The Reddlemen of Angleton were one of three garage acts on the Custom label out of Tyler. They cut this one great 45, the amazing “I’m Gonna Get in that Girl’s Mind”, with the Byrds-influenced “I Can’t Go On This Way” on the flip.
Les Roberts of the Brym-Stonz Ltd. remembers the Reddlemen and their guitarist and songwriter, Michael Cotton:
You asked about the Reddlemen, they were great musicians. The lineup was Pat Harris vocals, Jim Howell Rhythm guitar and electric piano, Charles Smith bass, Gary Cotton drums, and Mike Cotton lead guitar. [Later,] Rick Hutchinson replaced Mike in the Reddlemen.
Mike was this incredible guitarist. He played a strat and used banjo strings to stretch and bend for his solos long before light gauge strings and unwound G strings came about.
Mike went out to California in the mid-sixties and was roommates with his cousin Keith Allison who played with Paul Revere and the Raiders on a show called Where the Action Is! Mike played guitar on the opening theme to the show. He auditioned for the Beau Brummels also. Tragically he was killed in Vietnam.
An old auction for their 7″ master tape reel mentions two unreleased songs by the band. I’ve never heard these and don’t know the titles.
An early photo of Billy and the Kids, with Mike Rice at top center.
Bob Gourlie – lead guitar Ken Laymance – rhythm guitar Mike Rice – keyboards and vocals Russ Wagner – bass Bill Burns – bass and vocals Bob Burns – drums and vocals
In the mid-60’s, twelve and thirteen year-old kids regularly recorded better music than most of what has been done since by groups of any age. “Say You Love Me” is such a song, featuring a tough rhythm, vocals tossed off without a care, and some wild high-pitched screams. It even has a good guitar solo! The a-side of their first 45, “It’s Not the Same” is definitely lighter pop, but will interest some listeners.
They recorded “When I See You” a year or two later, and the band is even sharper, with a fast bass line and frantic drum playing.
I’ve seen Loren Bolinger, who played guitar and keyboards for the Talismen also listed as a member, but I’m not sure if this is correct.
A local article wrote about the group:
‘Billy and the Kids’, five talented junior high school youngsters from East Wenatchee, Wash., make their professional debut on records with ‘It’s Not the Same,’ b/w ‘Say You Love Me.” Uniquely, this group is comprised entirely of 12- and 13-year-old boys who write all their own material. This group consists of twins Bill and Bob Burns on the drums and guitar, lead singer Mike Rice, lead guitar man Bob Gourley [Gourlie], and Ken Laymance on the rhythm guitar. An attractive and vibrant ‘go-go’ girl, Pam Cartwright, joins the group for public appearances. ‘Billy and the Kids’ demonstrated exceptional poise on their first professional recording endeavor. ‘They play the good hard rock as well as any group I’ve ever heard,’ was the appraisal made by veteran Wenatchee disc jockey Don Bernier, who helped launch the professional careers of these teenagers by recording ‘It’s Not the Same’ on the Julian label, a Bernier enterprise.
The band was managed by the twins’ father, Oliver ‘Ollie’ Burns, who was also a promoter of shows in the area.
In an interview by Oktay Gurbuz, Bill Burns wrote:
My father Ollie Burns (Jollie Ollie) booked and managed us at that time. My father was the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer of Douglas, County Washington. He also was a promoter. Every weekend he would rent halls, hire bands (Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Shindig Show, etc) and have dances.
I was able to hear live music and ask the musicians questions. There was a local band The Talismen. They were older guys and Bob Burns (my brother the drummer) and I would go watch them practice. They took us under their wing. I was the bass player. I played guitar but, we needed a bassist.
The first single was released between 7 and 8 grade so [it was] juvenile. The second record [“When I See You”] only a year later was a better recording, for 8th graders. The owner of the local radio station was in on the Julian Label. It was certainly exciting.
We played in Washington, Oregon, Idaho…for kids we had a following. Opening for the Wailers, Don and the Goodtimes, Billy, Dino and Desi, etc. The two records helped.
