The Centurys and the Pandas “Walk” on Swingtime”

The Centurys featured in the Light, April 18, 1964

Centurys San Antonio Light Nov. 18, 1965
The Centurys featured in the San Antonio Light in November, 1965

The Pandas started out as the Centurys, formed at Alamo Heighs High School in San Antonio in 1963.

On April 18, 1964, the San Antonio Light profiled the band with the headline Teen Musicians with Haircuts, noting they had $3,000 invested in equipment, and listing the lineup as:

Wink Kelso – vocals
Pat Wellberg – lead guitar
Bill Bellamy III – bass guitar
Tony Volz – rhythm guitar
Jimmy Taylor – drums

A May 13, 1965 notice in the San Antonio Light lists the same five members.

The San Antonio Express and News reported on June 27, 1965 about the band’s summer engagement outside Chicago, Illinois:

Half-way through a 10-week contract in Mt. Prospect, Ill, – a suburb of Chicago – are Jim Taylor and Pat Wellberg, who spent last winter studying at Alamo Heights High School, and Bill Bellamy, Tony Volz, Wink Kelso and Chip Stokes, all veterans of one year at Trinity University.

Members of the “Centurys,” a dance band … the boys were hired by Club Living, an apartment complex for young people in their twenties. During the week the boys are being kept busy cleaning swimming pools, mowing lawns, chauffeuring air line stewardesses to and from airports, and generally odd jobbing. But on Saturday nights they really “go to town.” …

Chip is their manager.

“This is going to be quite a deal,” the boys reported happily as they prepared to drive North. “As a band we draw an extra $300 every Saturday night!”

A November 18, 1965 article shows a change in drummers:

Wink Kelso – vocals
Pat Wellberg – lead guitar
Bill Bellamy, Jr. – bass guitar
Tony Volz – rhythm guitar
Eddie Phlager – drums (I’ve also seen his name spelled Eddie Pladger, or perhaps Phleger)

The Centurys opened for the Kingsmen at the Granada Ballroom. Unfortunately an extensive history of the Centurys early days by Bill Bellamy is now gone from the internet and not availabe on the Internet Archive. If anyone has archived all of mikesbandarchive.com, please contact me.

In late 1964 or 1965, the Centurys released a single on Mark, “Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On” backed with a hot version of the Ventures’ “Gandy Dancer”.

Part of a feature on the Pandas in the San Antonio Express And News Sept 10, 1966

The San Antonio Express and News of September 10, 1966, featured the Pandas and reviewed their history.

In March of 1966, “Mrs. Mel Adcock, who owns and manages Swingtime Productions and manages many top bands, auditioned the Centurys as house band for a new television program called “Panda-Monium,” to be shown in the Houston area.”

Pandas Swingtime 45 Walk

Pandas Swingtime 45 Girl from New York CityTo fit with the TV program, the Centurys changed their name to the Pandas and in May cut a great single on Swingtime SW-1001/2 “Walk”, an original by Will Bellamy and Wink Kelso. The flip was a cover of the Beach Boys’ “Girl From New York City”.

By September, 1966, Galen Niles had replaced Bill Bellamy. Galen had been in the Minuets. On the great but defunct mikesbandarchive.com site, the Minuets were described as having the longest hair in San Antonio in 1965. Members included David Frazier on vocals; Larry Murphy, rhythm guitar & vocals; Galen Niles on lead guitar; and Charlie Shoenfeld on bass and keyboards. Jim Ryan wrote: “Galen was playing a great Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and tuned before every set by just listening to open strings. They opened a show for us in Austin and almost stole the show.”

The Pandas were now a quartet:

Wink Kelso – vocals
Pat Wellberg – guitar
Galen Niles – guitar
Jimmy Taylor – drums

The article continues:

Pandas Currently Among City’s Best

Last May, the Pandas released their first single under the Swingtime label, “Walk” and “Girl from New York City.”

A hit locally, a movie of the Pandas introducing the new tunes was shown in Houston and Dallas. The record really hit big in Florida and the lads were immediately offered guest appearances in Jacksonville, Daytona Beach and Miami – offers they couldn’t accept because of school.

Wink Kelso, vocalist is a sophomore at Trinity University … He plays guitar, drums and the organ and has taken formal singing lessons.

Pet Wellberg, who plays the lead guitar and 12-string with the Pandas, was voted “Most Talented” in his senior class last year at Alamo Heights.

Jimmy Taylor, a Trinity University sophomore … plays drums with the Pandas and can swing his ax to any tune and make it come out great.

Galen Niles, a Trinity University freshman … has two hobbies – playing the guitar and teaching the guitar.

Galen formerly played with the Pipelines and the Minuets, both popular local bands. His favorite nationally known band is the Yardbirds, a name he speaks with awe.

The September 17 article has a follow-up and different photo of the Panda, but I don’t have access to that image.

The Pandas wouldn’t last much longer.

Galen Niles would go into the Outcasts.

On October 15, 1966, the Express and News noted that Alamo Heights High School won a show by “Wink and the Pandas” on October 22.

In October 1967, Wink Kelso & the Kaleidoscopes appeared at the Casket in Kerrville.

On January 19, 1969, the Express and News had a long profile on Wink Kelso noting how he was singing the role of Paquillo in Offenbach’s La Perichole and also fronting the Kaleidoscope during his senior year at Trinity. Members of the Kaleidoscope at this point include Mike Lasley, Peyton Starr, Pat Mellberg, Scottie Melton, George Holcomb and Dave Sequin.

Wink says, “We’ve stumbled onto a new thing … using a guitar as a percussion instrument. It gives rhythm and blues a great drive.

On August 31, 1969, the Express and News ran a photo of Wink Kelso and the Kaleidoscope, noting they had returned from a summer tour in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Venture, Orange Grove, Long Beach and Tacoma. It lists the current members as Pat Wellberg on lead guitar, Mike Lasley on bass guitar and backing vocals, Steve Smith on drums and percussion, and Tito Morena and Dave Sequin on saxophones.

