The East Coastmen were not a garage band, but a revue or pop group with horns, listed in Billboard’s Campus Attractions issue of 1971.
Don Newsome commented with the names of the members, so I’ll add them here:
Don Newsome – Bass
Mike (surname unknown) – Sax
Alan Partin – Drums
Spiller Anderson – Trumpet
Charlie Harbrook – Trombone
Thom Clement – Keyboards
Dave Herndon – Frontman, lead singer
Bob Kerwin – Lead guitar
Gary Ricks – Trumpet, trombone
Personal Manager was D.C. Auman. They were booked by Attractions Ltd in Hampton.
Bob Kerwin sent in songs cut on a two track machine at D’Arcy Studios on 21st St in Norfolk, version of Ollie & The Nightingales “Girl You Make My Heart Sing” and Robert Parker’s “Barefootin’.
The East Coastmen – Girl You Make My Heart Sing
Below are two photos contributed by Don Newsome.
I’m Don Newsome and was the bass player for the group.
Left to right:
Me – Bass
Unknown – Sax. Was a Navy LT
Alan Partin – Drums
Spiller Anderson – Trumpet
Charlie Harbrook – Trombone
Thom Clement – Keyboards
Dave Herndon – Frontman, lead singer
Bob Kerwin – lead guitar
Charlie and Spiller are deceased.
I have confirmed that our Sax players first name was Mike. Still researching for his full name.
Charlie lives in Knoxville. Not deceased as far as I know.
Bob Kerwin
Missing in the photo is our other trumpet player, Gary Ricks. I believe he was working that day.
Gary Ricks Trumpet player and fill in trombone player Bob thanks for mentioning me. I think you were right I must have been working. I think the sax player may have been Duke Cole?
You’re thinking Ronnie Cole, Gary. Ronnie passed away years ago.
Tried to paste “Girl You Make My Heart Sing” that we recorded in ’68, or ’69 to this site. Evidently, it’s a no go.
Hi Bob,
I am the one who posted the photo to this site – please send the sound file or link to me and I will add it to the post.
RChrisBishop@gmail.com
Thank you Chris!
Wow, Bob and Gary. You guys have lost a few brain cells like me but our original Sax player was Jerry Cole not Duke. He went to Maury High with most of us and his father made him quit the band. That’s when we took on Mike who was a lieutenant in the Navy. I have not been able to remember his last name.
The song “Girl You Make My Heart Sing” was recorded at the D’Arcy Studios on 21st St in Norfolk. Back then, it was on the second floor in a building just down from the Sears store on the same side of the street. We had to haul all the equipment up a set of stairs to include a Hammond B3 and Leslie Tone cabinet. No elevator. The other song we recorded that day was “Bare Foot’n” which was suppose to be the B side of a 45. It was a great experience.
No brain cell’s lost here Duke was his nickname but Jerry cole was his name
Yeah I’m still here to, Dave Herndon. I took those photos at Strawberry Banks Hampton some 54 years ago. I remember positioning you guys for promotional shots for DCAuman. I set the timer and ran back in the shot. We were pretty good band back then. We formed the August band after East Coast Men. Those were the days, only good memories. We are survivors.✌🏻
I have a CD that Tom Gartman made for me of Girl You make my Heart Sing and Barefootin. The good ol days for sure.
Glad to see you are still kicking, too David. I never heard August play, but am aware of how good that band was. Curtis is one of my most favorite guitar players that came out of the greater area. I played in a band or two before and after my stint with the Excitement / East Coastmen, but succumbed to loading heavy equipment around, practice in order to improve the chops constantly, and band rehearsal a couple nights a week to keep the repertoire fresh. As a dance band we were always having to play songs I got so very tired of playing. Maybe I’m just a poop, but how many times did we have to play 39 – 21 – 40 Shape? My Girl, Hey Baby, Midnight Hour? Sheesh! How we got away without having to play Mustang Sally three times a night is beyond me. Bands STILL play it 57 years after it was released.