The Victoria Advocate ran this notice of a battle of the bands at the armory on April 8, 1968. Bands included the Winds of Change, Under 21, Glass Stairway and Love Street, none of whom I’ve heard of before, and I don’t believe any of them recorded.
Interesting name for the act at the American Legion that same evening, “Nasty & the Premiums”!
Fred Shields wrote to me with some information on the Glass Stairway:
The simple story is The Glass Stairway was originally named The What (very original, huh?) and we formed up in Victoria, Texas sometime around Fall/Winter of 1967/1968. We were a classic “garage” band because that’s where we practiced, along with living rooms during the winter months. Since the venues where we played were dance halls, country clubs, YMCA’s, and church sponsored youth events, our music was current tunes with a dance beat. “96 Tears”, “Gloria”, “Brown Eyed Girl”, Animals, Stones etc. Later on we started playing Doors, Jimmi Hendrix, Yardbirds, Mitch Ryder, etc. Our signature song for a long time was “Light My Fire” with very extended keyboard and guitar solos.
Originally there were five of us, me on keyboard, James on bass, Rob singer/rhythm guitar, Bobbie lead guitar, and Frankie the drummer. Frankie and I had formed a band with no success when we were approached by James and Rob who were currently in a very successful Country & Western band called The Zebras. James and Rob wanted to play Rock & Roll, which was unheard of in the local scene at that time although it was coming alive after the Beatles success. We became very popular playing in little dance places all up and down the South Texas Coast. The dream ended in the summer of 1969 when I had to leave Victoria and go to boarding school.
James and Rob and I all share the same strong memories of that time. Everyone else had different performing paths later on in life. James continues to play professionally around the Austin, Texas scene.
If you have any photos or info on any local Texas bands of the ’60s, please comment below or contact me.
My name is Fred Shields, and I was the keyboard player for the Glass Stairway. I believe we were the winners of that contest. We played a number of Doors hits, and “Light My Fire” was our signature song.