Category Archives: US

Categories: Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Rio Grande Valley, Texas

The Haustofs

March 24, 2016 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

Gary Thorson sent in the news clippings and wrote to me about the Haustofs:

I grew up in Pharr, TX during the 60s and was a member of a garage band there known as “The Haustofs” (supposedly named after a German beer known for its strength). We never cut a record, but played all the popular venues (the Valley Bowl was one of our favorites), sock-hops and private parties. We even shared the stage with some of them, like the Headstones and the Playboys of Edinburg. The Souls‘ David Lott and I were good friends.
Our band was primarily know as being from Mission, TX because that’s where our lead singer Pat Buckley (of the former Arturo and Pat hit record), our drummer, Doug Gahan, and our keyboard player, Bob Doty were from. Stephen Roelofs our bass player, Delon Wright our manager, and myself were all from Pharr, TX and Randy Clark our lead player was from Edinburg, TX.

Pat Buckley has released a single with another Mission student, Arturo Longoria as Arturo & Pat with the Invaders on the Pharaoh label, “Oh Yes Tonight” / “So Tenderly & Faithfully”.

The Bobcat News profiled the band on November 23, 1966, saying the band “was assembled by Doug Gahan, a senior at Mission High.”

An article in the Mission Eagle has many interesting quotes, such as Dough Gahan saying he was “‘an ardent admirer of Bill Reed,’ who plays drums in the Kavaliers.” Another is “As far as the other groups that the Haustofs admire are concerned, the Headstones are their favorite Valley group. They like the Kinks best of world-famous groups, although they also like the Beau Brummels and the Yardbirds.” It also mentions that Randy Clark of Edinburg High School had played rhythm guitar in the Tempests.

Gary Thorson adds the status of the individual band members as of today is:

Pat Buckley – Retired and living in southern Colorado
Stephen Roelofs- School teacher living in the Dallas, TX area
Bob Doty – Works for a large tool company living in Arkansas
Gary Thorson – President of a computer consulting firm living in Fairhope, Al.
Randy Clark – still pursuing his musical career in San Antonio, TX
Doug Gahan – unknown

Categories: Eastchester, New Rochelle, New York, Scarsdale, Senate, Tuckahoe, Westchester

The Savage Generation

March 21, 2016 Chris Bishop 29 Comments

The Savage Generation came from Westchester, NY. Members were Roger Alther of Tuckahoe, Ronnie Fruscianti of New Rochelle, Tom Scarcello and Ray De Angelis of Scarsdale, and Paul Montclare of Eastchester.

They had one single on Senate Record Corp 2113 from October 1968, both sides original songs by band members. Ray De Angelis wrote the A-side, “You’re Not Going to Change My World”, which is heavy on the phasing and has great rhythm section. I haven’t heard the flip, “Mr. Sun”, written by Tom Scarcello and Ron Frusciante.

Both songs published by Pocket Full of Tunes, Inc / Egavas Music BMI, produced by Wes Farrell, and distributed by ABC Records, NY.

The Herald Statesman profiled the Savage Generation on March 23, 1968 for a gig the following Saturday at Westchester County Center. Besides giving the names of the group, it mentions their manager, Frank Garofaola of New Rochelle, and Brother Darby Ruane of Iona College who help the band get high profile live shows. It also says the group evolved out of a duo, The Hangmen, and a trio, The Savages.

The article has many interesting quotes from the band’s members, and also lists two songs that weren’t released, “A Dream Walks Amongst Us” written by Paul Montclare, and “Birth of a Savage”.

Savage Generation Photo Bermuda — “Taken in Bermuda on Spring Break we played the Buccaneer Club” – Tommy

Tommy Scarcello wrote a personal history of his time in the ’60s for the Tony Alamo ministry. He describes performing with the Savage Generation:

We wrote a song called “Birth of a Savage.” I would come on stage wearing a priest’s white robe with a long afro and beard and would light myself on fire with lighter fluid and the stage as well. We would sing our song, and then as things were burning, I would pick up a large empty shell that looked like a mini bomb, and I would scream, “Peace, peace, or destruction!” and then fling it out into the audience … We went on and recorded an album at the first 24-track studio owned by Jimmy [sic] Hendrix in New York City.