A 1973 article discusses Wink Kelso’s role in a rock adaption of Lewis Carroll, called Alice and Wonderland, and that just prior he had been in another group, Giant Smiling Dog.

Will Bellamy would play bass in Rachel’s Children.

More info or photos of the Centurys or Pandas would be appreciated.

The Good Humour Band on Ignite

The Good Humor Band, 1968, from left: Ken Cottrell, Jesse Preciphs, Mona Bateman, Jimmy Rogers, David Jones and Bobby Henderson

Good Humour Band Ignite 45 You'll Get ByThe Good Humour Band came from Austin, Texas, forming about May of 1968 and playing a number of shows at the New Orleans club in June and July. Gig notices always billed them as The Good Humor Band.

The Austin American-Statesman ran a photo of the group on July 27, 1968. The lineup at this time was:

Jesse Preciphs – lead vocals
Kenneth Cottrell – organ
David Jones – lead guitar
Mona Bateman – rhythm guitar
Bobby Henderson – bass
Jimmy Rogers – drums

Good Humor Band Eternal Life Corp New Orleans Club Austin Daily Texan June 14, 1968

A September 19, 1968 article in the Austin Daily Texan describes a talent show of UT students:

“The hypnotic throb of the Good Humor Band assailed the eardrums of a packed Hogg Auditorium audience Wednesday night as the Forty Acres Talent Show stages its ninth annual performance.” The article discusses some solo performers at the show: Wayne Holtzman, Roger Woest and David Flack.

On December 11, 1968, the Good Humor Band played a benefit concert for the Zachary Scott Theater Center with the Shadows of Doubt. A news item mentions the group recently completed a recording session at Robin Hood Brians studio in Tyler, and that Ken Cottrell was also their manager & spokesman.

In January, 1969 the band played three nights at the Pusi-Kat in San Antonio with Joe Thomas and the Virgil Foxx Group.

According to a short notice about the group from February 28, 1969, the lineup had changed, dropping Jesse Preciphs, Mona Bateman and Jimmy Rogers; and including Billy Jones on drums:

Ken Cottrell – organ and piano
David Jones – lead guitar
Bobby Henderson – bass
Billy Jones – drums

The February 28 article has this tantalizing note:

… the first Good Humour record – “You’ll Get By” on the A side – was released here this week and the band’s initial album – Aunt Mabel’s Golden Tonic – will be out next month.

Unfortunately the album was never to see the light.

Ken Cottrell and David Jones wrote both songs on their only single on Ignite Records H-692, “You’ll Get By” / “The Man”. Library of Congress registration on March 28, 1969 lists words by Jones and music by Cottrell.

The man’s been driving by my house today,
I think it’s time I got away …

Good Humour Band Ignite 45 The ManBruce H. Hooper produced the single. He also produced the Shiva’s Head Band single on Ignite, but not the Richard Dean 45, which was C.F. Rowsey (Fred Rowsey). Ignite Music BMI published the songs.

A Brite Star Promotions ad in Billboard on May 24, 1969 lists both the Good Humour Band and the Shiva’s Head Band singles on Ignite.

Billboard listed in Buyer’s Guide of August 30, 1969 lists Ignite as label, publisher and recording studio at 308 W. Sixth St., Austin, with President Bruce H. Hooper, and Vice President C.F. Rowsey. The 1970 guide drops Rowsey and adds Richard Gembler as General Manager.

One interesting note about the studio is 308 W. Sixth St. became Odyssey Sound, Ltd., owned by Jay Aaron Podolnick and Steve Shields, from February 1972 until August 1978. In 1978, John Ingle and Larson Lundahl purchased Odyssey and renamed it Pecan Street Studios after remodeling.

I’d like to know what other recordings were made at 308 W. Sixth St. in those early days before it became Odyssey.

Ken Cottrell passed away on July 9, 2009 at the age of 60, according to a website devoted to him, www.kennethcottrell.com

More info or photos of the group would be appreciated.

Good Humor Band Eternal Life Corp Good Deeds New OrleansClubAustin Daily Texan July 2, 1968
July 4 weekend with the Good Deeds (“1st Austin appearance winner of Corpus Christi Battle of Bands”) and New Orleans Club regulars the Eternal Life Corp
Good Humor Band Pusi-Kat San-Antonio-Express-And-News, Jan 19, 1969
At the Pusi-Kat in San Antonio, January 1969

Thank you to Jonas Carlsson for help with this article.

The Motovators of Fort Worth

July 31, 1965, from left: Jimmy Smith, Terry Lee Hungerford, Roger Young on drums, Mike Langston, and Phil Reece
Terry Lee Hungerford with Gretsch guitar and amp, June, 1964

The Motovators formed in the spring of 1964 in Haltom City, just northeast of Fort Worth, Texas. The original lineup was:

Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums
Terry Fagan – lead and rhythm guitar
Jimmy Nobles – rhythm guitar

Terry Lee Hungerford (b. June 28, 1947) and Roger Young played in all iterations of the group.

At least six other musicians would be in the group before their breakup in August of 1965:

Jimmy Moore – guitar
Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Dale Morgan – lead guitar
David Morris – lead and rhythm guitar
Phil Reece – lead guitar
Jimmy Smith – keyboards

The Motovators recorded two songs in March, 1965, but only two demo acetates were made and the record was never released.

Terry Lee Hungerford’s mother Blanche kept an excellent scrapbook of photos and clippings. She also kept a detailed log of the Motovators’ live shows, beginning with a steak house in Whitewright, TX, and notable events in the history of the band. Thanks to her work, and the help of Wm. Lewis Wms., I can present this detailed history of the Motovators and the Fort Worth scene in 1964-66.

Motorvators practice photo, 1964, from left: Mike Langston, Terry Lee Hungerford, Roger Young and Terry Fagan

May, 1964 – The Joker Club – Terry, Roger, Fagan, Jimmy (first paying gig)

May 29, 1964 – The Jolly Roger Lounge

In June of 1964, Jimmy Nobles moved out of state and was replaced by Jimmy Moore. That summer Mike Langston joined on vocals and maracas.