I have a tape (somewhere) of later incarnation of Billy and The Kids that was never released.
Bob and I formed Double Image, then News, recorded with Meredith Brooks, that album was released internationally. We have a project The Called. Bob Gourley I have not talked to since.
Don Julian Bernier owned the Julian label, issuing records by Wenatchee and Chelan acts the Aztecs (actually from Waterville I’ve since learned), the Talismen’s great “She Was Good” (Julian 105) and “I Know a Girl” b/w “I’ll Take a Walk” (Julian 108), the Chargers, Blane and the Julians, Linda Jo and the Nomads, and Judd Hamilton and the Furies. Don Bernier passed away on August 30, 2010.
Mike Rice and Bill and Bob Burns formed Double Image, a group that lasted until 1972 and had some lineup changes with members including Loren Bolenger, Steve Burdette (vocals), Don Gilbert, Doug Johnston (keyboards), Steve Nelson, Dave McKibbin (guitar) and Eric Peterson. For later photos of Double Image see PNWbands.com.
Russ Wagner went into Brand X, Inc from Portland, OR, with Jimmy Holt, Greg Johnson, Cliff Leisure and Scott Medler. Ken Laymance became a DJ in the Ukraine. Ken passed away in November, 2006. Mike Rice passed away of complications from lung disease due to smoking on February 25th, 2008.
Thank you to Paul Wentink for sending the top photo of the band on the slide and the poster, and for notifying me of Mike Rice’s passing. Bottom photo from the Pacific Northwest Bands site.
Very early photo of Billy & the Kids, courtesy of Bob GourlieBilly & the Kids, circa 1967
Billy & the Kids playing live, March 1967Billy & the Kids playing live, March 1967
The two photos above and four below, Billy and the Kids in the studio, September 1967
Bob Burns on drums
with the Fabulous Wailers in Walla WallaEarly photo of the Double Image, which featured Bill and Bob Burns and Mike Rice.Early photo of the Double Image
Until now I haven’t featured bands who didn’t record, but Bob Bass sent me these cool photos of his band the Bomarcs, and an interesting history of the group:
The Bomarcs were from northwest Florida in the panhandle part of the state and all of us were stationed on a radar site there that tracked the Bomarc missiles across the gulf.
We got our start at he NCO club on the site playing a regular gig there and then we started playing all over the area at all kinds of events.
We hadn’t been together long when we were sent to the Air Force “Tops in Blue” competition at Tyndall AFB Florida. We didn’t win in the competition, but it was a great honor to represent our radar site.
The early band was: Bob Bass guitar and vocals, Doyle Johnston guitar, and Johnny Joos drums. I think Johnny was the only one with any professional experience and was affectionately called “JIve Ass Joos”.
We played together for around a year and then Doyle was transferred overseas. We thought that would be the end of the band, but along came Carl Bender to play lead guitar. The Air Force kept us supplied with musicians like Carl. After Carl joined us the band really took off and we began to play professionally all over that part of Florida. Our big start was a regular gig at the Orleans Lounge in Gainesville. By then we had a bass player: Bobby Lindsey, another lead guitar: Clarence Jones and a sometimes saxophone player: Lester Hall.
Gainesville was a good town for us because it is a college town. We played several frat house parties at the University of Florida and there was a steady supply of night clubs in the area.
From a poster for the annual Forestry Day celebration held in Cross City, FL You can see Lester Hall, our sometimes sax player in the background.
I graduated from Biloxi High school, so New Orleans was just down the road from me. I went there as often as possible and my interest in blues was born there. We also played at Panama City Beach a few times.
The early Bomarcs featured a lot of R&B, Jimmy Reed, Clarence Henry, Screaming J Hawkins etc. and a mixture of country and contemporary rock. We were only a trio at first so our sound didn’t have a lot of bottom on it. In the “Tops in Blue” contest we did “Green fields” and I believe “Tom Dooley”. Both popular songs in their time.
