The Majestic Five have this one obscure single on Santa Records out of Phoenix, Arizona in 1965.
The A-side, “Jerk Like Me” is a cover of Rudy Gonzalez & the Reno Bops “Do the Jerk Like Me”. The drummer lays down a rock-solid beat up front in the recording, while the rest of the group sounds somewhat distant. The singer does a good job but the record has a sparse sound.
The Majestic Five in Albuquerque, September 1965
The flip is a ballad, “Queen of Fools” written by Saenz and Escobedo who were members of the Majestic Five. Santa Records was located at 506 W. Cocopah in Phoenix, I haven’t seen any other releases on this label.
According to a comment below by Joseph Saenz, members included:
Albert Escobedo – guitar Benny Dimas – rhythm guitar Joe Saenz – keyboards Arturo Borquez – bass Albert Rodriguez – drums Jerry Cruz – vocalist
In June of ’65 I find several ads for their week-long engagements as the Majestics 5 at the Can Can on 3rd St. and E. Roosevelt in Phoenix and then in September at the Grand Canyon Bar and Lounge at 119 4th NW at Copper in Albuquerque, but no mentions of the group after that. Joseph Saenz explains in a comment below that the group relocated to Los Angeles for a number of years.
Majestic Four, March 28, 1968
Tedd Thomey’s In Person column from the Long Beach Independent / Press-Telegram on June 27, 1968 profiled the Majestic 4 during their time in California:
… the best-liked band ever to appear at the Purple Bunny, 11311 Imperial Highway, Norwalk …
The Majestic 4 are lead guitarist Albert Cardoza, 25, born near Albuquerque, N.M.; bass guitarist Arthur Borquez, 23, of Nogalez, Ariz.; drummer Albert Rodriguez, 23, of Tamalpais, Mexico, and organist Joe Saenz, of Globe, Ariz.
By the time they were teen-agers, the two Alberts, Arthur and Joe were all living in Phoenix …
In 1965, a “battle of the bands” was held at the Phoenix fairgrounds featuring Sonny and Cher. Thirty-five bands, amateurs and pros, competed for prizes, including an electronic organ. The Majestic 5 decided to enter, hoping to win the organ for one of their singers, Joe, who lacked an instrument. During the contest, they played their theme song, “Hello, Everybody,” which they wrote …
When the judges announced that they had won, the boys were so astounded and overjoyed that they could hardly speak. They had their choice of the organ or a recording contract with VeeJay Records. They chose the organ. It was a good decision, because the recording company decided to sign them anyway. Through no fault of the band’s, the recording deal later fell through, largely because of legal complications.
The Majestic Four and Mary-Lee Whitney opening for Brook Benton, Cannonball Adderly, Carmen McRae, Richard Pryor, and Sam Fletcher, Shrine Auditorium, March 19, 1967… Then the group decided to come to California. They dropped one musician … and changed their name to the Majestic 4.
Joe, their spokesman, walked up to Stan Rossi, owner of the Purple Bunny, handed him the band’s business card and asked politely: “Sir, we’d like to play for you tonight while your regular band is on its rest break.” Rossi agreed. The Majestic 4 made such a hit with the crowd that Rossi hired them on the spot. They started work three weeks later and stayed eight months. Last April, after playing at clubs in Nevada and elsewhere in California, they returned for another smash engagement at the Bunny.
Majestic Four and Mary Lee Whitney, Long Beach Independent, June 27, 1968
… Their star singer, Mary Lee Whitney, is another natural …
Born in Portland, Ore., she sang for seven years with a Baptist Church choir … She was the seventh of the nine children in her family. An older brother, Jimmy, a singer who had his own band, inspired her to become a professional.
Ad for the Majestic 4, Mary Lee Whitney, and the Shirell’s (Shirelles?) at the Purple Bunny, June 1968She became so good that a church friend, Henry Moore, asked her to join his professional group, the Harlequins. She came to California with them in 1966 and sang with them at the Purple Bunny and elsewhere.
Mary Lee Whitney released one 45 in 1966 on Loma 2044, “Don’t Come a’Knockin'” (produced and arranged by Bobby Paris with Doug Best, supervised by Russ Regan) / “This Could Have Been Mine” (produced by Larry Shayne).
As Mary Lee Whitney Evans, she sang backing vocals to three Stevie Wonder songs on Songs in the Key of Life and Hotter than July.
Thank you to Francisco Candia for sending me the clippings of the Majestic Four’s time in California.
16 thoughts on “The Majestic Five “Jerk Like Me” / “Queen of Fools””
The group formerly was known as Manny and The Majestics and also used to appear at Phoenix’s old Riverside Ballroom. There was a member named Joe Saenz. “Queen of Fools” was comped on the 2014 CD “Desert Doo Wops.”