Motovators lineup at this time was:

Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Terry Fagan – lead and rhythm guitar
Jimmy Moore – guitar
Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums

December 5, 1964 to January 1, 1965 – ten shows at the Hi-De-Ho Club

December 24, 1964 – Jimmy Moore leaves band, replaced by Dale Morgan on lead, and Terry Fagan moves to rhythm guitar.

Lineup December 24, 1964 – March 5, 1965

Motovators business card January or February 1965

Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Dale Morgan – guitar
Terry Fagan – rhythm guitar
Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums

January 8, 9, 15, 16, 1965 – Club Contempo, 609 Riverside Drive (billed as Terry and the Motovators”

January 23, 1965 – Holiday Skating Rink ‘Battle-of-the-Bands” with the United Sounds, the Jades (2nd place), the Barons (1st place), the Coachmen and the Images, emcee is Mark Stevens WFJZ DJ.

February 6, 1965 – The Inn’s Tavern, 3132 East Lancaster

February 13, 1965 – Holiday Skating Rink – Valentine Dance “Holiday Hop” with the Images

February 20, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink audition with KXOL DJ Bob Allen and rink manager Mr. Goodwin

February 27, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink with the Barons

March 1, 1965 – Panther Hall audition with KCUL DJ Ron McCoy

The Motivators, spring of 1965, from left: Mike Langston, Terry Lee Hungerford, Roger Young, Phil Reece (correct ID?), and Terry Fagan
Receipt from Clifford Herring Sound Equipment: 1 hour studio time, 1 1/4″ tape and 2 acetate 45s for $28.05
Terry Lee Hungerford’s lyrics for “She’s Gone”

March 4, 1965 – Clifford Herring Recording Studio, “She’s Gone” by Terry Hungerford and “Darling, Don’t Go”, 1 hour of studio time, tape and two acetate demos $28.05. (Clifford Herring’s studio shared an address with the Sound City studio.)

March 5 – Dale Morgan quits band to join Bobby Crown’s band. Phil Reece joins on lead guitar.

Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Phil Reece – lead guitar
Terry Fagan – rhythm guitar
Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums

March 5 – Cowtown Bowling Palace with the Barons and KXOL DJ Bill Warren

March 6, 1965 – Holiday Skating Rink with the Barons

March 8, 1965 – Panther Hall audition with KCUL DJ Ron McCoy and hall owner Bill Kuykendall. Other bands at the audition were the Chantones and the Images

March 10, 1965 – Panther Hall rehearsal for “Panther-a-Go-Go”

March 12, 1965 – Panther-a-Go-Go with the Images and the Sounds Unlimited. Host Ron McCoy, with Kay Harris and go-go-dancers. The Motovators on top stage with the Images and the Sounds Unlimited on the sides. Robin Hood Brians & His Merry Men were the main attraction.
Outline of show

March 13, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink with the Kasuals. The Motovators play “She’s Gone”. Phil Reece announces on Monday that he’s joining Bobby Crown’s band. However, it seems that Phil would rejoin the Motovators for in late April.

March 26, 1965 – Motovators turn down Panther-a-Go-Go show with the Images and Jerry Lee Lewis.

March 27, 1965 – The Inn’s Tavern

March 29, 1965 – band buys new striped coats and yellow shirts from Foreman & Clark, $13.84 each.

April 2, 1965 – National Hall Battle-of-the-Bands with the Capris, the United Sounds, and Charlie Christy & the Crystals. Emcees Bob Allen and Bill Warren of KXOL. The Crystals won the battle for 30% of the door.

April 3, 1965 – Holiday Skating Rink with the Barons. Photos bay Donnie Fisher

April 5, 1965 – The Teragon Club audition with the Coachmen, but lost the job to Jerry Williams & the Epics

April 10, 1965 – Terry & Roger made two trips to Dallas to see Marvin Montgomery about releasing their record, but he was out both times.

April 16 & 17, 1965 – The Inn’s Tavern

Transcription of “She’s Gone”, a necessary step for copyright registration

April 19, 1965 – Terry & Roger went to see Red Woodward at 3132 Waits to have lead sheet made of their song for $7.50. Filled out form Copy E to register with Library of Congress for a $4 fee

April 20, 1965 – Fagan leaves band, and Phil Reece rejoins on lead. David plays rhythm

Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Phil Reece – lead guitar
David Morris – rhythm guitar
Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums

April 23, 1965 – The Teragon Club, lineup was Terry, Roger, Mike, David and Phil.

April 24, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink, one band, 10 til midnight, $8 per person

April 30, 1965 – Colonial Country Club for the Lake Worth High School Senior banquet

May 1, 1965 – audition at the Pit in Dallas was cancelled, but the group auditions for Louann’s Club. $80 a night if booked.

May 5, 1965 – police called for loud practice at 11 PM.

May 7 & 8 – Safari Club at 3535 E. Belknap (private club)

May 13-15, 1965 – booked to play Jacque’s Lounge in Roswell, New Mexico for $125 per night, but cancelled when the owner found out the group was underage.

May 14, 1965 – Skyliner Ballroom
lineup was Terry, Roger, Mike and Phil with David Morris, car stolen. Last show with David Morris.

May 15, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink with the Coachmen (“one of the Coachmen played as 5th member of Motovators”)

May 16, 1965 – “Jimmy Smith joined band – playing the organ”

Mike Langston – vocals and maracas
Phil Reece – lead guitar
Jimmy Smith – organ
Terry Lee Hungerford – bass and vocals
Roger Young – drums

May 19, 1965 – practice in Terry’s garage is broken up by police at 9:30

May 21, 1965 – Panther-a-Go-Go (TV broadcast on May 23 on Channel 11) with Lady Wild & the Warlocks, the Velvateens from Lubbock/Texas Tech), Cecil Lang McCullough, and the Warlocks, plus Panther-a-Go-Go drummer Al Breaux. Kay Harris was one of the dancers.

