The Orbits were from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Early lineups of the group included:
Ron Hanson – lead vocals and rhythm guitar, 12-string guitar
Mike Daily (Daley?) – lead vocals
Ron Glodowski – vocals and lead guitar
Don Scholtz (Schultz?) – vocals and bass
Bob Scholtz (Schultz?) – vocals and drums
Ron Hanson’s first band was Ronny & the Bonnevilles, soon followed by Ronnie and the Rock-n-Bops with Glen Schulfer and Jerry Starr; I don’t believe either group recorded. The Rock’n’Bops became Wanda Jackson’s touring band for a tour.
The Orbits’ first single is a remake of the Zombies “Make Me Feel Good” [sic] backed with Ron Glodowski’s original “Fuzzy”, released on Big Sound label out of Wausau. Big Sound had other great releases by the Benders, the Spacemen, the Corals and the Rejects.
The Orbits toured extensively and even performed at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966. That touring helps explain why this group from central Wisconsin listed El Monte, California on the labels of their second single on the Boss Sound label, a Cuca custom pressing.
“Don’t” has all the elements of a good pop song. The song was written by Lena Davis and, as far as I can tell, originally done by UK act Joe Brown and the Bruvvers in June of 1964. That Piccadilly 45 didn’t receive a U.S. release to my knowledge, so the Orbits more likely heard it on the Roemans’ first 45 on ABC-Paramount from 1965, even though that wasn’t a hit. As it turns out, Ron met the Roemens when he sold them some VOX equipment, he befriended the band and probably heard “Don’t” at that time.
The flip is a slow take on the Searchers’ “Goodbye My Love”.
This 45 received a mention as a ‘Former Instant Pick’ on the local charts of WSPT in April of 1967.
The band recorded these songs at Cuca in Sauk City, Wisconsin, indicated by the J-6744 catalog number on the label. This band is not the Orbits from Portage, WI who had an earlier 45 on Cuca, “Orbit Rock” / “Slow Burn”.
The Orbits continued into the 1970s and had a few reunions. The lineup changed over the years with Hanson the only constant, and included Ed Niespodziani, Bob Wray on bass, Myrna Raatz (of the Furys) on vocals, Joe Cory on keyboards, Glen Schulfer on lead guitar, Steve Berendt, Ron Pitt and Dave Trickle on bass, Lyle Vickerman on lead guitar and Rick Martin and Jim Sether on drums. (Any clarification on when these people were in the group would be appreciated, some were in reunion bands as recent as 2001.)
In 1970 the group signed to Shelby Singleton’s SSS International label and released their third single, an original by Hanson and Schulfer, “House Without a Roof” b/w “Good Natured Emma”.
With an equipment sponsorship, the group changed its name to the Kansas Road Band, self-releasing the excellent Schulfer original “Back Again” b/w “Something About You” in a mid-western rock style. Ron and his group eventually became part of the Grassroots along with founding member Rob Grill and Dennis Provisor.
A mural of Ron Hanson’s early band “The Rock N Bops” can be seen in downtown Stevens Point with other noted local lore.
I’m sorry to report that Ron Hanson died on March 20, 2019.
Thank you to Beth Miratsky for the photos, news clippings and information on the Orbits.
Sources include: On That Wisconsin Beat by Gary E. Myers.
Does anyone have “Don’t” on 45? I’m dying to find it.
The Roemans, from Clearwater, Florida released a version of “Don’t” in ’65 on ABC-Paramount; that’s the likely source inspiring the Orbits remake rendition.
Hi Chris, thanks for the book credit, however I learned a lot more about the Orbits for the follow-up book and it turned out that the Eddie Merwin name was incorrect. The band went through many changes (I now list 15 names) over a period of many years and there was much intermingling of personnel with other area bands. They had a total of 4 releases (one as the Kansas Road Band) and some members went on to bigger things.
Who can give me the names of, and ” configuration ” of the Original Orbits ? circa 1960-70’s.
You know ,
Lead, Rhythm, Bass, Drums, and Key Board.
Serious request.
JPK
JPK, I believe I have all the info on these Orbits in my 2nd WI book, “On That Wisconsin Beat”, but keep in mind that there were many different Orbits on diff lbls around the US. Is it the WI band for which you’re seeking the info?
The Orbits were from Stevens Pt.
Ron Hanson the lead singer and was a well-known and accomplished musician. His love of Rock and Roll music led him to start his first band, ‘Ronnie and the Rock-n-Bops’. He is best known as the lead singer for The Orbits, a local band he started in the 60s that cemented his life in Rock and Roll. The Orbits were a popular band in central Wisconsin during the early 1960s. In 1966, the band performed at the Hollywood bowl. Their first single, ‘House Without a Roof,” was released in 1970 and the band signed with Shelby Singleton Records. In the 1970s they performed as the Kansas Road Band and toured with numerous bands including The Turtles, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Monkeys, and The Grassroots. Band Members eventually merged with The Grass Roots band. The Grass Roots had 16 national hits. In 2001, Ron Hanson made his third appearance at the Wausau Festival with The Orbits reunion.
A large mural of his early band “The Rock N Bops” can be see with other noted local lore in downtown Stevens Point
Other band members were glen Schafer and more that I can’t remember. Ron died on March 20 2019.
Any mention of Larry Nelson in a lineup?
Is this the Orbits that recorded a session with Doctor Charles Isaiah Ross, Specifically “Cat Squirrel” on the Fortune Label ? Released in ’61 I believe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcKLIjkxnjM
A few years and 500 miles (Stevens Point to Detroit) separate these two Orbits
a search will show that it was Tony Valla, his brother Jesse and their band the Alamos who backed Dr. Ross. Tony & the Alamos also recorded for Fortune.
https://thehoundblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/doctor-ross.html
On the music front, in 1958, Doctor Ross tried his hand at the record biz, releasing his next disc on his own DIR (guess what that stand for?) label– Industrial Boogie b/w 32-20 (DIR 101). Although recorded with just an acoustic guitar, Industrial Boogie showed the change in his music working on the assembly line brought. His sound now had the churning, propulsive rhythm of an automobile plant. But running your own label after eight hours on the line is hard work, and he would release no more discs on DIR. In 1959 he was recording for Jack and Devora Brown’s Fortune label, and backed by a group called “The Orbits” about which we know nothing other than their name, he cut his greatest masterpiece– Cat’s Squirrel b/w The Sunnyland (Fortune 857), it’s thundering beat takes the normal blues/boogie shuffle and turns it into a supercharged throb. The tune would be covered by U.K. rock bores Cream in ’68, I hope Ross got a big check out of that deal.
I love the Hound, but that was written 10 years ago. The Alamos also backed Nolan Strong & the Diablos.
http://whitedoowopcollector.blogspot.com/2011/05/tony-valla-alamos-jane-why-did-you-do.html
My husband bought a box addressed to Ron Hansen, the Orbits from Cuca Record Corporation filled with 45’s at a rummage sale. Seems a shame to be sitting in a box at my house.
Sandra, I’m from Stevens Point and would be interested in that box of 45s. I assume it’s the “Don’t” 45 on Boss Sound? Regardless, I’ll be loaning some Orbits 45s (and Rejects, and possibly others) to an upcoming History of Music in Portage County exhibit. A box of Orbits 45s might be of great use!
Please contact me if you can. Thank you!
I have a copy of house without a roof on 45. The flip side good-natured Emma lists Ted Nugent as a contributor.. that apparently came out in 1970. Ted Nugent was at the Iola Rock fest in 197 0. So it seems like a possibility that they played together on that song. If there’s a way to send you a picture of my 45. I would do it to show you how it shows Ted Nugent.