by Achille Brunet
Notably compiled on Last Of Garage Punk Unknowns - Vol. 4 with the great garage ballad "(I Ain't Gonna Give Up) My Way Of Life", the Fugitive Five long remained shrouded in mystery. Let's dig out some pictures and stories.
The Fugitive Five from Decatur, Illinois first formed as a six-piece in November 1964 as Eugene and the Fugitives in a more rock 'n' roll/soul style. The members met as they all worked in the mail room of the Decatur Herald And Review and drummer Steve Fisher suggested they form a band.
Eugene And The Fugitives—first single lineup.
(Decatur Herald and Review - Dec 29, 1965)
They were led by Eugene King, a 17-year-old African American singer who was also an employee of General Electric Co. The other members were Phillip Jones (rhythm guitar, harmonica), Bruce Berry (bass), Clyde Sims (lead guitar), and Fred Boyer (organ). They were all between 16 and 18 and attended local high schools. In 1965, Clyde Sims and Steve Fisher were freshmen at Eastern Illinois University.
On April 17, 1965, the band traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to cut their first record, produced by Chuck Givens. Givens was a Decatur musician and producer. He had led numerous bands in the early 1960s including Chuck And The Cannonballs, the Chuck Givens Combo, and the Quintones. Givens seemingly relocated to Jackson, Tennessee around 1964 while still producing Decatur artists most notably on the Flame label.
Eugene And The Fugitives recording in Nashville.
(Decatur Daily Review - June 14, 1965)
For the recording session, Eugene and the Fugitives penned two songs, "I Asked Her", written by Clyde Sims, and "Girls, Girls", written by Eugene King and Fred Boyer, that were released in June on Cherry, a one-off label of Givens.
Chuck Givens might have contributed some arrangements as he's also credited on the record, though not mentioned in the press article. 1,000 copies were pressed. "I Asked Her" is a cool garage/soul track. I haven't heard the flip yet.
The record was delivered in several record stores in Decatur. The band also made a special appearance at Shoppers World where they distributed free records to the public. The band grew in popularity and was booked at the end of the year to entertain the crowds at the Citywide New Year's Eve Teen-age Dance.
In early/mid-1966, the band went through lineup changes. Eugene King, Phillip Jones and Fred Boyer left. Terry Willis, a junior at Eisenhower High School, replaced King on lead vocals while Barry Edward, also attending Eastern Illinois University, took up the organ and the band kept playing as The Fugitives.
The Fugitives—second single lineup.
(Decatur Herald and Review - Sept 24, 1966)
William "Bill" Ridge, the record manager at Shoppers World, became the band's promoter. At a loss of a place to play, Ridge sponsored many dances for the band at the Eagles Lodge, soon playing twice a week for over five months and drawing great crowds. The band also played a couple of pool parties, Fashion contests and Police Night dances. Former Fugitives member Fred Boyer became manager for local band The Mystics (they would become The Meat Dept., "This Week's Children" on Polar Bear) and had them attend the Eagles dances as well.
During the summer, the band recorded their second and last single at Stereosonic Studios in Chicago, Illinois and released it on their own Cell label. It was only then that the band took up the name Fugitive Five, possibly to avoid confusion with other bands with the same name, while keeping playing locally as The Fugitives.
On the A side, the band taped a good version of "Route 66". But the true standout is the flip side, "(I Ain't Gonna Give Up) My Way Of Life", a garage rock original by Clyde Sims with slower pace and great organ background and break.
The single was put on sale in August 1966. While the band enjoyed great local popularity, the disc didn't sell "as well as expected, but good". The band also found regrettable that "most adults [were] apathetic or hostile toward the group" and teen music in general.
The Fugitives at an Eagles Lodge dance.
(Decatur Herald and Review - Sept 2, 1966)
No news were given about them after Sept 1966 and they possibly disbanded in the following months. Clyde Sims went on to form "The Fresh Clover Blues" and "Mother Fox" bands at Eastern Illinois University in the following years (but maybe they were only an evolution of the Fugitives).
Later on, Clyde taught Art and French in the Jerseyville and Kansas school systems, and in his free time gave guitar and French lessons. Later, he was also a thirty-year member of "The Artistics" band in Charleston. He passed away in 2019.
Having been long-time friends, Terry Willis would join The Meat Department when reforming in 1996. More HERE at Downstate Sounds.
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