The Beaus of Beethoven came from Patton, Pennsylvania and other towns of Cambria County, about 75 miles east of Pittsburgh. Their manager Jack Cessna’s base was Ebensburg.
Members were:
Ron McClinsey – lead vocal, guitar
Nick Fagan – lead guitar
Dave Holtz – keyboards
Tom Stratton, replaced by Paul Lazendorfer – bass
Danny Miller – drums
Ron McClinsey’s comment below is worth quoting in large part:
The Beaus of Beethoven had its beginning in September 1965 with three of us jamming, not knowing what was ahead. We had at that point Dave Holtz as keyboard player, Dan Miller as drummer, and me on guitar. We found Nick Fagan as lead guitar player and Tom Stratton as bass player. Our first gig was on December 18th. All the girls were screaming as if the Beatles were there … I was hooked! Local DJs from two radio stations took notice and promoted us. One, Jack Cessna, became our manager.
In the summer of 1966, the band recorded the 45 record pictured above, which I’m proud of. We have met and opened for a bunch of other groups like The Strangeloves, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, The Beau Brummels, The Shangri Las, The McCoys, The Chicago Loop, Freddie Canon, The Vogues.
One night we were the opener at the Jaffa Mosque in Altoona for the Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Dantes, the Outsiders. The headliner for that show was Bobby Goldsboro. A guitar player and bass player had been sent in to back up Bobby. The bass player was passed out in the hallway on who knows what. They came and asked our keyboard player and I to help. Their guitar player showed us the songs. That night I played bass for Bobby Goldsboro in front of 2000 people and I was still in high school!
The Beaus of Beethoven opened for many artists at the Jaffa Mosque in Altoona and appeared on WIIC TV Pittsburgh’s Saturday bandstand show.
In 1967 the band cut two originals at Sound-Pro Studio for release in September. I don’t know the location of that studio and haven’t seen it credited on other singles.
“It’s Too Late” (by Ronald McClinsey, Nicholas Fagan Jr. and David Holtz, B-W Music Inc. BMI) has a buzzing lead guitar while the singer tells how he’s “sing my time just hanging around town, drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes, living my sins with no regrets” while his ex is “ridin’ uptown in a limousine, checking the nice balls, making the scene”. The entire performance is excellent with a great guitar solo.
A real treasure is the flip, “Goin’ Away” (written by Miller, Holtz and Lazendorfer, Weldee Music Co. BMI), a true picture of teen angst in lyrics like:
I’m comin’ down off the roof, gonna bring my baby back,
I’ve been around too long, now I want to belong.
So many people tell me I’m nothin’ but a nothin’,
But I can get with my girl, girl by roughin’
Thank you to Ron for correcting the lyrics.
Publishing was through Weldee Music and B-W Music Inc, owned by the same company in Ohio.
The photo at top came from a video that has since disappeared from youtube.
If anyone has better quality photos please contact me.
I been around too long, now I want to belong
and….
I can get my girl, girl by roughin’
Thanks for a great post!
Ron McClinsey
Living in Elk County now, with a head full of memories of this magical time in my life, as lead vocalist for the Beaus of Beethoven.
Ron 12/4/2015
One more lyric:
Spending my time just hangin’ ’round town
The Beaus of Beethoven had it’s beginning in September 1965 with three of us jamming, not knowing what was ahead. We had at that point Dave Holtz as keyboard player, Dan Miller as drummer, and me on guitar. We found Nick Fagan as lead guitar player and Tom Stratton as bass player. Our first gig was on December 18th. All the girls were screaming as if the Beatles were there…I was hooked! Local DJs from two radio stations took notice and promoted us. One, Jack Cessna, became our manager. In the summer of 1966, the band recorded the 45 record pictured above, which I’m proud of. We have met and opened for a bunch of other groups like The Strangeloves, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, The Beau Brummels, The Shangri Las, The McCoys, The Chicago Loop, Freddie Canon, The Vogues. One night we were the opener at the Jaffa Mosque in Altoona for the Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Dantes, the Outsiders. The headliner for that show was Bobby Goldsboro. A guitar player and bass player had been sent in to back up Bobby. The bass player was passed out in the hallway on who knows what. They came and asked our keyboard player and I to help. Their guitar player showed us the songs. That night I played bass for Bobby Goldsboro in front of 2000 people and I was still in high school! Good times…wish I still had’m.
On “It’s Too Late”
“ridin’ uptown in a limousine, checkin’ the night spots, makin’ a scene
To Ron ( or any other band member ): Do you happen to know how many of the Beaus of Beethoven 45s were pressed? I have seen the numbers may be as low as 100 and has high as 500 or more. Any help with this is appreciated, thanks.
500 is correct
Dennis,
Thank you for your interest in our 45!
There were only 500 copies pressed, and we did not
have money for more.
I have only one myself.
I’m glad you enjoy our music.
Thanks Again!
Ron
Why no credit given to me Duane Nileski who played guitar on Goin Away Also no credit given to Buzz Robinson
Yeah really
500 is correct
Hey Ron, thanks for the reply. Both songs are good but my fave part is on “It’s Too Late” during the fuzz guitar break. The guitarist ( who I assume is Nick Fagan ) is tearing it up on the break and when you start back in with the vocals, it seems the guitarist is so absorbed into his playing it’s like ” Hey wait a minute Ron, I’m not through yet ! ” and continues on by backing your words up with the fuzz for another line. Wonderful !!! Thanks again for helping make the 60s garage scene such a great time in our lives. Take care…….Dennis
Hey Ron! Why no mention (or credit) of Duane Nileski who replaced Nick?
Yeah
What about Duane Nileski , who was the good guitarist you guys had