May 21, 1965 – Louann’s Club, for two hours after playing Panther Hall

May 27, 1965 – Kenney’s Club – Terry played with Tommy Skagg’s band.

May 28, 1965 – Skyliner Ballroom

May 29, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink

June 1, 1965 – Ft. Hood Crossroads Club, lineup with Terry, Roger, Mike, Phil and Jimmy, with Tommy Skaggs and Patti Myers joining on vocals. $170

June 2, 1965 – Roger has his hair cut short

Motovators Shindig Will Rogers Auditorium, June 4, 1965
Ad for the Shindig autograph party where the Motovators and the Elites played live, June 4, 1965

June 4, 1965 – Motovators and the Elites booked by Ray Beard for Shindig! autograph party at Round-Up Inn behind Will Roger’s Coliseum, with DJ Mark Stevens.

June 5, 1965 – appointment for audition at Studio Club in Dallas

June 5, 1965 – Ft. Hood N.C.O club, lineup with Terry, Roger, Mike, Phil and Jimmy, with Tommy Skaggs and Patti Myers joining on vocals. $170

Terry Lee Hungerford bass equipment
Terry trades his original Gretsch “bikini” bass for a new Gibson at C&S Music, salesman Eddie Hale, June 8, 1965

June 11, 1965 – Teen a-Go-Go at Round-Up Inn

June 12, 1965 – Ft. Hood poolside party with Tommy Skaggs

June 17, 1965 – with Sandy Black at the Coronado Club, 3203 Holtzer St.

Motovators in plaid suitsJune 18, 1965 – New coats, blue plaid with black satin lapels from Al’s Formal Wear at $32.64 each

June 18, 1965 – National Hall Battle-of-the-Bands.

June 19, 1965 – Coronado Club

June 25, 1965 – Skyliner Ballroom

June 26, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink -after the show Terry, Roger and Donnie left to Villa Acuna, Mexico at 4:15 AM, returned later than they expected on Monday causing Donnie to lose his job. This Monday was also Terry’s 18th birthday.

July 1, 1965 – audition at the Party Line Club

July 2, 1965 – National Hall with DJ Bill Warren for 25% of door

July 3, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink with DJ Bob Allen

July 5, 1965 – Mike Langston leaves the group, which will continue as a four-piece: Terry, Roger, Phil and Jimmy

July 9, 1965 – Phil buys a new Fender amp, Jimmy a Sears amp

July 9, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink

July 10, 1965 – Holiday a-Go-Go with the Blue Notes and DJ Mark Stevens. The Blue Notes ask Terry to join them for a three-day tour, but turns it down because of the Motovators bookings

July 13, 1965 – Mike Langston back in band

July 16, 1965 – Panther-a-Go-Go with Johnny Green & the Greenmen, Van Johnson, the TrenTones, Larry & Don. Joe Knapp taped the Motovators show and Terry Guinn took photos.

Terry turns down offer to join the Greenmen to finish education.

July 17, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink with Bob Allen

July 18, 1965 – broadcast of Panther-A-Go-Go taped on July 16

July 24, 1965 – Caravan of Stars at Arlington Recreation Hall with KFJZ DJ Khan Hamon

Motovators drum head

July 25, 1965 – “sign made for Roger’s drums. Art shop on Commerce St.”

July 25, 1965 – Panther-a-Go-Go “Battle-of-the-Rock N Roll Bands” with Larry & the Blue Notes, the Jades, the Images, the Kasuals, the Visions, the Naturals, the Barons, Chas Christy & the Crystals, Jack & the Rippers and the Coachmen. Emcee was Bill Warren of WXOL, show host was Mr. Fred Slater.

1st place – Charles Christy & the Crystals
2nd place – Larry and the Blue Notes
3rd place – The Images

Prizes were a trip to the West Coast, 1 year of guaranteed bookings, and opening slot with the Righteous Brothers at Will Rogers Coliseum.

July 31, 1965 – professional photos taken of band at L.S.G.C. Auditorium by Bill Wood

July 31, 1965 – Jolly Time Skating Rink, Bob Allen DJ

August 1, 1965 – Panther-A-Go-Go rerun on TV with the Motovators doing “Walkin’ the Dog”

August 19, 1965 – KXOL DJ Bill Warren wants to manage the Motovators.

August 19, 1965 – Band offered to play six nights a week at Suite 225 club at 3520 Camp Bowie, but had to turn down because of Jolly Time booking on August 21.

August 19, 1965 – Phil Reece and Jimmy join Gary Payne and the Playmates, and the Motovators split up.

Terry Lee Hungerford portrait (front page of scrapbook)

Terry Lee Hungerford would join Jerry Williams & the Epics in 1966. Starting in the 1970s he would be part of several bands including Ripe Chops, the Freedom Band, the Other Brothers Band, No Respect, Road Crew, and the Terry Hungerford Blues Band. He worked for Pacific Bell and even opened his own BBQ restaurant, Hungerford’s Finest in Watsonville.

Terry passed away on February 20, 2019.

All the posts based on Terry Hungerford’s scrapbook can be viewed at this tag link.

Special thank you to Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

The Kasuals “Girl (You Better Stop Your Lying)” on Spotlite

The Kasuals at Panther Hall July 25, 1965

Kasuals Spotlite 45 Girl (You Better Stop Your Lying)The Kasuals who cut “Girl (You Better Stop Your Lying)” / “You’re Gonna Break My Heart” were from Fort Worth, Texas. They are not to be confused with the Dallas group Kenny & the Kasuals.

Members were:

Ronnie Wright – lead vocals
David Morris – lead guitar
Mike Thomas – rhythm guitar
Tom Myers – saxophone
Larry Boynton – bass
Charles Bassham – drums

David Morris wrote both sides of their only single on Spotlite SP2001. Publishing by Bluebonnet Pub. Co.

