Photo card included with some copies of the Sunday Funnies 45 on Skoop. From left: John Rice, Luke Pride, Gary MacShara and Tom Sheffer.
The Sunday Funnies 45 on Skoop 1070 has two excellent original songs, “Sunny Covington Avenue” an uptempo rocker, and “It Won’t Happen to You”. The labels list Gary McShara (actually Gary MacShara) as the song writer on the labels, with publishing by Buna Music. I don’t own a copy of the 45, unfortunately.
A photo card included with some copies of the record has a photo that predates Pat Berry joining the group, and has the name of manager Wayne Watters crossed out.
Sunday Funnies profiled in the Evansville Press, March 30, 1967
I came across this profile of the group from March, 30, 1967, which would date the single to about April, 1967:
The group … has become known through various appearances at such Evansville places as the Community Center at the Coliseum and on local television.
The Messenger of Madisonville KY, Friday, Oct. 14, 1966The Sunday Funnies combo also has performed throughout the Tri-State area, but is hoping to become still better known through its recording of ” soon to be released
The group’s drummer, Gary MacShara, an 18-year-old employee of Our Lady of Mercy Hospital at Morganfield, Ky., wrote both of the tunes. The recording, which will be the Sunday Funnies’ first, is expected to be released soon on the Skoop label from the Santa Claus, Ind. studios.
Also in the combo are John Rice, 17-year-old Union County High School senior from Morganfield, on lead guitar; Luke Pride, 14-year-old Pride, Ky., resident who is a freshman at Sturgis Junior High, the organist; and Tom Shaeffler [Tom Sheffer], 16-year-old junior at St. Vincent Academy near Waverly, Ky., on bass guitar.
Newest member of the group is the singer, Pat Berry, 21, of Morganfield. Richard Young, a disc jockey for a Morganfield radio station, is the group’s business manager.
The group has been together since last September performing “mostly as a hobby and something to do,” Rice explained.
None of the group’s members are now planning to make music a career, he said.
In their appearances, the group strives for a different sound. “We don’t try to get real loud because we don’t especially care for that, but at the same time we try to move away from the old surfing sound,” Rice said.
“Our’s is a straight, no beat, but melodious sound lacking the tangy guitar sound. We’re trying to develop the Utah sound Gary played with a musical group before moving from the western state to the Tri-State,” Rice explained.
The instrumentalists each previously played with other combos, he noted.
Jeff Davis of the Nomads on stage at the Washington, Indiana YMCA
The Nomads came from Evansville, Indiana and played live throughout the southwest part of the state. Members included:
Eddie Karges – rhythm guitar, lead vocals Max Emmick – lead guitar Chuck Dowd – organ Jeff Davis – bass Gary Varden – drums
In 1965 they recorded their only single in Santa Claus, IN, released on Skoop 1065, one of the labels owned by Ray Scrivener. One side is the disaffected “Coolsville”, written by Max Emmick and Jeff Davis, with some of the classic lyrics of the era:
Walking down the street with my baby, In my baggies?? so tight, Yeah, I was whistled at, By a gang of girls.
Went to a dance that night, Danced with all my might, Walked into the gym, Boy what a crowd of hicks, Yeah they were doing the Twist, C’mon and twist, twist, twist, twist, ahhh!
Strolled up to a chick, Smiled and I said to her, Do the Twist or (?) the Charleston?
I’m a gonna leave this town, Yeah, I’m a gonna leave this town, I’m a gonna leave this town, Never to return again.
The flip is the more tender “Shy Girl”, written by Max Emmick.
Despite the Buna Music BMI publishing credit on the labels, I don’t believe these songs were registered with either the Library of Congress or BMI.
I’ve read Ed Karges and Chuck Dowd later played in another Evansville group, the Misfits, who cut “I’ll Feel Better (In the Morning)” / “Please Don’t Go Away” (both by Kneeland – DeVillez) on the Showboat label in 1967.
Jeff Davis moved to Tennessee where he formed the Amazing Rhythm Aces in the early ’70s.
Left to right: Dave Adams (16), Larry Adams (14) (brothers), Steve Ficklin (16), Ron Hale (17) and Bob Ficklin (14). Not pictured; Steve and Bob Ficklin’s younger brother, Brent (13) who joined the group shortly after.
Sanz, Inc released two 45s on the Skoop label, “My Baby’s Eyes” / “I’m Gonna Leave You” in December of 1966 and “I Just Want You” / “I’ll Never Forget” in May of 1967.