I think it’s likely the group did record more than just the single, but nothing else has been released to my knowledge. After writing this article, Tommy contacted me and sent the photos seen here.

A belated thank you to transoniq for finding this article, and special thanks to Tommy Scarcello for the photos of the group and fan club card.

The Savage Generation, profiled in the Herald Statesman, March 23, 1968

Categories: Bay City, Deltron, Michigan, Sebewaing

The Deltrons

March 18, 2016 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Deltrons recorded in Sebewaing, Michigan a town about halfway between Bad Axe, the town of the A-side title, and Bay City, the location of the Deltron label and Delta Promotions.

Members were:

Dan Richards – vocals and lead guitar
Bob Power – guitar
Craig Young – bass
Greg Young – drums

When I covered the Jayhawkers and Deltron Records, I didn’t believe this single was related to the Bay City Deltron label. The label design is different, and this one is a Chicago pressing by Stereo Sound from April of 1966. But Max Waller found this comment that Daniel Richards wrote on youtube:

It was Craig Young (bass), Bob Power (guitar), Dan Richards, and Greg Young (drums) recorded in Sebewaing, MI in January of 1966 at a cold warehouse. Dan (me) did the singing and lead guitar. Chet Hey wanted it recorded again after Arthur Godfrey sang it on his TV show in the 50s. He wanted a more modern version and we were just 16 to 18 years old at the time and still in high school.

Chet Hay and Ted Shunk wrote “I Found My Baby in Bad Axe” in 1949. “Bad Axe sounds like a funny name, it’s a durn good city just the same” go the lyrics. I wonder what he thought of the Deltrons version of his song!

The B-side “Tonya”, written by Dan Richards and Greg Young is wild, and has this for a chorus: “her name is Tonya, she’s really cool / the day I win her, I’ll blow up the school”!

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Categories: Covington, Kentucky

The De Blus

March 18, 2016 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Cincinnati Enquirer profiled many local bands, including The De’ Blu or De Blus, as they appeared in ads for the Mod Room at the Cabana restaurant in Erlanger, Kentucky.

De’ Blu was comprised of three students of Covington Catholic High in Park Hills, plus one member each from St. Xavier and the University of Kentucky.

Members were:
Mike White – organ
Greg Barker – lead guitar
Tom Bertke – rhythm guitar
Jim Nordmeyer – harmonica
Mark Gehring – drums.

“One of the most popular local bands appearing regularly at “Granny’s” these days is “The De’ Blu.” All of the boys live in Northern Kentucky and just recently they were offered a recording contract with Capitol Records.”

I have to wonder if anything ever became of the recording contract.

Categories: Fort Thomas, Kentucky

The Marc IV from Fort Thomas, Kentucky

March 18, 2016 Chris Bishop 7 Comments

The Marc IV of Fort Thomas, Kentucky got a profile in the Enquirer on January 28, 1967. Members were:

Mike Reilly – lead singer and bass
Rick Schmidt – organ
Ken Steggeman – drums
Steve Schiller – lead guitar

The news clipping says the group “banded together six months ago … have appeared at Granny’s, WSAI hops, school dances and every Sunday afternoon at the Avenue Club in Bellevue, Kentucky.”

I’ve also found an ad for the group from June of ’67 for an appearance at Capt. Al’s Ballroom in the Trolley Tavern at Anderson Fery Road with the Rambunctions.

Although the article continues “the boys have copyrighted several songs and plan to record them this spring in Lexington”, so far I haven’t found any record or copyrights by the group.

Categories: Bay City, Deltron, Grand Rapids, Lucky 11, Michigan

The Jayhawkers and the Deltron label of Bay City

March 16, 2016 Chris Bishop 6 Comments

The Jay Hawkers came out of Bay City, Michigan and were led by Jay Walker, who was later a DJ on WKNX (1210 AM) in Saginaw, Michigan and WGRD, eventually changing his name as Sonny Fox.