As I mentioned before, after Doyle Johnston left us, the band really progressed. It wasn’t Doyle’s fault because he was an accomplished musician back then and still is. When Carl Bender joined us on lead guitar along with Clarence Jones, lead and rhythm, I quit playing guitar and did the vocals. Bobby Lindsey really added the bottom we needed with his Bass playing. Bobby was a fisherman from Horseshoe Beach Fl and Clarence was a high school student from Old Town, Fl. Clarence went on after the Bomarcs to play lead for Fred Bible and the Continentals, a Jacksonville band that was very big in the area.
With this group of musicians our repertoire of songs really expanded. We did rock of the day including all the Beatles, R&B, Country and even songs like “Misty” for what we called Romantic and Droopy Drawers music. We were now a variety band.
About the time we were really making it, the Air Force stepped in again. I was sent to Newfoundland along with my then new Fender Super Re-verb amp and Strat guitar. I continued to play while there with a Newfoundland group that was very popular at the time. After my career in the AF was over, 13 years, I kind of dropped out of music and spent time raising a family. Playing music and being a family man is hard to do. Often one has to choose between the two. I was a friend of John Taylor,”Big John and the Untouchables”, and ran across him where I live now in Lakeland, Fl. John was at a crossroad at the time and was having to decide between family and music. I hope I helped him make the right choice.
Doyle Johnston and I recently renewed old acquaintances and get together from time to time. He was a US postal employee at Zephyrhills, Fl for many years and didn’t know we were only a few miles apart. I live in Lakeland and am now a freelance writer and still a frustrated musician.
Carl Bender visited me at one time years ago. He was playing lead for a band at the Holiday Inn in Plant City. I understand from Doyle that Johnny “Jive Ass” Joos owns a resturant in Cross City. The others I have not heard from but would be real interested in doing so.
Here’s a fratty attempt at r&b called “Sweet, Sweet Soul” by the Dimensions 4 of Jackson, South Carolina. It’s not totally successful, but there’s no denying the funkiness of the opening beat and organ.
It’s probably their best song, though each has its moments. The flip “The Walk Out” is milder, and their second 45 on their own T-D-4 label, “Boogaloo King”, is not as exciting as the title suggests. All their songs were written by Melton Knight.
Hadji in front, Jack on bass, Rich on guitarCarl Storie and HadjiSteve “Hadji” BabaCarl Storie and Rich Burman
There were many bands named the Chosen Few but this one was from Muncie, Indiana. Some of them were students at Ball State, and were originally known as the Invincibles.
According to comments people have left below, original members of the group were:
Jack Hamilton – bass Rich Burmann – guitar Steve Baba (also known as Hodgie or Hadji Baba) – vocals Steve Nephew – drums
John Cascella joined on keyboards in 1966, and the band changed their name to the Chosen Few in early ’67. Baba was their original lead singer, but Steve Nephew and Jack Hamilton also took turns on vocals. Carl Storie joined in late summer or fall of ’67, giving the band two lead vocalists and a boost to their stage presence. This combination was together for almost a year. At times Jack switched to piano or harpsichord while Hadji played bass.
“It Just Don’t Rhyme”, released in May of ’67 is the first of four 45s they released on the Denim label, and the most rockin’. The guitarist’s snappy rhythm on the intro provides the hook as the singer tells the girl to get her head out of the clouds. Jack Hamilton handled the lead vocals on this song. The band liked it enough to record it a second time with fuller vocal tracks and heavier organ as the a-side of their third single, this time backed with a cover of “Lucille”.
“Don’t Say It” has a different kind of sound, rooted in 50’s r&b, featuring good horn arrangements and a nice bass line. “Don’t Say It” was written by Jack Hamilton, “It Just Don’t Rhyme” had music by Hamilton and words by Steve Nephew.
Their second 45 has the folk-rock sounds of “We Walk Together” (a Jack Hamilton composition) backed with the solid pop number “Foolin’ Around with Me” (co-written by Hamilton and Nephew). Production was by Bill Michael.
Sometime around late 1967 or 1968, Rich Burman and Steve Nephew left the band, and Dave Bennett (guitar) and Dave Barnes (drums) took their place. Hadji Baba left and joined the Ritual as their vocalist. The band’s later work is more pop based, as evidenced by their fourth and last Denim 45, “Pink Clouds and Lemonade”, backed by a cover of the Supremes hit, “Stop! In the Name of Love”.
