. Little Richard Harris was also a drummer for the Warlocks at some point, according to Dale Smith of the Allusions in an interview with Mike Dugo.

After playing Panther Hall, the Motovators went to Louann’s Club in Dallas to play for an additional two hours!

The Motovators at Panther Hall July 16, 1965. From left: Jimmy Smith, Mike Langston, Terry Hungerford, Phil Reece and Roger Young.

On July 16, the Motovators appeared on Panther A-Go-Go with Johnny Green & the Greenmen, Van Johnson, the TrenTones, and Larry & Don. Joe Knapp taped the Motovators show and Terry Guinn took photos.

After the show the Greenmen asked Terry to join them, but after some discussion with his family, he declines to finish his education.

Sunday, July 25, Panther A-Go-Go held a huge “Battle-of-the-Rock n Roll Bands” with eleven bands: Larry & the Blue Notes, the Jades, the Images, the Kasuals, the Visions, the Naturals, the Barons, Chas Christy & the Crystals, Jack & the Rippers and the Coachmen. Emcee was Bill Warren of WXOL, show host was Mr. Fred Slater. The family scrapbook preserves set lists and scores for the bands.

1st place – Charles Christy & the Crystals
2nd place – Larry and the Blue Notes
3rd place – The Images

Prizes were a trip to the West Coast, one year of guaranteed bookings, and opening slot with the Righteous Brothers at Will Rogers Coliseum.

On August 1, Panther-A-Go-Go was rerun on TV with the Motovators doing “Walkin’ the Dog”.

All posts from the Motovators scrapbook can be seen at this link.

More info on Panther Hall is available at the Texas State Historical Association website.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Thank you to Ron Davis for correcting the info about the Sounds Unlimited.

Battle of the Bands Motovators set lists, July 25, 1965
July 25 Battle-of-the-Bands lineup, and set lists for the Motovators, the Jades and the Images
Battle of the Bands Motovators set lists, July 25, 1965
Set lists for Larry & the Blue Notes, the Kasuals, the Visions and the Naturals, July 25, 1965
Battle of the Bands Motovators set lists, July 25, 1965
Set lists for the Barons, Charles Christy and the Crystals, Jack & the Rippers, and the Coachmen, July 25, 1965
Battle of the Bands Motovators scores, July 25, 1965
Motovators score sheet – a 10 for musical performance
Battle of the Bands scores, July 25, 1965

Battle of the Bands winners, July 25, 1965

Panther Hall Anniversary, July 1, 1965

Panther A Go Go flyer

Jerry Williams and the Epics

Jerry Williams and the Epics promo photo
Jerry Williams at bottom left.

Jerry Williams and the Epics were friends and/or rivals of the Motovators.

Terry Hungerford’s scrapbook contains an ad for Jerry Williams at the Bayou Club, another venue that has disappeared to history. It was located at 5828 Calmont Ave in Fort Worth, now covered by I-30.

When the Motovators split up on September 1, 1965, Terry Hungerford joined the Epics on bass.

Jerry played lead guitar, for the other members I only have first names: James on drums, Mike on rhythm guitar, and Don was their manager. Sam Coplin handled bookings at some point.

They played five consecutive nights from September 7-11 at a spot called Suite 225.

In 1966 the Epics cut their only single: “Whatever You Do” written by Jerry Williams and Don Gilmore, backed with “Tell Me What You See” (the Beatles song despite credit on the labels to Williams and Gilmore). Georgia Lapping and Jerry Conditt produced the record on Brownfield BF-140, and Phil York engineered the session.

Jerry Lynn Williams was born on October 30, 1948 in either Dallas or Grand Prairie, and raised in Fort Worth. Around 1970 he moved to Los Angeles and joined High Mountain. Jerry composed the majority of songs for High Mountain’s album Canyon on Columbia Records, and also the High Mountain Hoedown album on Atco.

Jerry became well-known as a songwriter. Artists including Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded his songs. He died in St. Martin on November 25, 2005.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Jerry Williams and the Epics, Bayou Club June 11, 1965

The Images “My Kinda Woman” on Music Mill

The Images at Panther Hall, March 12, 1965

The Images played often around the Fort Worth, Texas region, including shows at Panther Hall and Holiday Skating Rink with the Motovators.

