The Fabulous Thunderbolts started as a quartet at Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll, Iowa. Carroll is situated about 90 miles drive NE of Omaha, Nebraska, or 90 miles NW of Des Moines.
The Thunderbolts traveled to Sears Recording Studios in Omaha to cut their only single, “My Girl Sue”/”I Want to See You Again” released in August 1965. Ted Kisgen wrote both sides and copyrighted both under his own name in April, 1965.
“My Girl Sue” is a sharp two-minute rocker. The entire band is solid, but one can’t help but notice the blazing lead guitar, the excellent lead vocals, and the sax solo.
Members included:
Jerry Hauser – lead vocals
Rich Danner – lead guitar
Ted Kisgen – drums, lead vocals on “My Girl Sue”
Gene Wycoff – saxophone
Mike Kisgen
Ron Hauser
Harold Powell
They seem to have been a quintet for much of their existence. On their single I hear lead guitar, bass guitar, saxophone, drums and lead vocal. The Iowa Rock n’ Roll Music Association Hall of Fame inducted the group in 2000 and has a tiny photo of the group as a quintet on their inductee page.
The band also recorded a couple of acetate demos at Sears that I haven’t heard, the uptempo “Say That You Love Me” and an instrumental, “The Explorer” that seem to predate the Poverty release.
I had a photo at the top of the page from an ebay auction of this demo, but a comment below correctly pointed out the photo was of a different group, the Thunderbolts from Plattsburgh, NY.
Ted Kisgen joined a later version of the Green Giants, originally from the southern Iowa towns of Shenandoah and Bedford. They had one single on Round & Round Records 4501, “Pity Me” / “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” in November 1966.
Many singles were cut at Sears Recording Studio, including the Last Chapter on Skip, the Shags “You’re a Loser” on Rocky (and Jo Jo), the Cellophane Spectacle on Spectacular, and probably everything released on Dad’s Records out of Omaha, including the Fabulous Impacts, the Sundae Funnies, the Rumbles, and the Great Imposters. I haven’t seen a comprehensive list. The Echos V from Des Moines recorded a five-song demo there that has not been released.
I haven’t seen any other releases on a Poverty Records from Omaha.
Yesterday, I found a 45 by Smilin Harold (Thege) on Great Western Records. While trying to dig up some information about it, I came across your site. According to the label on this particular record, the two tracks (“Love Sick Blues” b/w “Little Green Valley” – cover versions, I’m assuming) were recorded at Sears Recording Studios in Omaha. There’s no date given and I the only info I can seem to find is an obituary for a Harold Thege in Nebraska from last year.
Note that the photo of band members depicts a band called The Thunder Bolts from Northern NY. They recorded in the 60’s at Rondack Records in Plattsburgh, NY. Songs included “Blending” and “Thunderhead” among others. The center member is Bruce Danville.
Hello, thank you for pointing that out, I’ve removed the photo since it’s of a different band.
The lead vocals on the Thunderbolts release recorded at Sears recording studio on the poverty label the lead vocalist was not Jerry Hauser it was Ted kisgen. My name is Rich Danner I played lead guitar and was the originator of the fabulous Thunderbolts from Carroll Iowa. I formed the group and was with the thunderbolts for many years I gave the group its name the fabulous Thunderbolts and it had nothing to do with the story about a storm happening the night the group was named that is not true there was no storm and there were no lightning bolts it’s amazing how things come about that are not the truth I simply thought of it and thought it would be a good name
Richie
This is the Cajun from Maribelles..
Great guitar playing my friend, on my girl sue
Enjoy south louisiana..