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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
June 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
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 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.