They released one excellent single on Music Mill 404, “My Kinda Woman” / “A Swingin’ Summer”, both by T. Martin and G. Carter, publishing by Levelland BMI.

I don’t have much info on the group, other than those two names T. Martin and G. Carter. Their drum head has a location, a short word ending in “t” – Hurst, TX maybe?

The Images came in third place out of 11 bands, at the July 25, 1965, Panther-a-Go-Go “Battle-of-the-Rock N Roll Bands”.

Thanks to the meticulous scrapbook kept by the mother of Motovators bassist Terry Hungerford, I can present the photo of the group and their set list from the July 25 battle-of-the-bands.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

The Images set list at Panther Hall, July 25, 1965

The Visions “She’s the Girl for Me”

The Visions at Panther Hall for Panther-a-Go-Go, July 25, 1965

The Visions Combo card text
Less Hair BUT More Music

“Young Men With Big Talent”

Less Hair BUT More Music

The Visions were formed on June 15, 1965 in Mineral Wells, Texas. They launched their career at the local Youth Center on the night of June 23 …

Gary James, lead guitarist, from Possum Kingdom Lake. Gary is 16, attends Graford High School and also serves as vocalist with the group.

Billy Dalton, rhythm guitarist … is 15, attends Mineral Wells High School…

Frank Johnson, on the piano … is 17 years of age and attends Graford Hight School.

Charles Morgan, our drummer, hails from Fort Worth, is 17 years of age, and attends Technical High School.

The Visions played their first show a week after forming, and soon after, a major battle-of-the-bands at Panther Hall in Fort Worth, 50 miles east of Mineral Wells.

On July 25, 1965 the Visions were one of eleven groups at the Panther-a-Go-Go “Battle-of-the-Rock N Roll Bands” with Larry & the Blue Notes, the Jades, the Images, the Kasuals, the Motovators, the Naturals, the Barons, Chas Christy & the Crystals, Jack & the Rippers and the Coachmen. Emcee was Bill Warren of WXOL and Fred Slater hosted the show.

Visions Vimco 45 She's the Girl for MeThanks to an amazing scrapbook created by the mother of Motovators bassist Terry Hungerford, I can present a photo of the group, their promo card and even a partial set list.

Panther-a-Go-Go used as many as four stages, a main one in center, another up in a central balcony, plus stages left and right on the floor. The Visions were the sixth of the 11 bands, they played on the right side stage, and their nine songs included “Twist and Shout”, “Summertime”, “What’d I Say”, “Walk Don’t Run” and “The McCoy”.

The Visions came in last in this particular competition, but would have lasting success in the future.


Visions set list at Panther Hall, July 25, 1965

Visions Vimco 45 Take HerOf the three Texas records on their own Vimco label, my favorite is the fantastic “She’s the Girl for Me”, with the moodier “Take Her” on the other side.

In November the Visions would re-release “Take Her”, this time with a great version of “Route 66” on the flip. In March of 1966, they made their last Texas single, the heavy “Humpty Dumpty” backed with a version of the Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me”.

Visions Vimco 45 Route 66That summer of 1966, the group moved to Hollywood, CA, where they would record for Warner Bros. and UNI, make some TV appearances, and sign to Buddah Records with different group names, Sugar Canyon, and the Rock & Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Card Co. of Philadelphia.

More information, videos, and many very small photos can be found at Billy Dalton’s website.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

The Party Line Club and the Tracer Club in Fort Worth

Tracer Club Gary Payne and the Play Mates Sept. 10, 1965

Tracer Club Fort Worth adsBo Yale, Garlin Holcomb (Garland Halcomb?) and Junior Allred ran the Party Line Club in Fort Worth, TX. The Motovators auditioned at the Party Line Club on July 1, 1965, but may not have received any bookings.

I don’t know the Party Line Club’s address, but the same owners opened another night club, the Tracer Club, located at 5123 E Lancaster Ave in Fort Worth, TX.

The Tracer Club opened on June 1, 1965, advertising “Table to table telephones • Closed Circuit TV • Carpeted walls • 4,000 square feet of luxury – Something New For Texas“. Kay Harris made her vocal debut with Jim Jones & the Chaunteys.