After leaving Denim, The Chosen Few released a 45 on the Talun label “Maybe the Rain Will Fall” / “Deeper In” which was picked up by RCA. The band signed to RCA for an album deal in 1969. Their self-titled LP continues the pop sound of their later 45s, adding horns to the mix, though some of the band was disappointed in how it turned out.
The Chosen Few evolved into the Faith Band, who released five LPs in the 70’s. By this time Jack Hamilton had left and was replaced on bass by Mark Cawley, leaving John Cascella as the only member who had been with the original Chosen Few in ’67. John Cascella went on to join John Mellencamp’s group until he passed away in 1992. Carl Storie is still active in music with his own group.
Thanks to Ann Likes and Gary for sending in the great photos of the group.
“Don’t Say It” written by Steve Nephew b/w “Melissa” by Jack HamiltonThe original entry I wrote has been corrected thanks to information from Jack and Cindy Hamilton and from comments below. Thanks to Jean-Pierre Coumans for the scans of “We Walk Together” and “Foolin’ Around with Me”. The Denim label also released the Jades “Come Back” / “Change My Ways”.
Updates: I am very sorry to report that Jack Hamilton passed away on September 26, 2021, after a brief illness. His obituary is online at Legacy.
Timothy Cox of 60’s Indiana Band Szene sent me this label scan of an early single from the Limit on Denim Records DS-1076, that predates the Chosen Few 45s. Did the group play live as The Limit, and are there any photos of this lineup?
Jack Hamilton (with polka dots), Rich Burman on guitar, John Cascella’s legs and bootsfrom left: Hadji, Jack, Rich and JohnRich Burman on guitar and Steve Nephew on drumsfrom left: Steve, Rich, JohnCarl singing, Steve Nephew on drumsCarl and SteveRich BurmanSteveCarl, Rich and Johnfrom left: Steve Nephew on drums, Rich Burman guitar, HadjiSteve ‘Hadji’ Baba (aka Captain Schoolbus)1969 promo photos (thanks to J. for this scan and the LP cover below)
A real obscurity here. I’m not sure where the band was from, but the label was based in Commerce, Texas, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas.
“All Is Gone” is a monster of a song, with a spooky organ sound and unrelenting snare beat. The loud mastering leads to some distortion in the 45. The songwriting credits go to Humphrey – Bates, who I suppose were band members.
For the A-side they went with a safer bet, a good cover of “Big Boy Pete”. The Olympics had the big hit with this song, but judging from the Shade’s arrangement I think they probably picked this up from Paul Revere and the Raiders first album.
Their producer was Mike Stanglin, who told me, “My family owned the Twilight Skating Rink in Pleasant Grove section of Dallas. The Shade was a very good band that played there for the “sock hops” that I was in charge of. Roy Clark was the lead singer, who later called himself Royce Clark to keep from being confused with Roy Clark the country singer. I went to college at East Texas State University in Commerce, TX, hence the Commerce address.”
The Shade 45 was recorded at Sumet Studio (the first one) in Dallas. Mike had produced a couple other 45s prior to this, and continued releasing records on Twilight into the late 70’s, including a rap single by FBI…Fresh Brothers International. As for the Shade, they seem to have disappeared.
The Burlington Express from Topeka, just west of Kansas City, released an excellent double-sider on the Cavern label from Missouri in 1967. Members of the band were Greg Gucker, Blair Honeyman (replaced by Bruce Lynn), Eric Larson and Mike West.
Greg Gucker wrote most of their material including “Memories”, though Mike West co-wrote “One Day Girl”. Michael Chapman, guitarist for the Bluethings produced their 45 on Cavern, and also played lead guitar on the unreleased song “If I Were Free”. The address on the label, 16400 E. Truman Rd, Independence is the location of Cavern Studios.
Besides the Cavern 45, at least eight demos have been discovered. A version of the Byrds’ “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” is competent, but their take on the Yardbirds’ “Stroll On” is spectacular, and suggests they were an excellent live band.