Kasuals Spotlite 45 You're Gonna Break My HeartSpotlite issued singles by other Fort Worth artists like the Chocolate Moose.

The photo comes from Panther Hall’s Panther A-Go-Go on July 25, 1965, where the Kasuals competed with 10 other bands.

An article by Sarah Harris in the Georgetown Megaphone from February 25, 1966 notes that the Kasuals appeared at Club 62 in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The band seems to have been popular in Georgetown, 160 miles to the south of Fort Worth. They played a Zeta Tau Alpha “Pop Art” dance at a steak house,

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing the photo from Panther Hall.

Article in the Georgetown Megaphone, February 25, 1966
Announcement of the Kasuals to appear at Georgetown’s first coffee house on S. Austin Ave, run by Keith Kellow with Jon Bertolet, Ray Anderson, David Detwiler and Bill Paul.
Georgetown Megaphone May 8, 1966. Imagine what this “pop art” must have looked like.

The Motovators at Panther A-Go-Go, Panther Hall in Fort Worth

The Motovators on the top stage of Panther Hall for Panther A-Go-Go, March 1965
Weekend lineup with the Greenmen, the Motovators, Wanda Jackson and the Partytimers, July 16-17, 1965

Bill and Corky Kuykendall built Panther Hall in 1961 as a bowling alley, located at 600 Collard St on the east side of Fort Worth. When bowling didn’t succeed, the owners reopened on July 4, 1963 as a live music venue.

By 1965, KTVT, channel 11, was broadcasting an hour of the Cowtown Jamboree live on Saturday evenings. Friday nights were “Panther A-Go-Go” from 7 PM to midnight, and taped portions were shown on KTVT on Sunday evenings.

Panther a Go Go would feature four stages for these 1965 shows: a main center stage, smaller stages on the left and right, and a fourth in a balcony above the main stage. Panther a Go Go continued into 1966 and 1967 but on the footage I’ve seen these shows took place on the main stage.

The Sounds Unlimited at Panther Hall, March 12, 1965. Clockwise from left: Steve (last name unknown) on bass, Bill Mercer on red guitar, David Thompson with tambourine, Ron Davis on guitar and Mike Collier on drums

The Motovators appeared at Panther A-Go-Go at least five times in 1965. They auditioned twice, on March 1 and March 8, 1965 the second time with KCUL DJ Ron McCoy and hall owner Bill Kuykendall. Other bands at the audition on the 8th were the Chantones and the Images.

Two days later they rehearsed at the hall, and on March 12 they played with the Images and the Sounds Unlimited, plus Ron McCoy as host, and Kay Harris leading the go-go-dancers. The Motovators were on the top stage, with the Images and the Sounds Unlimited on the sides. Robin Hood Brians & His Merry Men were the main attraction. A detailed set of instructions refers to Gary Carter instead of Robin Hood, I’m not sure why.

The Sounds Unlimited were a Dallas group. The photo at right is an early version of the group with Bill Mercer, David Thompson, Steve (last name unknown), Ron Davis, and Mike Collier. By 1966 Ron Davis had formed a new version of the Sounds Unlimited with Paul Jarvis, Steve Webb, Phil Ferrell and Chuck Hodges (and Ron Mears replacing Chuck Hodges). This later version cut their only single, “Keep Your Hands Off of It” / “About You” on Solar Records.

The stage set up at Panther A-Go-Go, Panther Hall, March 1965
Panther A-Go-Go stage Instructions, March 12, 1965

On March 26 the Motovators turned down a Panther A-Go-Go show with the Images and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Show schedule for the May 21, 1965 Panther A-Go-Go

They appeared on the May 21 Panther A-Go-Go with Lady Wilde & the Warlocks, the Velvateens from Lubbock/Texas Tech, Cecil Lang McCullough, and the Warlocks, plus “Panther-a-Go-Go drummer” Al Breaux.

The Velveteens played one side of their single, “Ching Bam Bah”, which had been released in February.

Lady Wilde is the same singer who cut two 1965 singles, “Poor Kid” / “Another Year” on ARA and “Noise Of Sound” / “Poor Kid” on Chicory, both produced by Royce McAfee. Her real name was Marie Smith.

Sonny Ray & the Dynamics, Ringo Ringo, Panther A-Go-Go, Webb Pierce, June 4, 1965
I don’t have a record of the Motovators at this show on June 4, 1965, but this ad was in the scrapbook.

The Warlocks were the Dallas band that included Dusty Hill, Rocky Hill, Philip Vickery and Kean McClelland. In 1966 they cut the great singles “Life’s a Misery” / “Splash Day” on Paradise and “If You Really Want Me to Stay” / “Good Time Trippin'” on ARA. At some point after the singles, the Warlocks added Frank Beard on drums and became the American Blues. Little Richard Harris was also a drummer for the Warlocks at some point, according to Dale Smith of the Allusions in an interview with Mike Dugo.

After playing Panther Hall, the Motovators went to Louann’s Club in Dallas to play for an additional two hours!

The Motovators at Panther Hall July 16, 1965. From left: Jimmy Smith, Mike Langston, Terry Hungerford, Phil Reece and Roger Young.

On July 16, the Motovators appeared on Panther A-Go-Go with Johnny Green & the Greenmen, Van Johnson, the TrenTones, and Larry & Don. Joe Knapp taped the Motovators show and Terry Guinn took photos.

After the show the Greenmen asked Terry to join them, but after some discussion with his family, he declines to finish his education.

Sunday, July 25, Panther A-Go-Go held a huge “Battle-of-the-Rock n Roll Bands” with eleven bands: Larry & the Blue Notes, the Jades, the Images, the Kasuals, the Visions, the Naturals, the Barons, Chas Christy & the Crystals, Jack & the Rippers and the Coachmen. Emcee was Bill Warren of WXOL, show host was Mr. Fred Slater. The family scrapbook preserves set lists and scores for the bands.

