Ronnie and the Crowns formed as early as 1962 at Westdale Junior High in Baton Rouge. Members on the single may include:
Ronnie Sherlock – vocals Jimmy Rogers – lead guitar Cal Arnold – bass A.J. Miceli – drums
Although not audible on the single, the band also included a full horn section at some point:
Charlie Spinoza – trumpet Ivan Bergeron – trumpet Tommy Berthelo – tenor saxophone Richard Sherlock – baritone saxophone
In 1966 they recorded their one excellent single on Stephanie Records of Baton Rouge #MX-957. One side is “Love You So” written by James M. Rogers, lead guitarist in the group and featuring his super-trebley and reverbed guitar. The flip is a cover of Lenny Capello’s New Orleans classic “Cotton Candy” (“I know my Candy is always handy”).
Ronnie Sherlock produced the Ronnie & the Crowns single. My copy is pretty rough, but it’s inscribed “from Richard & Ronnie” on the “Cotton Candy” label.
I don’t know much about Stephanie Records, other than seeing a list of 10 or so singles released on the label. Sam Montel (S.J. Montalbano) must have owned the label as two early releases have his name as producer. Also, the MX- prefix is present on all releases on the label, and shows up on many releases on the Montel and Michelle labels, as does the Red Stick Music publishing, used for “Love You So”.
The Runaways came from Baytown, across the San Jacinto River and about 25 miles east of Houston. The band formed in June of ’65; most of them were students at Ross Sterling High School. They cut one fine 45, notable for the rockin’ harmony cut “Love”, released in May, 1966.
Robert Campbell – lead vocals and guitar John Govro – lead and rhythm guitar, vocals Ray Hayden – lead guitar Eddie Norris – bass Glenn Dew – drums
An article in the Baytown Sun from August 14, 1966 mentions their 45 on Hitt, stating that “What’s Happening Baby” (good vocal harmony pop, written by Robert Campbell) reached #21 on KEYS in Corpus Christi and #29 on KOLE in Port Arthur, and “Love” (written by John Govro) made #24 on KLVI in Beaumont.
Jack Sims managed the group and produced the single. Bobby Bon was equipment manager with Jack Conway and Steve Shrier.
There was another Texas group called the Runaways, from San Antonio, with the legendary single on Alamo Audio, “18th Floor Girl” / “Your Foolish Ways”.
The Impacs, March, 1966 The Impacs came from Highlands, about 15 miles east of Houston, across the San Jacinto River and just north of Baytown. The Baytown Sun featured this sharp photo of the group in March 1966.
Band members were Audie Morgan, guitar; Tim Franks, drums; Garry Wicker lead guitar; and Gary Norris, bass.
I like this photo of the Invertebrates (or Inverebrates, but I think the Baytown Sun spelled the name wrong) in their early psychedelic shirts. This article ran in April, 1967.
Members were Colby Tipton, lead guitar; Rickey Glover, drums; and Bill Badeaux on bass, students at Cedar Bayou Junior School in Baytown, Texas, and managed by Larry Snderli.
The Downbeats came from Sweeny and West Columbia, two small towns just inland of Brazosport. The Brazosport Facts paper ran this photo of the group in March, 1965, and had another short article on the group in July.
Members were Cleston King, vocals; Bobby Maxey, guitar; Randy Tolbirt guitar; Mickey Duke, drums; David Smith, trumpet; and Jackie Benet, trumpet.
The G’s of Denton, December, 1964The G’ s Young Generations 45 There’s A Time
The G’s have a great 45 on Young Generations Records featuring two originals, “There’s a Time” / “Cause She’s My Girl”. I haven’t been able to find a copy unfortunately, but I did find this poor reproduction of a photo of the band posting with Santa Claus, and an additional article on the group. It’s quaint how Texas newspapers often list the names of the parents of the teen combos they cover.
The band came from Denton, Texas, about 40 miles northwest of Dallas, the same town where the Chessmen and the Briks had their start. In a December, 1964 news clip they’re called the 4G’s.
Members were:
Randy Ford, lead guitar Bobby Keith Jr., guitar and vocals Mike Green, drums Don Hansel, bass guitar.
The band made their first appearance in July of ’64 at the Sanger Hootenanny. They were 14 and 15 years old.
The G’s open “The Place”, January 1966.
An article in the Denton January 2, 1966 features a photo of Don Hansel and Bobby Keith. Bobby Keith’s father R.V Keith acted as their manager and even opened a teen club called “The Place” on Fort Worth Highway in Denton so the G’s could have a place to play every Saturday.
By this time, Mike Smith had replaced Randy Ford.
The G’ s at the North Texas State Fair, Sept. 16, 1966
In September, 1966 they released their only single, and on September 16, 1966 they played at the North Texas State Fair. Smith and Bobby Keith would write both sides of their 45. The article calls them “the G’s Combo”. It also states that they have made 22 recordings, and that their single would be out that week. I would like to hear the other 20 songs!
Talk about your all ages shows. Here’s another Texas group that didn’t record to my knowledge.
The Mysterians came from Grand Prairie, just west of Dallas, east of Arlington. Members were Kenneth Rachels on drums, Johnny Atchley lead guitar, Terry Potter rhythm guitar and Richard Presley.
There’s a Mysterions who had a record on Jox in 1965, but they were from San Antonio, 4 hours drive away.
Again, sorry for the lousy photo quality (due to the microfilm transfer). Sometimes members of unknown bands like this made demo recordings or joined other groups that did record, or can shed light on other groups from the period.
Originaires of Irving, TX, Friday Jan. 20, 1967The Originaires of Irving, Texas, just west of Dallas. Members were Steve Tidwell, Larry Trujillo, Larry Hickman and Jim Nuckolls on drums. Sorry for the terrible photo, but at least the members names are there.
The Avantes of San Antonio formed in November 1964 at Robert G. Cole High School. Members were Chuck Klein (guitar), R.V. Brinkerhoff (lead guitar), Woody Brinkerhoff (drums, violin) and Randy Wilson (guitar and trumpet). All but Chuck Klein were sons of army officers at Ft. Sam Houston.
I don’t believe they recorded, at least under this name. For every combo that recorded a single or demo, there must have been 50 that did not.
I came across the photo by accident when looking for info on another group. There’s a half-page write-up of the band in the society pages that accompanies this photo.
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!
Just VI with the Harbinger Complex and Peter Wheat & the Breadmen opening for the Yardbirds at the Carousel Ballroom and the RollarenaOver the next few years the band recorded additional songs that were not released at the time, including auditions for Capitol and Columbia. 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.
Poster for Whyte Haven Pillow formerly Just VI with the Little Princess light show at Moreau High School in Hayward, Oct 18, 1968. Courtesy of Jeff Hawley.
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”.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
Ronnie and the Crowns formed as early as 1962 at Westdale Junior High in Baton Rouge. Members on the single may include:
In 1966 they recorded their one excellent single on Stephanie Records of Baton Rouge #MX-957. One side is “Love You So” written by James M. Rogers, lead guitarist in the group and featuring his super-trebley and reverbed guitar. The flip is a cover of Lenny Capello’s New Orleans classic “Cotton Candy” (“I know my Candy is always handy”).