Gary Payne and the Play Mates appeared at the Tracer Club on September 10, 1965. This was the band Phil Reece and Jimmy Smith joined after the Motovators split up.

The Rondels appeared there in April and May, 1967.

If anyone has more info on these night spots, please contact me.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Rondels at the Tracer Club Denton Record Chronicle April 21, 1967

Holiday Skating Rink’s Holiday A-Go-Go, Haltom City, Fort Worth

Motovators at the Holiday Hop April 3, 1965
The Holiday Roller Skating Rink in 1965

The Holiday Skating Rink was located at 2920 Carson St. in Haltom City, northeast of downtown Fort Worth, and just a block away from Haltom High School (where the Jades, the Barons and the Motovators attended school). It was later known at the Holiday Skatium.

Starting in May, 1964, the Jaycees sponsored weekly teen nights at the rink called Holiday Hop or Holiday A-Go-Go, run by KFJZ DJ Mark Stevens. The Motovators played at there at least five times in 1965. Below is a partial list of Holiday A-Go-Go shows:

January 23, 1965 – “Battle-of-the-Bands” with the Motovators, the United Sounds, the Jades (2nd place), the Barons (1st place), the Coachmen and the Images.

February 13, 1965 – Valentine Dance “Holiday Hop” with the Motovators and the Images

March 6, 1965 – Motovators and the Barons

April 3, 1965 – Motovators and the Barons. Photos taken by Donnie Fisher. The Motovators are sporting their new striped coats and yellow shirts from Foreman & Clark, $13.84 each.

On April 25, 1965, the Star-Telegram ran a full-page feature on Holiday A-Go-Go, with photos of the audience and two photos of a band, likely the Creeps, who are mentioned in the article.

On May 29, 1965 – the Holiday a-Go-Go 1st Anniversary show included Larry & the Blue Notes, the Chaunteys, the Jades and the Barons, but not the Motovators.

July 10, 1965 – The Motovators and Larry and the Blue Notes. The Blue Notes ask Terry to join them for a three-day tour, but he turns it down because of two prior Motovators bookings.

September 18, 1965 – the Barons and Jack & the Rippers

December 4, 1965 – the Jades

April 2, 1966 – the Mysterians

April 8, 1966 – Battle of the bands with the Jades, the Esquires, the Mods, the Kasuals, the Nomads, the No-Names and the Cynics.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Holiday Skating Rink, not sure if this is the Motovators or another group

The Motovators at National Hall in Fort Worth

National Hall, April 2, 1965, from left: Dale Morgan, Terry Hungerford, Mike Langston, and Terry Fagan with Roger Young on drums.
The Capris at National Hall, April 2, 1965
Charlie Christy & Crystals, National Hall, April 2, 1965

The National Hall SPJST is located at 3316 Roberts Cut Off Rd, Fort Worth, Texas. It still exists.

It was a popular spot for polka and western bands, but featured a few shows of rock bands during 1965. The Motovators played three shows here. Photos were taken at the first two shows.

April 2, 1965 – Battle-of-the-Bands with the Motovators, Charlie Christy & the Crystals and two groups I am not familiar with: the Capris, the United Sounds. Emcees were Bob Allen and Bill Warren of KXOL. Lineup at this show was

June 18, 1965 – Battle-of-the-Bands. The Motovators debuted their new stage suits. The lineup at this point was Terry Lee Hungerford, Roger Young, Mike Langston, Phil Reece on guitar, and keyboardist Jimmy Smith (or possibly Jerry Smith).

June 26, 1965 – Larry and the Blue Notes

July 2, 1965 – the Motovators played for 25% of door, DJ Bill Warren hosted

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing Terry’s photos and band history.

The Motovators on stage at National Hall, probably June, 1965
Haltom High School friends at National Hall, April 2, 1965
National Hall, June 18, 1965, Roger Young (on drums), and Mike Langston with maracas
The Motovators, June 18, 1965: Phil Reece on guitar, Roger Young on drums, and keyboardist Jimmy Smith
Roger Young on drums, and keyboardist Jimmy Smith (or Jerry?)
from left: Mike Langston, Terry Hungerford, Roger Young (on drums), Phil Reece and keyboardist Jimmy