The majestics, the majestic four, my brothers band, same guys, consisting of Albert Rodriguez on drums, Albert escobedo on guitar, Arturo borquez, on bass, Joe saenz, alias jj on keyboards.at one time Jerry cruz, vocalist, Benny Dimas on rhythm guitar. The band wasn’t heard of for a while, cause they were in Los Angeles for six, seven years. Played the purple bunny in norwalk, the blue bunny in montebello, the red velvet the in hollywood, the tip top club in inglewood, and other clubs. Worked with wolf man jack backing up oldies groups like the drifters, and others, backed up et ta james, Tyrone davis, quite a few famous groups.
Hello, just letting you know that Bennie Dimas passed away April 12th 2018 here in Lodi Ca. Bennie was a great Musician and formed his band here in Northern Ca., They went by the name “The Oso Band”. He was a great Man and very talented Bass Player. He will be missed.
Martin, you mentioned The Oso Band. My brother, drummer Wayne Roberts (Robert Wayne Hesterman), worked at Neptune East in Scottsdale, AZ during the late 70’s. Is this the same band? Thank you 🙂
Is “Jerk Like Me” posted as an .mp3 anywhere on the internet? I’d like to play it on my radio program. http://www.radiofreephoenix.com, the program is Looking Back At Arizona’s Top 40. If you can supply a bio on the band, I would appreciate that as well. Thanks!
My father Allen( Al ) Thompson worked at the Purple Bunny with Stan Rossi and Hank Jewitt. My father passed away in 2021. We lived behind the bowling alley ( Keystone Lanes ) in Norwalk. I remember when I was 9 that the righteous brothers had a jam session in our living room. Hank would come by and he always had a big cigar in his mouth. I’ve been trying to research my father’s history. I remember he told me once that behind the Purple Bunny was a trailer park and that they had purchased a trailer and ran a phone line from the club to the trailer and would run book out of the trailer. He told me that they had to pay Mickie Cohn a percentage of the take. I don’t know if this is true. Just can’t find anything on the net about the Purple Bunny.
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The Majestic Five have this one obscure single on Santa Records out of Phoenix, Arizona in 1965.
The flip is a ballad, “Queen of Fools” written by Saenz and Escobedo who were members of the Majestic Five. Santa Records was located at 506 W. Cocopah in Phoenix, I haven’t seen any other releases on this label.
The group formerly was known as Manny and The Majestics and also used to appear at Phoenix’s old Riverside Ballroom. There was a member named Joe Saenz. “Queen of Fools” was comped on the 2014 CD “Desert Doo Wops.”
The majestics, the majestic four, my brothers band, same guys, consisting of Albert Rodriguez on drums, Albert escobedo on guitar, Arturo borquez, on bass, Joe saenz, alias jj on keyboards.at one time Jerry cruz, vocalist, Benny Dimas on rhythm guitar. The band wasn’t heard of for a while, cause they were in Los Angeles for six, seven years. Played the purple bunny in norwalk, the blue bunny in montebello, the red velvet the in hollywood, the tip top club in inglewood, and other clubs. Worked with wolf man jack backing up oldies groups like the drifters, and others, backed up et ta james, Tyrone davis, quite a few famous groups.
What do you want to know ?
Joseph, Do you have a copy of this record?
Hello,
just letting you know that Bennie Dimas passed away April 12th 2018 here in Lodi Ca. Bennie was a great Musician and formed his band here in Northern Ca., They went by the name “The Oso Band”. He was a great Man and very talented Bass Player. He will be missed.
Martin, you mentioned The Oso Band. My brother, drummer Wayne Roberts (Robert Wayne Hesterman), worked at Neptune East in Scottsdale, AZ during the late 70’s. Is this the same band? Thank you 🙂
Did Majestic 5 ever work with Thelma Houston in Downey, Ca?
Yes we worked with Thelma Houston and Mary Lee Whitney in Norwalk at the Purple Bunny.
Correction (jj), Joe Saenz phone number is 602-423-0327
Just wanted to comment that the cancan lounge belonged to my grandpa in 1965 he loved sometimes singing along with band.
Is “Jerk Like Me” posted as an .mp3 anywhere on the internet? I’d like to play it on my radio program. http://www.radiofreephoenix.com, the program is Looking Back At Arizona’s Top 40. If you can supply a bio on the band, I would appreciate that as well. Thanks!
John, did you ever get a copy of “Jerk Like Me”? I’m also looking for a mp3 or the vinyl.
Not yet Eddie. If I find it, I’ll let you know. Thanks!
They also backed up Sonny and Cher in Canada, in the early 70’s.
Does anyone know what years Bennie Dimas was in the group?
My father Allen( Al ) Thompson worked at the Purple Bunny with Stan Rossi and Hank Jewitt. My father passed away in 2021. We lived behind the bowling alley ( Keystone Lanes ) in Norwalk. I remember when I was 9 that the righteous brothers had a jam session in our living room. Hank would come by and he always had a big cigar in his mouth. I’ve been trying to research my father’s history. I remember he told me once that behind the Purple Bunny was a trailer park and that they had purchased a trailer and ran a phone line from the club to the trailer and would run book out of the trailer. He told me that they had to pay Mickie Cohn a percentage of the take. I don’t know if this is true. Just can’t find anything on the net about the Purple Bunny.