Discographies tend to list the Jayhawkers as the backing band for a single by Dwight Douglas and the Jayhawkers on Astra 3008 – “Interstate ’45′” (L. Drake, J. Stokes) / “Mr. Big” (Lenny Drake). This is a pseudonym for Lenny & the Thundertones, who were based out of Detroit. Certainly the songs were cut several years prior to the Deltron records, so I have to believe this is a different band.

I’ve sometimes seen them listed as a Grand Rapids band, but the promo photo above comes from Delta Promotions in Bay City, which also (I believe) ran Deltron records label. Bill Kehoe and Jim Atherton owned Delta Promotions, which managed Question Mark and the Mysterians, and was the company that created several fraudulent bands to tour the US, including a bogus Zombies featuring two future members of ZZ Top and a made-up Archies group that led to a devastating lawsuit from Don Kirshner.

Deltron 21 (1227) – The Jayhawkers – “Dawn Of Instruction” (Trusdale Music, BMI) / “Searchin'”

As I wrote in an article about certain topical songs of the mid-60s, the Jayhawkers’ “Dawn of Instruction” is a straightforward inversion of P.F. Sloan’s “Eve of Destruction”. With over-the-top lyrics like “even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’ … my blood’s so mad feels like coagulatin”, “Eve of Destruction” was an easy target. The Jayhawkers made the most of the hyperbole in their answer song, singing lines like “step aside, Mister Doom Peddler” and “[we’re] not old enough to vote, but ain’t young enough for runnin”.

The Jayhawkers version came out in October 1965, just a month after Barry McGuire’s recording hit #1 in Billboard. Interestingly there’s no song writing credit for this side, only Trusdale Music publishing, which, as Max Waller pointed out, is probably a dig at “Eve of Destruction” publisher Trousdale.

The Jayhawkers opened for Simon and Garfunkel on Wednesday, December 29, 1965 at the Saginaw YMCA.

Deltron 1228 – The Jay Hawkers – “To Have A Love (As Sweet As You)” (T. Saputo, B. Kirener) / “Send Her Back” (Walker, Huntleigh)

Their second single came out in April, 1966, this time Jay Hawkers listed as two separate words. Both sides show a very different side to the band, and for me this is the best of their singles. “To Have A Love (As Sweet As You)” is catchy and very commercial. The song seems to be original to the band, though I don’t think the writers were members of the group.

“Send Her Back” is a slow and very affecting ballad. It may be the only song they recorded that was written by people in the band, namely Walker and Huntleigh.

The Jay Hawkers continued with two more singles, all cover songs in different styles:

Lucky Eleven 232 – “Come On (Children)” / “A Certain Girl” (produced by “Terry Nnight” aka Terry Knight, October 1966)

Lyke Til 4147 – “Love Have Mercy” / “Baby Blue” (Produced by Jay Walker, June, 1967)

The Deltron label

I can find three, maybe four, additional releases on this Deltron label out of Bay City:

Deltron 812 – The One Way Pedestrians – “I’d Like to Say (I Love You)” (Rod Clowthier) / “Hey Miss Sally” (I haven’t heard either side yet)
Deltron 813 – The Bed of Roses – “Hate” / “I Don’t Believe You” (August 1967)

Deltron AR895 – Dick Rabbit “Take Me to L.A.” / “You Come on Like a Train” (both by The Thayber Brothers, produced by James Atherton, Package Music BMI)

Dick Rabbit also had “Love” (Phil Gordon, Rich Thayer) / “Trip” (Donavan) on Great Lakes GL-103, both published by Rabbit Music Co.

See my follow-up post for more detail on the Bed of Roses.

Deltron SS-6518 – The Deltrons (Craig, Bob, Dan, Greg) – “I Found My Baby in Bad Axe” / “Tonya” (Dan Richards, Greg Young) from April 1966

The Deltrons single is crude and great garage single on “Tonya”. I doubted it was related to the Deltron label from Bay City but the group recorded in nearby Sebewaing, so it likely is. I cover the Deltrons in more depth here.

Photo at top from the West Michigan Music Hysterical Society.

Thank you to Gary Rappaport for providing detailed background on the Simon and Garfunkel appearance with the Jayhawkers.