1st place – Charles Christy & the Crystals
2nd place – Larry and the Blue Notes
3rd place – The Images

Prizes were a trip to the West Coast, one year of guaranteed bookings, and opening slot with the Righteous Brothers at Will Rogers Coliseum.

On August 1, Panther-A-Go-Go was rerun on TV with the Motovators doing “Walkin’ the Dog”.

All posts from the Motovators scrapbook can be seen at this link.

More info on Panther Hall is available at the Texas State Historical Association website.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Thank you to Ron Davis for correcting the info about the Sounds Unlimited.

Battle of the Bands Motovators set lists, July 25, 1965
July 25 Battle-of-the-Bands lineup, and set lists for the Motovators, the Jades and the Images
Battle of the Bands Motovators set lists, July 25, 1965
Set lists for Larry & the Blue Notes, the Kasuals, the Visions and the Naturals, July 25, 1965
Battle of the Bands Motovators set lists, July 25, 1965
Set lists for the Barons, Charles Christy and the Crystals, Jack & the Rippers, and the Coachmen, July 25, 1965
Battle of the Bands Motovators scores, July 25, 1965
Motovators score sheet – a 10 for musical performance
Battle of the Bands scores, July 25, 1965

Battle of the Bands winners, July 25, 1965

Panther Hall Anniversary, July 1, 1965

Panther A Go Go flyer

Jerry Williams and the Epics

Jerry Williams and the Epics promo photo
Jerry Williams at bottom left.

Jerry Williams and the Epics were friends and/or rivals of the Motovators.

Terry Hungerford’s scrapbook contains an ad for Jerry Williams at the Bayou Club, another venue that has disappeared to history. It was located at 5828 Calmont Ave in Fort Worth, now covered by I-30.

When the Motovators split up on September 1, 1965, Terry Hungerford joined the Epics on bass.

Jerry played lead guitar, for the other members I only have first names: James on drums, Mike on rhythm guitar, and Don was their manager. Sam Coplin handled bookings at some point.

They played five consecutive nights from September 7-11 at a spot called Suite 225.

In 1966 the Epics cut their only single: “Whatever You Do” written by Jerry Williams and Don Gilmore, backed with “Tell Me What You See” (the Beatles song despite credit on the labels to Williams and Gilmore). Georgia Lapping and Jerry Conditt produced the record on Brownfield BF-140, and Phil York engineered the session.

Jerry Lynn Williams was born on October 30, 1948 in either Dallas or Grand Prairie, and raised in Fort Worth. Around 1970 he moved to Los Angeles and joined High Mountain. Jerry composed the majority of songs for High Mountain’s album Canyon on Columbia Records, and also the High Mountain Hoedown album on Atco.

Jerry became well-known as a songwriter. Artists including Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded his songs. He died in St. Martin on November 25, 2005.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Jerry Williams and the Epics, Bayou Club June 11, 1965

The Images “My Kinda Woman” on Music Mill

The Images at Panther Hall, March 12, 1965

The Images played often around the Fort Worth, Texas region, including shows at Panther Hall and Holiday Skating Rink with the Motovators.

They released one excellent single on Music Mill 404, “My Kinda Woman” / “A Swingin’ Summer”, both by T. Martin and G. Carter, publishing by Levelland BMI.

I don’t have much info on the group, other than those two names T. Martin and G. Carter. Their drum head has a location, a short word ending in “t” – Hurst, TX maybe?

The Images came in third place out of 11 bands, at the July 25, 1965, Panther-a-Go-Go “Battle-of-the-Rock N Roll Bands”.

Thanks to the meticulous scrapbook kept by the mother of Motovators bassist Terry Hungerford, I can present the photo of the group and their set list from the July 25 battle-of-the-bands.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

The Images set list at Panther Hall, July 25, 1965

The Second Thoughts

Photo Patrick Campbell-Lyons. The Second Thoughts, spring 1964 outside the Ealing Club. Left to right: Mickey Holmes, Patrick Campbell-Lyons, Vic Griffiths (on van roof), Tony Duhig and Bill Hope.

Patrick Campbell-Lyons (lead vocals)

Tony Duhig (lead guitar)

Mickey Holmes (bass)

Bill Hope (drums)

Ealing, Middlesex band, The Second Thoughts were formed around February 1963 and gave birth to a number of notable bands in the late 1960s – Thunderclap Newman, Nirvana, July and Jade Warrior.

Lead singer Patrick Campbell-Lyons (b. 13 July 1943, Lismore, County Waterford, Ireland) had been active on the local scene for several years with The Teenbeats after arriving in the area from Ireland in the summer of 1961.

Campbell-Lyons made plans to form a new group after running into lead guitarist Tony Duhig (b. 18 September 1941, Acton, Middlesex; d. 11 November 1990), drummer Bill Hope and lead guitarist turned bass player Mickey Holmes in January 1963 (see story below from manager Cyril Brown, which erroneously says 1964).

Holmes had previously been a member of The Krewsaders alongside future Fleetwood Mac bass player John McVie and Holmes’ cousin, rhythm guitarist Peter Carney, who went on to play with Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band among others.

Named by Holmes, one of The Second Thoughts’ first gigs was opening for The Rolling Stones at their farewell gig at the Ealing Club on 2 March 1963.

Thanks to Cyril Brown, their manager

Basing themselves on The Big Three and The High Numbers (aka The Who), the trio’s blues-rock required a harmonica player and Campbell-Lyons recruited his friend from Brentford, Middlesex, Vic Griffiths, who doubled up on rhythm guitar, around Christmas 1963.

The Second Thoughts would play at the Ealing Club regularly and from spring to summer 1964 would hold down a Sunday residency before landing another house gig in central London at the Studio ’51 Club in Leicester Square.

Photo: Cyril Brown

Around July 1964, the band expanded the line up by adding Duhig’s friend, and the band’s roadie, Jon Field (b. 5 July 1940, Harrow, Middlesex) on organ and congas.

