The Ninth Street Bridge released one 45 on Cecile in August, 1968, featuring two originals by Tommy Bourque (misspelled on the label as Tommy Bourgue). “Wild Illusions” has a simple riff and beat with overdriven lead guitar and a vocal delivery very much in a Texas garage style. “Hey Boy” is as good as the flip, with the same saturated guitar sound and heavy drumming.
I don’t know anything about the band other than a Houston location and that Sonny Richards produced the single. I did find an ad for the 9th Street Bridge and the Moving Sidewalks for a show on March 15, 1969 at the Safari in Baytown.
I’m not aware of any other 45s on Cecile.
The 9th Street Bridge and the Moving Sidewalks at the Safari in Baytown, March 15, 1969
Mike Kelly of the Renegades, David Hayes of the Pawns, Rod Crosby of the Intruders and Anita Moskal for the Chapparals receiving trophies for the Bassett Center 2nd Annual Battle of the Bands, August 1964
The Pawns had two releases on Bobby Fuller’s Exeter label. First was Exeter 125, featurin, two good surf type instrumentals, “South Bay” / “The Pawn”, released about August, 1964.
Just a month later they released their next 45 on Exeter 127. The top side has David Hayes, the leader and vocalist with the Pawns, listed as the artist, with his original “Meet Me Here (In New Orleans)”. The Pawns are listed on the flip for the sleepy instrumental “Lonely”.
Interestingly, both sides were re-released as the first record on the Coronado label, but given the same release number, 127, as the Exeter 45. Credits are the same, including “A Fuller Production”, Todd Music BMI, and the RCA custom master code RK4M-3630/1. Since 127 was the last of seven 45 releases on Exeter, I assume Fuller gave up the label when he moved to California and let the Pawns take record and/or contract to Coronado.
David Hayes and the Pawns were one of only three 45 rpm artists on Exeter, the others being Bill Taylor & the Sherwoods and Bobby Fuller himself. Exeter also had an LP by Los Paisanos.
original release on Exeterre-release on Coronado
original release on Exeterre-release on Coronado
Their last 45 came out as David Hayes and the Pawns and featured two vocals, a cover of Charlie Rich’s “Lonely Weekends” backed with a strange original by Hayes, “What Do the Voices Say”. Produced by Calvin Bowls, it saw release sometime in 1965 on Coronado 132.
I know David Hayes was in the group, but the other members are unclear. Songwriting credits on “The Pawn” and “South Bay” are Doize’, Paz and Hayes. Since these are instrumentals and Hayes was definitely part of the group, I assume Doize’ and Paz were the other two members of the group.
However a post by Patrick Lundborg from 2012 on the Acid Archives Updates states “Jack Duncan (bass) and Gary Davis (drums) [I think this should be Barry Davis] learned their chops … in surf-band the Pawns. The leader of this group was one David Hayes, who presumably took on vocal duties on the later 45s, at least he receives separate billing. The two would-be Dragonflies Duncan and Davis did not contribute any songwriting from what I can tell, but were definitely present for the Pawns’ 1964 debut 45 … Duncan and Davis left the Pawns to join a more experienced musician friend in a band called Lords Of London, based in Durango, Colorado. After some time they recruited their old El Paso friend Randy Russ who left the Infants Of Soul to join them, and the band also changed its name to Legend around this time (1967).” Legend had three 45s and two LPs on the Megaphone label, the second and better of the two as Dragonfly.
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.
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The Ninth Street Bridge released one 45 on Cecile in August, 1968, featuring two originals by Tommy Bourque (misspelled on the label as Tommy Bourgue). “Wild Illusions” has a simple riff and beat with overdriven lead guitar and a vocal delivery very much in a Texas garage style. “Hey Boy” is as good as the flip, with the same saturated guitar sound and heavy drumming.
