The Light Brigade were the three Cole brothers and their friends from Little Rock, Arkansas. They released their first 45 on the My label in 1967, which included James Williams on lead guitar.
“Baby You Don’t Care” rides a great fuzz tone while “Won’t You Tell Me” is much gentler. Both these songs were written by Dean Cole and bassist Lonnie Cole. Ray Cole was the other brother in the group.
“Lonnie’s Song” is from 1969, released on the E&M label.
The Light Brigade stopped playing touring around 1971 but continued to play locally.
Thank you to Angela for correcting the name of her father – James Williams, not Williamson as I had read from a comment.
Anyone have photos of the group, especially from the early years?
Later members include John Redam. More info on the band and names of other musicians who played with the Light Brigade would be appreciated.
I’d really dig pix of The Light Brigade in 1967 and 1971 especially if it’s the same boss lineup.
I joined and toured with The Light Brigade as guitarist/vocalist immediately after graduating from Jacksonville High School in June of 1971. I played with Lonnie, Ray, and Dean Cole for about a year, left and went to my own concert band, Joppa Street Band, then returned to The Light Brigade for a short while in late ’72 to early ’73 when I left again and then joined the concert band “Happy Jack”.
The Light Brigade was together for many years, I believe beginning in around 1966 and finally disbanded around 1973. I first saw and heard them at the LRAFB Youth Center in 1968. Fun times, many road gigs, and three brothers who were as different as night is from day.
Who where the other members of the band (Light Brigade)? Was one a Charles Miller? Thank you.
I had the good fortune of meeting Lonnie Cole in the summer of 1994. My friend and I were on a road trip by car in quest of records in the southern US, and I had contacted Lonnie to arrange an in-person meeting. We followed Lonnie to the outskirts of Little Rock, to his home, where something like sixty people were waiting to meet this guy (me) from the East Coast who knew all about the Light Brigade 45s! The entire Cole clan – relatives, friends, you name it were all gathered ’round for a big feast! to date, the best homemade burgers I’ve ever had! And afterward, the three Cole brothers played a few tunes in the living room for us.
As for the original members, their school pal, James Williamson, played lead guitar – he’s on the mid ’67 My label 45. I can’t remember if James played on the E&M 45 in ’69.
Checked with James Williamson (from Iggy & The Stooges) who has no knowledge of this band or 45. There’s obviously more than one James Wiliiamson out there, but on this record it’s not THE James Williamson.
It’s obviously not the same James Williamson – this band is from Arkansas, not Michigan. But the guitar in this song is nothing to shrug at:
His name is actually James WILLIAMS not Williamson. (I’m one of the daughters of Dean Cole.)
I never implied that the James Williamson mentioned as a member of the Light Brigade had anything to do with the Stooges guitarist. People (especially younger folks) get all hung up in idol worship – which brings me to my second point: Why should he (Stooges guitarist) be referred to as Thee James Williamson? He is no better /more important than any other person sharing the same name. Only in someone’s mind, maybe.
First of all, lets get the name right. The man’s name is James Williams not Williamson. He is my father. My name is Angela.
I am the eldest daughter of Dean Cole. They might have quit touring in ’71 but they continued to play in & around the Little Rock area for YEARS off and on after that. I remember loving to listen to them practice at my home. They are the reason for my love of classic rock. For those of you who don’t know, Dean passed away last year (September 2015). I miss that man dearly.
Lonnie Cole is my Grandfather
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I am Lonnie Cole’s daughter he passed away his memorial will be Nov 16th at 2 Dial and Dudley Bryant Arkansas
Hi Lisa,
I am sorry to hear Lonnie has passed away. You may, or may not remember the time in 1994 or 1995 when my friend and I came to visit Lonnie at his home. I had contacted him by (out of the blue, all the way from Connecticut) by phone and told him I knew about his group. He was of course amazed! We were doing a trip through the southern U.S. in a few weeks and were planning to come thru Little Rock after landing and renting a car in Memphis. Lonnie invited us to meet in person. so, when we rolled into Little Rock late that Saturday afternoon and checked into our motel, we rang him up and arranged to meet on some bypass road. We followed Lonnie and his truck to the Cole homestead, bypassing the Light Brigade VW bus, now tireless and on cinderblocks. I snapped a pic, have it..somewhere!
We saw a bunch of cars parked and figured we were interrupting some sort of family gathering. Unknown to my friend and I, the whole Cole family clan was inside – everyone wanted to meet us, two far out of state guys who loved the Light Brigade’s music on their two 45s! The food served was amazing, great southern BBQ, and the people were so nice and welcoming to complete stangers. Lonnie also had the instruments set up in the living room area, and the three Cole brothers plus friend treated us to an impromptu reunion set of classics and a Light Brigade tune or two! Lonnie even came to the Little Rock record convetion the following day, staged in an airplane hanger type hut to wish us well, as we would be on our way afterwards. Lonnie introduced us to other musicians he knew that were in the building, as well as giving us names and contacts for others not present. To this day, out of all the former 1960s group members I have found and managed to meet. your dad was the kindest, most generous person of ANYONE that I have been lucky to meet in my life. 30 years on, I still remember that time and Lonnie fondly. We fell out of touch as the years passed, but I’ve never forgotten how Lonnie went out of his way for two guys with “the long hair”..lol!
BTW – my fave scene from that day: I brought along my portable record player. Lonnie gave me two copies of the My label 45. He asked me to spin “Won’t you Tell Me” so I placed it on the player. As the guitar intro began Lonnie said “I wrote this song for the lady right here. He took his wife’s had, and they began to slow dance as the song played, right there in the kitchen. Each gazingly lovingly at one another!
My condolences to the entire Cole family. I certainly will never forget Lonnie.