“I’m Gonna Leave You” starts with a catchy bass and drum rhythm, then the vocals and organ combine for a haunting effect. A fast organ sequence and a howling guitar riff open “I Just Want You”, which features a busy, popping rhythm. “I’ll Never Forget” is a slow ballad, very much an early ’60s doo wop vocal style.
Members were:
Steve Ficklin, vocals Bob Ficklin, keyboards Brent Ficklin, vocals Dave Adams, guitar Larry Adams, bass guitar Ron Hale, drums
Keyboard player Bob Ficklin wrote to me about the band and sent in the great photos you see here:
I was part of a band called Sanz, Inc. from Petersburg, Indiana. Sanz, Inc. was a popular group that performed in the tri-state area (IN, KY & IL).
We all attended the same high school (Petersburg High). The name Sanz was derived as a word play on the Sands Hotel in Vegas. The “Inc.” was added later.
We played many local street dances and teen centers in the area. Some other venues were a prom at the Sheraton Hotel in French Lick, IN; area county fairs; a political rally in Princeton, IN; Chieftain Restaurant, Lawrenceville, IL; several gigs at Lake Lawrence, also in Lawrenceville, IL; Teen Center in Morganfield, KY; among others. We usually played top 40 hits of the day and original material. Although there were a few other area groups, we were not acquainted with them and were never in competition.
“My Baby’s Eyes”/”I’m Gonna Leave You” was recorded in Santa Claus, IN, home of the first theme park in the U.S. (Santa Claus Land, now known as “Holiday World”) in 1966. Santa Claus, being about one hour away was the best opportunity for recording. “I Just Want You”/”I’ll Never Forget” was recorded on the same label in 1967.
On the way to record “I Just Want You”, we didn’t have “I’ll Never Forget” completed. So, we finished it in the car and recorded it on the flip side. All four songs were written by Bob and Steve Ficklin.
When recording “I Just Want You” and “I’ll Never Forget”, after the music and vocals (Bob and Steve Ficklin) were completed on the first track, Bob and Steve also added background vocal parts. We paid for the session times and the records that were pressed. Both projects were completed in a very short period of time (a matter of a few hours).
The records were played on several area stations in surrounding counties. “My Baby’s Eyes” received air play on WLS/Chicago. We did sell records at performances, at school and at a local retailer.
As older members of the band graduated the band dissolved. Larry Adams played bass with another area group for a time. Steve Ficklin sang with various gospel groups through the years and continues today. While in the Air Force, I sang with a couple of bands. In recent years I have sung with a local group and continue singing with a duet partner. Thanks for keeping the memories alive; it was a great era.
Bob Ficklin
Thank you to Bob Ficklin for sharing his photos and history of Sanz, Inc.
Dave Adams (left, playing guitar), brother Larry Adams (center, playing bass guitar), Ron Hale on drumsLeft-right: Steve Ficklin and Bob FicklinLeft-right: Dave Adams, Larry Adams, Ron HaleRon Hale (drummer in background), Brent Ficklin singing, Bob Ficklin playing keyboardLeft-right: Dave Adams and Larry AdamsSteve Ficklin
Formed in ’64, the Jaguars were from Michigan (perhaps the small town of Bloomingdale in the southwest corner of the state) but traveled all the way down to the tiny resort town of Santa Claus, Indiana to record their one 45.
Otherwise I don’t know anything about the group, or who was in it.
The band pounds away on “It’s Gonna Be Alright”, written by Hosner and Leathers. The flip, “I Never Dream of You”, shows none of the same energy.
The Skoop label had several good garage bands on it, including the Nomads’ “Coolsville” (Skoop 1065) and the Weejuns’ “Way Down” (Skoop 1068). The related Showboat label also promoted garage records like the Wild Ones’ “I’m Not For You” and the Misfits’ “I’ll Feel Better”.
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
“I’m Gonna Leave You” starts with a catchy bass and drum rhythm, then the vocals and organ combine for a haunting effect. A fast organ sequence and a howling guitar riff open “I Just Want You”, which features a busy, popping rhythm. “I’ll Never Forget” is a slow ballad, very much an early ’60s doo wop vocal style.
On the way to record “I Just Want You”, we didn’t have “I’ll Never Forget” completed. So, we finished it in the car and recorded it on the flip side. All four songs were written by Bob and Steve Ficklin.
