The Rimfires had one great single, featuring the rocking vocal “Bandstand Step” backed with “Un-Gowa”.
Members probably included:
Robert Wantuch – drums
Theodore Michael Broskey
Ted Niemann
Ted Broskey is credited with writing “Un-Gowa” on the label, but BMI’s database for Cedarlane publishing also has Bob Wantuch listed as writer. BMI shows “Bandstand Step” written by all three members.
Released on Sounds of the Rimfires, the code R3KM-9159/60 indicates the 1964 date. I don’t have the record but I assume there is an “I” in the deadwax to indicate RCA’s Indianapolis pressing plant.
The band came from South Bend, Indiana.
Bobby Wantuch’s LinkedIn profile shows he drummed with the Rivieras, Clark Terry, Thad Jones and others besides the Rimfires. In more recent years he is listed as Team Leader at Musicians Friend.
A notice in the South Bend Tribune from May 1, 1964 advertises a “Teenage Rock n Roll Dance” with music by the Rimfires.
A January 1966 article in the same paper lists local bands: the Rimfires, Ravens, Teen- Tones, Trade Winds, Fugitives and Soul Seekers.
The Tradewinds cut “Oop Oop a Doo” / “Floatin'” on Destination 620 in March, 1966.
There was a Fugitives band from Bloomington that released “Sticks and Stones” / “Lonely Weekends” on Dust 1050, but this may be a different band – Fugitives, like the Ravens, being a common band name.
That’s All Rite Mama has an article on the Teen-Tones, listing their three 45s and members: “Mike Ryan on vocal and sax, Ken Kidder on Wurlitzer Piano, Tom Hemminger on Lead, Roger Lacky on Rhythm, Lew Kimble on Drums.”
T&T stands for Tune and Talent Productions, Paul E. Hertel’s publishing and promotion company. That’s All Rite Mama mentions Paul Hertel also managed the Rimfires and that the band became the Music Project.
I could use quality scans of the Rimfires 45 labels.
Graham McQueen was the lead singer for the Rimfires and Dave “Lard” Lewis the bass player. They also recorded a version of Elvis’ ‘You’re so square “. It had an arrangement in the style of the Zombies.
Could it be that the Rimfires changed their name for this recording? A group called the Pickwick Papers recorded “You’re So Square” Zombies style for the Phalanx label in 1966. Flipside was a version of Bobby Comstock’s “I Wanna Do It”
Graham was my bother and died about five years ago.
Hello Ian… I thought you might find it interesting that I recently bought an old vinyl record online of a gospel group (The Overholts) and Graham McQueen has a credit for engineering and mixing on it. It was recorded at Imperial Sound Studios on Reddick St. in Mishawaka. Someone else posted the title track of the album here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PujIvNoqkg8
I’m sorry about the loss of your brother.
I thought you might find it interesting that I came across a record he engineered and mixed so I decided to share. If I could upload a pic of the album cover back (where the credit is listed) with this post, I would.
Thank you for posting this. My husband is Bobby Wantuch.