Categories: Middletown, Ohio, Style

The Cavaliers of Middletown

March 16, 2016 Chris Bishop 5 Comments

The Cavaliers, in front: Ted Lovelace (with drumsticks) and Jim Brandon; in back from left: Jim Wenzel, Roger McIntosh and Walter Johnson

The Cavaliers, often listed as from Tennessee, were actually from Middletown, Ohio, a town roughly halfway between Dayton and Cincinnati.

Members were:

Roger McIntosh – lead guitar
Jim Wenzel – rhythm guitar
Jim Brandon – organ
Walter Johnson – bass
Ted Lovelace – drums

Two of the band were students at Middletown High, one was a freshman at Miami University, while the Cavaliers’ drummer and rhythm guitarist were in Junior High!

The group won a battle of the bands at Fantasy Farm, a kids amusement park next to the larger Americana Amusement Park in Middletown, that led to their recording their single on Style.

The Cincinnati Enquirer profiled the band on the same day they were in a Memphis studio, Saturday, September 16, 1967:

“The boys are in Memphis, Tenn. today to cut their first record for Style Productions.”

“Turn Your Leaf” is excellent pop, I’ve only heard it on a youtube video which has since been taken down. If anyone has a good quality recording, please contact me.

I haven’t heard the flip, “W.F. 67” described by Teenbeat Mayhem as a “military tempo instro”. Roger McIntosh wrote both songs.

Style Record Productions was one of Style Wooten’s many labels, and Pretty Girl Music BMI was one of his publishing companies. Mellow’s Log Cabin has an interesting biography of Style Wooten, along with extensive discographies for his record labels.

The Cavaliers from Middletown do not sound quite like the group of that name from Washington Court House, Ohio, who cut “You Are My Sunshine” b/w “Unchained Melody” for the Sound label.

The Enquirer article mentioned a few groups also competing at Fantasy Farm:

“Other bands reaching the finals of the contest were The Endeavors of Forest Park, The Crickets from Hamilton, The Guardian Angels of Urbana, The Mice and the English Gentlemen, both from Dayton.”

I’m not aware of any recordings by those groups, though given the Memphis connection, it’s possible the Mice are the same group that recorded “Think It Over” / “Norweigan Wood” for Bootheel Records, part of Fernwood.

Categories: Dearborn, Dearborn, Detroit, Michigan, Unknown

The Jammers

March 14, 2016 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Like other groups on Dearborn Records or with Chetkay Music publishing, I can’t find much info on the Jammers. Jack Groendal and Gerry Snyder wrote both sides and were likely members of the group.

The keyboard and lead guitar blend to make a good hook for the peppy “You’re Gonna Love Me Too”. “I Didn’t Mean To Make You Cry” works well as a ballad.

The songs were released on Dearborn D-519, published by Chetkay Music BMI in July, 1965.

I wonder if Jack Groendal is any relation to Zocko Groendal who played with the Lansing, MI band the Woolies, famous for their version of “Who Do You Love” on Dunhill.

Categories: California, Longview, Los Angeles, Modern, Oregon, Portland, Star-Bright, Washington

Star-Bright Records discography

March 12, 2016 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

I’d appreciate any help with this discography.

Star-Bright 3051 – The Wilde Knights – “Beaver Patrol” (Dey – Brown) / “Tossin’ and Turnin'”
Rich Brown, vocal on both songs. S-1-866/7

Star-Bright 3052 – The Wilde Knights – “Just Like Me” (Dey for Tinadele Pub. Co. BMI) / “I Don’t Care” (Dey-Brown) Rick Dey vocals on both songs, S-1-864/5

Star-Bright 3053 – Bruce (pseudonym for The Niteriders) – “I Got My Mojo Workin'” / “La-La-La”

Star-Bright 3054 – The Niteriders – “Satisfaction Guaranteed” (Doak) S-1-868 / “Whatever’s Right” (Johnson, Doak, Sells)

Star-Bright 3055 – The Niteriders – “With Friends Like You Who Needs Friends” (Doak) S-1-871 / “Just Call on Me”

Star-Bright 3056 – ??

