The mighty Dawn 5, once one of the local favorites, and sadly, least known bands of the 1965-'67 era. They stayed together long enough to give us a great 45, just enough info to keep interest up, including an interview in the Indianapolis Teen Tempo magazine,(that I don't have yet) and then 
disappeared from the scene. More than a couple of the bands I have interviewed admitted the Dawn Five were the best musicians out there. Who am I to disagree? But, who were they, what else did they do, and where are they now? They were:
Mike Nicoloff
Greg Nicoloff
Dave Dunne
Dave McKnown
Steve Benham
Listen to the truly dazzlin' Necessary Evil right now, and tell me where these guys are!
22 comments:
wow these guys are great! cant wait to read and discover more...
MIke Nicoloff and Dave McKown were killed in a van accident. The group continued on for a while. I was the replacement drummer during most of that time.
Mike Berkowitz
www.berkmusic.com
Tiger A Go-Go
The Flame
The Whiteland Barn
They played at all of the clubs and were the best regional band of the 60s. They could jam a bluesy piece for most of an hour! What a band. What a time...
bob franks, Southport '68
jrfranks@USA.NET
DAwn % played the Le Scene as well and the Indiana Roof. I loved them!
I knew them well. Mike Nicoloff was a good friend and I really liked his dad, George, who I believe still works for the IPS. McKown was in a coma after the accident and eventually died. Hate to say it, but I still consider Greg Nicoloff to be one of the biggest jerks I have ever known. I hope he grew up.
I replaced Mike Nicoloff on keys after the tragic accident. George McKown sang with the band briefly. A number of A+ list drummers played in the band as well (Mike Berkowitz, Stan Gage, Jack Gilfoy). Greg & Mike's dad George was the band leader for the Jim Gerard TV Show of the 60's here in Indy. The Dawn Five opened the Sherwood Country Club on Jan. 21, 1968, and were one of the Top 3 bands in Indy at that time handled by Bill Overman of the original Sunshine Productions. Great band at a great time never to be repeated.
Pat,
Thanks for checking in, yes, great band, tragically unknown nowadays. My goal is to help change that!
Greg Nicoloff folded the Dawn Five in the early 70's & went to LA to be a studio guy: lot of other people thought him a prick as well. Surprised to hear they played Le Scene 'cause that wasn't their scene at all.
As an aside, The Jim Gerard Orchestra on Channel 6 in the mornings of 1959-1972 had a piano player named Tom Hensley, who left the band to join Neil Diamond.
This is Dave Dunne, reporting in from Monterey,CA. My brother told me about this blog and my curiosity got the better of me. I am still playing bass, mostly big band or contempory Christian worship music on Sundays. I have been an elementary school teacher for nearly 20 years, following a career in the wine business.
I left the Dawn 5 in '69 to get married and move to Muncie. When I returned to Naptown, I played with Ray Churchman at Brodie's Village Inn, a trio woth Jim Hart at the Starlight Lounge, among other gigs. After I graduated from IUPUI in '75, I moved to Redondo Beach and 2 years later to Monterey.
Thanks for remembering a magical time in my life, and hey Pat Finnegan, what's shakin'?
Wow! This is pretty crazy! I'm George McKown and my brother David was the drummer in the Dawn Five during their glory days. He died as a result of the injuries he suffered in the accident that night in Battle Creek, MI following a band job. David was in a coma for four months and died September 20th, 1968. Sometime in the Spring of 1969, I joined the band and performed with a couple of the guys who have weighed in or were mentioned, Dave Dunne, Pat Finnegan and Greg Nicoloff. Those guys, along with Steve Benham, Chuck Christoff, Stan Gage were all in the band while I was with them for nearly two years. Steve Benham was the lead singer and I was lead singer #2. I couldn't play any instrument but I had a high voice and could do all of the Hollies Graham Nash harmonies that my brother used to do. Greg Nicoloff wouldn't allow us to have two lead singers so he had me wear a guitar that we didn't turn on and I faked playing it while singing. Dave Dunne, Pat Finnegan, it is great to hear from you guys! Sounds like you are well.
Dave Dunne! One of the best bass players ever. Never will forget you playing that Gibson bass. Man, what memories. Hope you're doing well. Dawn 5 was incredible.
hi Dave Dunne. Jim Carr here ( in Europe where i have been for many years)...Remember me as a roadie during 65 and 66 before the tragic Battle Creek event. I had just left the band weeks earlier. I lived in Santa Cruz during the 70's and 80's (UCSC grad school)...scuba in Monterey all the time...you were great as a musician and person.
Hi, George. I'm Debbi (Mix) Lory. Went to jr high with you and grew up in the same church with the Benham family. Moved to Carmel, In for my high school years and my friends and I loved your band. Tried to follow everywhere you played. You guys were the best.
Haven't forgotten the Westlake Beach Club or the Sherwood Club, Frat Parties at IU, Butler. At the Coliseum warmed up for Beach Boys and others. Turtles at Tiger A Go-Go. Had great soul, British invasion & Beatle medleys certainly one of the best cover bands...all great players.
2 of us hauling the B-3 up flights of stairs..!
formative years and tragic
I knew Greg Nicoloff in the 1980's. I helped him work on the SLICK MOON CD, the band that he created in Hollywood. Not soon after, he changed his name to James Callahan. Wish I could find him, a crazy guy. Anyone have a clue as to where he is right now? I still owe him $100.00!
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/slick-moon-stay-night-lite-aor-1989-14182534
I remember Dave McKown as he was a drum student of my father Richard Paul - periodically, I would get hand-me-down clothes from him - He was really cool and I thought very highly of him. I remember my father was crushed when the accident occurred and his death affected him greatly.
HI George, I went to No. Central & saw Dave in several plays. Then on weekends in the band. I came to your house when Dave was in his coma to ask your Mom if there was anything I could do to help other than prayers.
Pat, I don't know how Robert Boone got involved with the dawn five but if you look at the 45 that's printed I believe it says Boone then it's got a hyphen and it says records. