THE VIOLET WING - "Hey Joe" b/w "Lasting Love" (Sound Gems, SGL-1010 — 1968)

by Achille Brunet

Known for their tremendous but scarce rendition of "Hey Joe", The Violet Wing was a garage/psych band from Phoenix, Arizona seemingly active from 1967 to 1968. Some members hailed from Scottsdale, AZ and possibly Glendale, AZ.

The group was formed by David Frankus (lead guitar and vocals), Larry Cagle (keyboard), Jim Vowell (bass and vocals), and Marc Romero (drums & vocals).

I didn't find much on the band members themselves apart from David Frankus who attended Coronado High School in Scottsdale, AZ in 1962 and 1963.

(The Arizona Republic - Sept 23, 1967)

The first gig I found was a show hosted by KRUX in Sept 1967, where they shared the bill with Bobby Vee, pre-Alice Cooper band the Spiders that had just changed their name to Nazz, Your Friends (discussed HERE) and Superfine Dandelion—among others.

By November, they were managed by Jerry Capp, who was part of the Teens Of Phoenix committee, formed to help Phoenix youth to find entertainment as there was according to them only one Teen Club in the Valley. 

(The Arizona Republic - Nov 11, 1967)

Capp joined forces with Chari Zellman who was the manager of Twentieth Century Zoo, and a Methodist minister and an attorney. The association aimed to help booking big venues and provide the teens in need with legal help.

However I don't know if they kept up with Jerry Capp for long as he's never mentioned again and didn't produce their single in 1968. The band also played after sports events at Washington High School in Glendale, AZ.

(1968 yearbook - Washington High School)

(Audio Recorders in Phoenix, 1964)

In early 1968, the band recorded at Audio Recorders in Phoenix and released one single on Sound Gems, produced by John Collins and Stan Butcher. TeenBeat Mayhem dates it from January but "Lasting Love" was only copyrighted in March so I'm not sure.

Stan Butcher was a local musician, member of the Wanderers from 1964 to 1967 (dedicated article coming soon), a band that played a Battle of the Bands with Floyd & Jerry and The Spectrum, and was also one of the owners of a coffee house on 16th street. I don't know who John Collins was.

Sound Gems had been one one of the labels of Presta Records owner Earl Perrin (with only one single in the mid-60s to my knowledge) but I'm not sure he was still behind the brand for the two 1968 releases. He passed away in October that year.

The A side is a very good cover of the Music Machine version of "Hey Joe" recognizable by its slower pace and parts of the lyrics added by Sean Bonniwells that differs from the usual version. Here the Violet Wing pushed the song to the threshold of Acid rock.

The flip side, "Lasting Love", is reportedly a garage original by the band with a good organ riff by Larry. TeenBeat Mayhem calls it "fast anglo-esque pop beat" but rates it pretty low. (I haven't actually heard that side so I'd appreciate a file)

The last gig I found was in August 1968 for the "113th Annual Roman Orgy" at the Desert Hills, in double bill with the Yellowjackets. The article points out that, unlike most Roman Orgies, ties were mandatory.

The only journalist to mention The Violet Wing seem to be Troy Irvine's section Swing Around The Valley, who kept a minute eye on the local rock scene throughout the 1960s. The Violet Wing possibly disbanded at the end of the summer. 

(The Arizona Republic - Aug 3, 1968)

(The Arizona Republic - Dec 29, 1968)

In December 1968, Larry and David were arrested on narcotic charges in a raid at a house on West Buckeye Road in Phoenix with eleven other people. I guess they were rapidly released as nothing more was printed in the press on that event.

Ironically, their manager Jerry Capp had written a vehement anti-drug piece in the Arizona Republic only a month prior. Drug issues then might have motivated Capp to drop the band earlier, and if the band still existed by that time, the incident was probably enough to end the deal.

(The Arizona Republic - Nov 22, 1968)

[extract, this is only the last paragraph]

Larry Cagle was locally successful in the late 80s/early 90s with the Larry Cagle band in Flagstaff, AZ. Jim Vowell, later going by the name of Edric Aziz, played with Phoenix ethnic music/rock band Traveler in the 2010s.

The Violet Wing reformed in 2015 as a 60s music cover band and played several venues including in Tempe, AZ. Jim Vowell has since passed away.

The reunited Violet Wing in 2015.

(Coronado High School

1963 yearbook)

YOUR FRIENDS - "Sun-Burned Idol" b/w "Rustic Patterns" (Sola, 14 — 1968)

by Achille Brunet

Your Friends was a garage/psych rock band from Phoenix, Arizona. Members were Michael Roe (bass and songwriter), Stephen Lewis (drums), Gary Gilbert (Vox organ), John Jeffords (vocals), and Tom Jonas (lead guitar).

Members attended Camelback High School in Phoenix. Stephen Lewis came from Scottsdale and graduated Judson School and Mesa Community College. John Jeffords came from Phoenix.

John Jeffords in 1962.

(the only sixties pic of a band member I found)

Your Friends probably formed sometime around 1966. The earliest gig of I found was in October. The band played on the grounds of St. Joseph Hospital for the Country Fair in company of other local High School rock combos.

In February 1967, the band played at the VIP in presence of label owner and promoter Jack Curtis, owner of Mascot and mostly remembered for producing the first sessions of pre-Alice Cooper band the Spiders.

Your Friends then opened in March 1967 for The Turtles at the agricultural building with the Spiders, the Bittersweets (of "In The Night") and the Young Men (of "Go!" that recently had a noticiable local success thanks to the A side "Two Many Times").

(The Arizona Republic - March 11, 1967)

(The Arizona Republic - Sept 23, 1967)

The band played a show hosted by KRUX in Sept 1967, where they shared the bill with Bobby Vee, the Spiders that had just changed their name to Nazz, Violet Wing (dedicated article soon) and Superfine Dandelion—among others.

Armed with this success, the band was sponsored along with Floyd And Jerry by Vox at the Totem Department Store in Nov 1967.

(The Arizona Republic - Nov 2, 1967)

The band recorded their single at Loy Clingman's record studio in Phoenix probably in late 1967/early 1968. Clingman produced quantity of Phoenix artists at Viv-Debra Recording Studios, including the first Floyd & Jerry songs with the Door Knobs, and later set up his own studio. He also recorded Nazz's single "Lay Down And Die, Goodbye" in 1967.

Loy also penned the A side of the single, "Sun-Burned Idol", a decent garage pop track with a religious theme.

But Garage/Psych fans will be more drawn to "Rustic Patterns", a fine original penned by Mike Roe which is rather dark number with a cool organ break by Gary Gilbert.

The single was pressed by Phoenix custom pressing plant Wakefield Manufacturing established by Sydney Wakefield and released as the last single on the Sola label that also put out the great single "People" by The Outcasts. 

The single most likely came out in early 1968 and the band seemingly disbanded around that time, a member started to sell his guitars in February and April that year.

Gary Gilbert joined the Generation Gap (of "Too Far Gone", dedicated article coming next month) in November 1968 in replacement of ex-leader and organist Glenn Rosner (aka Gage Garnier) that had left "to get into his own thing".

John Jeffords was later in Phoenix band Jett Back in the 1970s and the band later relocated to Detroit.

Michael Roe (1970s?)

AD GALLERY:

(The Arizona Republic - Oct 14, 1966)

(The Arizona Republic - Feb 4, 1967)

(The Arizona Republic - Feb 24, 1968)

(The Arizona Republic - April 1, 1968)

(The Arizona Republic - Nov 1968)

MARTY KENNEDY AND THE MONARCHS - "Getting To Know You Better" (Lovett — 45-LV-69714, 1969)

by Achille Brunet

Marty Kennedy And The Monarchs was formed by Marty and Randy Kennedy, two brothers from Tucker, Georgia just Northeast outside Atlanta. 

Marty sung lead vocals and Randy was on drums (and possibly backing vocals). I'd appreciate info on the other members. The band was discovered by Atlanta producer and songwriter Tim McCabe who produced their single on Lovett in 1969. 

Both sides are fine teen soul songs but the real standout is "Getting To Know You Better", the A side, because of its most outstanding fuzz. The song was written by Tim McCabe.

James Timothy McCabe is a prolific singer, musician, songwriter, producer and label owner. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, he moved to Atlanta to study medecine.

He started to record singles under his own name in 1968, also recording over 800 commercials and hosted a TV musical contest on Channel 11 in 1968. He published over 75 songs and produced or recorded 15 albums over the years.

One of Tim's earliest contribution was songwriting and arrangements for the A-Side of the single by The Solid Soul, a band that evolved out of the cult classic garage band from Atlanta The Fly-By-Nites, universally known by 60s punk aficionados for "Found Love". The Solid Soul single was issued on the "123" label in 1968.

Tim McCabe - March 1972.

That year, Bill Lovett, a 22-year-old South Georgian who was a graduate in agriculture at the Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton, Ga. decided to establish a record company. 

Bill Lovett: "I chose the music-recording field after I met Tim McCabe from Nashville, Tenn. (one of the recording capitals) who is a fine singer. I like music but I don't know anything about it much—I don't sing or play any instrument—but he does. Although it's strictly a business venture with me, I feel that both Tim and I know what makes people laugh or cry, what stirs their emotions, and that's what song hits are made of. That's what we are looking for. Tim can write and arrange music, as well as sing it, but we also brought in Carlton Palmer, considered one of Atlanta's best arrangers, to put the music and musicians together for songs we accept." (The Atlanta Journal - Jan 23, 1969)

Tim also scouted talents in the area. The single by The Solid Soul was also picked by the label. On the dozen of singles released by Lovett Records Inc. between 1968 and 1970, four were by Tim, plus the one by the Monarchs he produced.

—

Thanks to Archive of Obscure Music 

for making this demo available.

— 

Tim McCabe wrote the A side for the Monarchs. The song has great horn arrangements and fine harmonies. Kee Kennedy (Marty's wife at the time) remembers a professional guitar guy was brought in for the fuzz track and it added much to the production.

A publisher's demo of the song was recently found, most likely played and sung by Tim himself with session musicians. As you can hear above, the demo differs from the version recorded by Marty and Randy, and is interpreted in a more traditional country/folk rock way.

The B-side was co-written by the two brothers. Although "I Love You Baby" doesn't feature fuzz guitar, it's just as catchy and lively as the A-side, sung with beautiful two-part harmony throughout the song (by Marty and Randy, I assume).

I found no real trace of concerts or release announcement in the press. I assume the single was sold locally and at venues.

In the early 1970s, the Kennedy brothers moved on to work in real estate. "Marty Kennedy & Associates" was established and handled real estate in Northeast Atlanta. It was a prosperous business for several decades. 

It seems Randy Kennedy later became a Reverand in Lawrenceville, Ga. and Marty Kennedy practised as a Doctor in Dalton, Ga.

____________

Many thanks to Kee Kennedy, BooBerry and Tim McCabe for precious info on this record. Other sources include my own research in the press and online. 

Lyrics sheet found with the publisher's demo.

ROAR OF THE JAGUARS - Music at Falls Church High School, Virginia (1967-1970)

by Achille Brunet

 

(I'd appreciate any additional information on the artists featured here, don't hesitate to comment or drop me a line via the contact form.)

Located in West Falls Church, Virginia, just a dozen miles from Washington D.C. and the Maryland state line, Falls Church High School, the "home of the Jaguars", moved at a new location on 7521 Jaguar Trail in 1967. As almost any place in the country, the spirit of the sixties moved in as well. Proms, teen bands, folk groups, and even "psychedelic dances". That's what we will discover here through to the yearbook archives.

Since most of these young artists never got recorded and info are scrace, I figured it would be better to make one post for all of them and give an overview of the musical scene at the school. 

The pictures are in themsleves fantastic time capsules. Here are included in chronological order all rock and folk artists pictured in the yearbooks, including some bands that were not from the school but only played there.

THE GREMLINS

(1967)

The Gremlins were a band from Springfield, VA. Of all the perfomers featured here, they're among the rare ones to have made a record. They released a single on Dimension Records in June 1966. 

More in my dedicated post on them HERE.

THE ARISTOCRATS

(1967)

"G-L-O-R-I-A, GLOR-I-A!" It seems these lads brought down the house at the Junior-Senior Prom with this Van Morrisson/Them classic rocker!

The Aristocrats were probably in the local scene on one side or the other of the Potomac. In October 1964, a band going by that name attended the America's Answer to the Beatles band contest at the Washington Coliseum and won first place against nine other bands, giving them a fantastic popularity.

"Kids packed the place. Guards had to form a protective cordon to hold the crowd back from the winners. Instant fame." (The Washington Daily News)

(The Washington Daily News - Oct 13, 1964)

I think it's also them who attended the 1966 Annual Hagerstown Jaycee Big Talent Show in Hagerstown, Maryland and ranked 3rd out of five in the competition. Other artists were Harlie Sponaugle (1rst place) The Folk Trio (2nd), The Avengers and The House Of Commons.

The band was at least active until 1967 when they played at Falls Church High. I'd appreciate info if you knew who the members were and if they recorded.

BONNIE ISOM & ANITA FERRONE

(1968)

It seems this folk duo gave an eerie, mesmerizing performance at the Variety Show!

Bonnie Isom sang in the school's Girls' Chorus and the Madrigals, and played in the drama class. Anita Ferrone, one year ahead of Bonnie, was in the Freshman Chorus and later in the County Chorus, The Madrigals and the Concert Choir. She was also in the Keyette Club.

The yearbook reports: "Atmosphere, imagination, and excitement were the key words to success for the Art Club’s annual Variety Show this year. Entertainment included go-go girls, pop-group bands, Hawaiian and modern jazz dancers, and baton twirlers."

PSYCHEDELIC DANCE

(1968)

Wow! A "psychedelia inspired class dance", I would have loved to see that! I'd venture to guess that the "One Step Beyond theme" song used there would have rather been the 1964 rendition by the Ventures rather than the original TV show orchestral theme from 1959.

MIKE DUNKLEY

(1968)

This young fellow seems ready to groove! "Soul shaker" Michael Dunkley, as the yearbook called him then, still performs and has a Youtube channel you can check HERE.

His upload of a 1965 backyard recording by The Plagues (on which he didn't play but he's the one who recorded it in Annandale, Virginia at an end of school year party) is also of interest:

DECEMBER'S CHILDREN

(1968)

Hairy music? A fake goatee here, most likely. December's Children were a band from Fredericksburg, VA. Pictured here must be singer Jerry Burke (unless it's Mic Coiner who replaced him on lead vocals after Jerry left for Vietnam in 1968). 

They released one single on a Church Falls label as December's Children, Ltd. in 1967 with a nice cover of Arthur Lee's "Signed D.C." backed with an original pop/soul ballad titled "So Long Ago" sung with a beautiful deep voice. From what I heard, the band played a lot in the NoVA area. More here: garagehangover.com

(Sorry, I can only share the A side.)

THOMAS SALISBURY

(1969)

Live at the Variety Show, billed as "the Thomas Salisbury experience", so probably Hendrix-type psychedelic rock by Thomas and a band. Fantastic shirt with Peace signs, by the way.

RICKY SHINE & PAT JONES

(1969)

Folk duo. Richard "Rick" Shine and Pat Jones were also in the football and baseball team.

MELINDA PITTMAN

(1970)

Born in 1953 in Falls Church, Melinda E. Pittman has since become a prolific writer, comedian, singer, musician and director in Portland, Oregon. She graduated from VPI&SU Theatre Arts Department in 1975, then spent a year studying Theatre Directing at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana before moving to Portland, Oregon and worked with various theatrical companies. She was in The Fallen Angel Choir in the 1980s-90s and recorded several albums. She received the 2000 Angus L. Bowmer Drama Award from the Oregon Book Awards for her show WonderBroads: The Babes & Broads Who Broke the Rules.

As a last note...

Seems someone misplaced his sousaphone...

Boy, funny how school can be!

(1967)

_______

All pictures taken from the Jaguar yearbooks, digitalized by the Internet Archive.

THE GREMLINS from Virginia - "California Sounds" b/w "Tale For The Sea" (1966)

by Achille Brunet

California Sounds? Not quite. In Springfield, Virginia just on the other side of Washington DC, in terms of place to surf you could at best try on the Potomac River. Result is not guaranteed.

The "Fabulous" Gremlins were a band from Springfield, VA and were obsiously Beach Boys/surf music fans. They recorded a single at Capital Recording Co., Inc. that was released in June 1966 on Dimension Records, which was the studio's own label. 

Falls Church High School, 1967

Photo taken by David Werth.

The A side, "California Sounds", is a lively surf-teen number, backed with "Tales For The Sea", a good moody surf jangler. The B side reminds me a bit of "Black Jacket Woman", a song by The Tropics from Florida that was quite popular thoughout the East Coast. 

Both sides were witten by Mark Buckingham. I don't know who the other members were.

Walt Jones is also credited for arrangements in the BMI entry. Walt is also credited on the other release on the label so he might have had a hand at Capital Recording Co., Inc and Dimension Records.

Hear both sides:

The band played at Falls Church High School in West Falls Church in 1967 for the SCA freshman dance. It seems they made a good impression! You have to dig the gremlins drawn as little ghosts on the background. 

(An overview of the FCHS 1960s Teen Scene is coming soon.)

I'd appreciate any additional information on this band.

(Seems they copyrighted both songs as if 

it was just one. Probably a mistake)