Meanwhile Holmes brought in his former band mate from The Krewsaders, drummer John “Speedy” Keen (b. 29 March 1945, Ealing, Middlesex; d. 12 March 2002) to replace Bill Hope.

Photo: Patrick Campbell-Lyons. Left to right: Speedy Keen, Vic Griffiths, Tony Duhig, Jon Field, Patrick Campbell-Lyons and Mickey Holmes.

That summer, the band played four gigs on the Isle of Wight with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds.

Not long after, The Second Thoughts went into the studios twice. On one occasion, the band recorded tracks at a studio near Denham in Buckinghamshire. The other session took place in a studio in north London. The group covered the T J Arnall’s “Cocaine” at one of the sessions.

Four tracks were cut – “Seventh Son”, “Walking”, “You Gotta Help (Help Me)” and “Looking For My Baby” at one session.

Shelved at the time, the Essex label dug out the recordings for a rare EP in 1997.

The tracks have more recently appeared on The Tomcats’ CD, Running at Shadows: The Spanish Recordings 1965-1966, which was issued on RPM in 2016.

During spring 1965, the band cut more unreleased tracks at RG Jones studio in Morden, near Wimbledon – the Wilbur Harrison classic “Let’s Get Together” and a second version of “Cocaine”.

They also started to play more widely across the Southeast. This included playing US airforce bases in Oxfordshire with Percy Sledge, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds.

The Second Thoughts also made their first trip to Hamburg around March 1965 to perform at the Star Club where they shared the bill with Rory Storm & The Hurricanes and Duane Eddy (Ed. This might have been 1963 not 1965).

The group was performing at Beat City (or 100 Club) on Oxford Street when the musicians were approached by French singer Teddy Raye, who wanted to hire a British backing group for a month initially in Madrid.

The Frenchman, however, didn’t want Patrick Campbell-Lyons, Jon Field or Vic Griffiths for the trip.

Renamed The Gatos Salvaje (The Savage Cats), the band proved to be the main attraction rather than Raye and, buoyed by the response, the musicians made plans to return on their own that summer.

Back in England in May, the musicians brought back Jon Field and recruited singer/guitarist Tom Newman from rival Ealing band The Tomcats.

Performing their final gig at Ealing Town Hall (it’s not clear under what name), the new formation discovered that Keen did not want to return to Spain.

With Keen subsequently moving to Italy in July to join another Ealing band, The Rocking Eccentrics (replacing John Kerrison) with whom he stayed until January 1966, the group recruited drummer Chris Jackson from The Tomcats as his replacement.

Returning to Spain (and renamed Los Tomcats) in June 1965, the band played northern cities like Oviedo and also returned to Madrid but Holmes soon grew tired of living out of a suitcase and came back to the UK. Another former Tomcat, bass player Alan James stepped into his shoes.

Los Tomcats continued working in Spain for a year before returning to England in early 1967 and changing name to July. Duhig and Field would subsequently leave the band and form Jade Warrior in the late 1960s.

Remaining members, Patrick Campbell-Lyons and Vic Griffiths meanwhile formed a new version of The Second Thoughts in late March 1965.

According to the article “Return of the Second Thoughts will delight fans”, published in the Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, dated 9 April 1965, page 13, the new members were Mick Taylor (lead guitar); Chris Thomas (bass); and Keith Reynolds (drums).

The article says the band were due to embark on a US tour but this seems very unlikely. However, it does say that the group recorded six tracks at Soho’s Maximum Sound studios on Sunday, 4 April, which may or may not be the tracks listed above. It adds that these tracks will not be released in Britain but only in the US.

The article, which notes that the other original members are currently in Madrid backing Teddy Raye, notes that the new version will play at Ealing Town Hall, Cardinal Wiseman School in Greenford and Brunel College, Acton.

They were subsequently joined by a returning Mickey Holmes who took over from Chris Thomas but when the band was offered work at the Star Club in Hamburg in November, Holmes left to move into session work and Thomas returned for the German gigs.

Out in West Germany, The Second Thoughts gigged until spring 1966 before finally splitting.

Patrick Campbell-Lyons remained in Hamburg and worked with Swedish band, Lucifer & The Angels, which took him to Sweden. In Stockholm, he then joined local group, The Merrymen (who’d earlier featured Boz Scaggs) but became ill.

Photo: Mirabelle, 1 October 1966 issue

Returning to England in August 1966, he joined forces with former member Chris Thomas in the duo Hat & Tie. The pair recorded a lone single before splitting soon after and Campbell-Lyons went on to form Nirvana.

Two former members of The Second Thoughts found huge success after the band finally split – Chris Thomas became a noted producer, working with The Beatles and Pink Floyd among others, while John “Speedy” Keen formed Thunderclap Newman and scored an international hit with “Something In The Air”.

Notable gigs:

25 May 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (support The Rolling Stones on their last gig at this venue)

Possible gigs in Hamburg, West Germany in 1963

12 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Harrow Observer & Gazette) (Sunday residency)

19 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

26 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

 

3 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

10 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

17 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

24 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

31 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

 

7 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

14 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

21 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

28 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

 

5 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

10 July 1964 – Attic, Hounslow, Middlesex with Erky Grant & The Tonetts and The Tempests

11 July 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

12 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

19 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

20 July 1964 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

25 July 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

25 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (played both weekend nights)

26 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

29 July 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London

 

9 August 1964 – Beat City, Oxford Street, central London with The Tomcats

15 August 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

22 August 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

22 August 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London with The Tridents

23 August 1964 – Beat City, Oxford Street, central London with The Tomcats

 

8 September 1964 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardeners, Isleworth, Middlesex

9 September 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London

12 September 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London

16 September 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

16 September 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London

18 September 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, west London

19 September 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

20 September 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, west London

22 September 1964 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London with Dave Davani & The D-Men with Beryl

23 September 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London

 