Star-Bright 3057- Thornbush Ripple IV – “Room With a Crew” Part I / “Room With a Crew” Part II (Anonymous – McCoy for Tinadele Pub) S-1-874/5

Paul Johnson produced all the Star-Bright singles.

The Wilde Knights formed when the draft took Ray Kennedy, lead singer of the Furys, who had two fine r&b records on the Lavender label. Furys member Rich Brown ( lead vocals, guitar) and Roger Huycke (drums) added Rich Dey from the Vejtables as a second lead vocalist and Dean Adair and changed the band’s name to the Wilde Knights.

The Furys had originally been based out of Longview, Washington, but the band’s live circuit brought them up and down the west coast, so perhaps it’s not surprising the Wilde Knights cut their two singles in a studio in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles for release by a brand-new label based in a small coastal town in southern Oregon.

“Beaver Patrol” is an instant classic, featuring lead vocals by Rich Brown. Their second single on Star-Bright, also from 1965, features the original version of “Just Like Me” written and sung by Rich Dey. The story goes that Paul Revere heard the song and bought it from Dey for maybe $5,000. It became a monster hit for the Raiders in December 1965, while Dey seems to have died young, circa 1970. The full story of the Furys/Wilde Knights and their later incarnations is best told in Greg Shaw’s liner notes to the 1984 Voxx LP compiling their recordings.

The third release on Star-Bright is one I haven’t heard, an artist called Bruce doing “I Got My Mojo Workin'” / “La-La-La”. Bruce is supposed to be a pseudonym for members of the Niteriders, who would have the next two singles on Star-Bright in 1966. I know very little about the Niteriders but their two singles are fantastic. The group may have come from Portland, Oregon. “Satisfaction Guaranteed” b/w “Whatever’s Right” came out in early 1966 followed quickly by their second release “With Friends Like You Who Needs Friends” b/w “Just Call on Me”.

I can’t find any copyright registrations to Niteriders member Doak, whose name appears on the Niteriders song writing credits, but I have found a copyright registration from June of ’66 for “Satisfaction Guaranteed” by Donald Richard Keefer. Rick Keefer would produce singles by Genesis, the King Biscuit Entertainers, and American Cheese, all bands with roots in the Furys or Wilde Knights. He had a few early copyrights in 1965: ‘Hurt So Good”, “I Saw Sloopy” and “Soul Searchin'”. It’s conceivable he was a part of the Niteriders.

The Los Angeles label Modern Records released “With Friends Like You Who Needs Friends” under a pseudonym, the Composers, and also put out the Wilde Knights “Beaver Patrol”, supposedly without the band’s knowledge. The Modern releases, along with publishing by Tinadele Pub. BMI suggest a strong Los Angeles connecton for Star-Bright Records.

I haven’t found out what Star-Bright 3056 is, but Star-Bright 3057 (on a purple label) is the Thornbush Ripple IV “Room With a Crew” Part I / “Room With a Crew” Part II, a novelty release featuring a not very funny recitation of what’s supposed to be an asylum inmate, spoken over a bluesy guitar, piano and drums backing.

Star-Bright Records: six or seven releases, four of which are essential garage. Not a bad average!

Categories: California, Oakland

The Outrage “Show Me” / “Light My Fire” on Soul City

March 10, 2016 Chris Bishop 4 Comments

My friend Derek Taylor sent in this cool promotional photo of a group called Outrage, with a logo that could come from some ’80s hardcore poster.

The group had one single as Allen Fierro and the Outrage: “Show Me” b/w “Light My Fire” on Music City 45-870. The label misspells Allen’s name, it should have been Alan Fierro. Pamela Fierro wrote to me that the group was known as simply The Outrage, but for some reason the single added Alan’s name in front of the group’s.

Alan and Pamela Fierro were from Oakland; two other members came from Fremont.

Joey D wrote me that “the logo was drawn by Don Ryder who did a lot of flyers/posters for Bill Quarry’s Teen ‘n Twenties.” These shows took place in Hayward and San Leandro at the Rollarena and other venues. More info on Bill Quarry’s promotions and many examples of Don Ryder’s poster art can be seen at Bill Quarry’s Teens N’ Twenties site.

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