Bruce Lynn wrote to me:
I played bass for the Burlington Express from 1966-1970 when we ended the band. I took Blair Honeyman’s place and sing lead on “Stroll On” and “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better”. I was in the band when we opened for The Who in 1968.
Four later demos, “Mr. Destiny”, “If I Were Free”, “Black Hearted Woman”, and “Listen Closely”, were recorded at Audio House studios in Lawrence in August 1968. These display psychedelic touches, but with the band’s fine pop sense and fuzztone intact. “If I Were Free” is an intense song that uses horns to good effect. Check them out at Audio House’s website.
A 7″ Audio House acetate contains a cover of the Blues Project’s “I Can’t Keep from Crying”, but I haven’t heard that yet.
Another group called the Burlington Express recorded a brooding song called “Comin’ Home” b/w the maudlin “A Girl” on the Roach label, but they’re supposed to be a different group altogether – songwriting credits list D. Gray, G. Niebur and J. Turner.
Not garage, Lil’ Henry and his Soul Express is a Texas soul/funk act that I’m posting because I can’t find any information about this record anywhere.
“Baby” repeats the same couple of themes for its two and a half minutes, but does so with soulful energy. The flip side is a more laid-back piece called “Girls”. Both songs are credited to H. Gentry, so his name may be Henry Gentry.
The Ride label was located in both Dallas and out in L.A. at some point, and may have been one of Mel Alexander’s labels. The publisher, Little “m” Music is a Dallas company, and that’s all I can tell you about this.
There’s also a Little Henry and the Laveers 45 covering “Georgia on My Mind” and Jesse Hill’s “Whip It On Me”, on the Laveer label out of San Antonio. As you can see from the comments below, most agree that Henry Parilla, aka Little Henry Lee is not the same person as Lil Henry from the Ride 45. It sounds like a different singer to my ears.
from left: Wes Dobson, Ron Fricano, Lee Adams and Rick Harper
The Riddles were all from the well-to-do western suburbs of Chicago, around Elmhurst. Members were:
Patrick Harper – lead vocals and lead guitar Lee Adams – vocals and bass Weston Dobson – rhythm guitar Ronald Fricano – drums.
They recorded a cover of the Searchers hit “Sweets For My Sweet” which made the charts on Chicago stations WLS and WCFL in April of 1967, but it’s the b-side that I dig, the very cool original “It’s One Thing To Say”, written by Pat Harper and Wes Dobson. Edgewater music publisher Peter Wright often placed records with Mercury Records, so the 45 was released locally on Qull and with national distribution on Mercury.
The Riddles were frequent guests on the local Chicago TV program Kiddie A-Go-Go. They played a benefit concert with the New Colony Six in Grant Park on September 27, 1967, then disappeared, probably off to college to avoid the draft.
Thanks to Chris S. for sending in the photo of the band, and to Jim M. for alerting me to the interview with Jack Mulqueen of Kiddie A Go go by Phil X. Milstein. Mercury promo photo sent in by John ‘Nusound’.
The Starlites released this one 45 on Zap, a Nashville, Tennesee label affiliated with Belle Meade Records.
The 45 labels list them as the Starliters, but the R is crossed out on at least some copies, so they’re generally known as the Starlites. They were a mystery group until comments came in from Steve Dodson and lead guitarist Alan Wait. The band was from Danville, Illinois.
Members were:
Alan Wait – lead guitar Harold Hannon – rhythm guitar Ron Meeker – sax Jim Crystal – drums Steve Ransom – keyboards
“Wait for Me” was written by Alan Wait. Though repetitive, the song features a frantic fuzz guitar solo. The flip is “You’ll Never Find Me”. Alan comments below that Vickie Porter wrote the lyrics for both songs.
Gene Vanderport comments below that he played keyboards with the Starlites after the single.
There’s no connection to the Starliters who have a 45 “I Cry Alone” (written by Lloyd Faust) / “Don’t Ever Leave Me” on the 4 Sons label from Paris, Tennessee.
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