3 October 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

8 October 1964 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex with The Flexmen

10 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Tridents

12 October 1964 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London with John Lee Hooker

16 October 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

17 October 1964 – Witchdoctor, Hastings, East Sussex with Four Plus 1

18 October 1964 – Watford Trade Hall, Watford, Hertfordshire

19 October 1964 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

20 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Tridents

22 October 1964 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex with The Challengers, Liverpool Lads and Bob Harvey

23 October 1964 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, Middlesex

23 October 1964 – Ealing Technical College, Ealing, Middlesex

24 October 1964 – Fratton Hall, Portsmouth, Hants

24 October 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London with The Impacts (All Nighter)

31 October 1964 – Twyford School, Acton, Middlesex

 

5 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation

19 November 1964 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with St Louis Checks, The Cromwells and Dave Oades Orchestra

22 November 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

26 November 1964 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex with Frankie Reid & The Casuals

 

13 December 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

29 December 1964 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London with Alexis Korner

31 December 1964 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks with The Invaders (Bletchley District Gazette)

 

1 January 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

2 January 1965 – Egham Literary Institute, Egham, Surrey

3 January 1965 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hants with The Leeways with Belinda

12 January 1965 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardeners, Isleworth, Middlesex

22 January 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

31 January 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

 

11 February 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley, Kent

26 February 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

 

4 March 1965 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex (final gig before the original group split?)

 

24 July 1965 – Egham Hythe Social Centre, Egham, Surrey with Bern Elliott & The Klan

25 July 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

30 July 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

 

15 August 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

 

4 September 1965 – Egham Hythe Social Centre, Egham, Surrey with Just Five

24 September 1965 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, west London with Bob Grant

 

21 October 1965 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Southern Valley Four

5 November 1965 – King George’s Hall, Esher, Surrey with Just Five

6 November 1965 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire

Gigs taken from many sources including Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, Camberley News and Bagshot Observer,, Kingston & Malden Borough News, Record Mirror, Surrey Comet and Melody Maker. Thanks to Mickey Holmes, Tom Newman and Patrick Campbell-Lyons.

This article originally appeared on the Strange Brew website. I’ve updated it and provided more information since but would like to thank Jason Barnard for posting it on his excellent site. 

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com

The Visions “She’s the Girl for Me”

The Visions at Panther Hall for Panther-a-Go-Go, July 25, 1965

The Visions Combo card text
Less Hair BUT More Music

“Young Men With Big Talent”

Less Hair BUT More Music

The Visions were formed on June 15, 1965 in Mineral Wells, Texas. They launched their career at the local Youth Center on the night of June 23 …

Gary James, lead guitarist, from Possum Kingdom Lake. Gary is 16, attends Graford High School and also serves as vocalist with the group.

Billy Dalton, rhythm guitarist … is 15, attends Mineral Wells High School…

Frank Johnson, on the piano … is 17 years of age and attends Graford Hight School.

Charles Morgan, our drummer, hails from Fort Worth, is 17 years of age, and attends Technical High School.

The Visions played their first show a week after forming, and soon after, a major battle-of-the-bands at Panther Hall in Fort Worth, 50 miles east of Mineral Wells.

On July 25, 1965 the Visions were one of eleven groups at the Panther-a-Go-Go “Battle-of-the-Rock N Roll Bands” with Larry & the Blue Notes, the Jades, the Images, the Kasuals, the Motovators, the Naturals, the Barons, Chas Christy & the Crystals, Jack & the Rippers and the Coachmen. Emcee was Bill Warren of WXOL and Fred Slater hosted the show.

Visions Vimco 45 She's the Girl for MeThanks to an amazing scrapbook created by the mother of Motovators bassist Terry Hungerford, I can present a photo of the group, their promo card and even a partial set list.

Panther-a-Go-Go used as many as four stages, a main one in center, another up in a central balcony, plus stages left and right on the floor. The Visions were the sixth of the 11 bands, they played on the right side stage, and their nine songs included “Twist and Shout”, “Summertime”, “What’d I Say”, “Walk Don’t Run” and “The McCoy”.

The Visions came in last in this particular competition, but would have lasting success in the future.


Visions set list at Panther Hall, July 25, 1965

Visions Vimco 45 Take HerOf the three Texas records on their own Vimco label, my favorite is the fantastic “She’s the Girl for Me”, with the moodier “Take Her” on the other side.

In November the Visions would re-release “Take Her”, this time with a great version of “Route 66” on the flip. In March of 1966, they made their last Texas single, the heavy “Humpty Dumpty” backed with a version of the Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me”.

Visions Vimco 45 Route 66That summer of 1966, the group moved to Hollywood, CA, where they would record for Warner Bros. and UNI, make some TV appearances, and sign to Buddah Records with different group names, Sugar Canyon, and the Rock & Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Card Co. of Philadelphia.

More information, videos, and many very small photos can be found at Billy Dalton’s website.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

The Party Line Club and the Tracer Club in Fort Worth

Tracer Club Gary Payne and the Play Mates Sept. 10, 1965

Tracer Club Fort Worth adsBo Yale, Garlin Holcomb (Garland Halcomb?) and Junior Allred ran the Party Line Club in Fort Worth, TX. The Motovators auditioned at the Party Line Club on July 1, 1965, but may not have received any bookings.

I don’t know the Party Line Club’s address, but the same owners opened another night club, the Tracer Club, located at 5123 E Lancaster Ave in Fort Worth, TX.

The Tracer Club opened on June 1, 1965, advertising “Table to table telephones • Closed Circuit TV • Carpeted walls • 4,000 square feet of luxury – Something New For Texas“. Kay Harris made her vocal debut with Jim Jones & the Chaunteys.

Gary Payne and the Play Mates appeared at the Tracer Club on September 10, 1965. This was the band Phil Reece and Jimmy Smith joined after the Motovators split up.

The Rondels appeared there in April and May, 1967.

If anyone has more info on these night spots, please contact me.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Rondels at the Tracer Club Denton Record Chronicle April 21, 1967

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