The Gatesville Messenger and Star Forum ran this profile of four groups who competed at a battle of the bands at the Gatesville National Guard armory on January, 26,1968.
The Slow Motions won the event. Members were Ronnie Bond, Marshall Brown, Johnny Moore, Larry Bruton and Larry Hughes.
Marshall Brown, who played drums with the Slow Motions wrote to me with the photo below and the better-quality news clipping at top:
The Slow Motions played in about a 60-80 mile radius of Gatesville in 1967-1968. Usually on Friday or Saturday night we would be playing in Copperas Cove, Belton, McGregor, Hico, Hamilton, Waco, Gatesville or other surrounding small towns.
The Slow Motions played in about a 60-80 mile radius of Gatesville in 1967-1968. Usually on Friday or Saturday night we would be playing in Copperas Cove, Belton, McGregor, Hico, Hamilton, Waco, Gatesville or other surrounding small towns.
Ronnie Bond – Singer
Larry Bruton – Rhythm/Lead Guitar
Penny Spencer Massingill – Organ
Marshall Brown – Drums
Larry Humes – Lead Guitar
Johnny Moore – Bass GuitarMost of us moved on after graduating from Gatesville High School. I went onto college and played the drums.
Johnny Moore played around in some C&W bands. Larry Humes went into the Army. He was a great guitarist back in the day. He lives in the greater LA area now.
The Rebellions won second place, they were Bob West, Tom Easley, Ernest Ochoa and Bobby Thrasher.
The Wanderers won third, members included Glen Henderson, Richard Schcrimsure (Richard Schrimsher ?), Bruce Arnold and Paul Street.
This was the same Wanderers who recorded “Higher Education” / “I Feel So Blue” on T.R.C. Texas Record Company 2067 in 1966. The record added Ronnie Cole as vocalist and song writer. The Wanderers came from Waco, 35 miles east of Gatesville.
Fourth place went to the Creatives: Jerry Ochoa, Monte Bush, Abel Ochoa, Randal Haferkamp and Nicky Ochoa.
An article announcing the event doesn’t mention the Wanderers, but lists another group, the Relations (Ernest Ochoa, Nicky Ochoa and Jerry Ochoa – no wonder the band name), and notes that the groups are all local.
I don’t believe any of the Creatives, the Rebellions or the Slow Motions recorded.
If anyone has more photos or info on any of these groups, please contact me.
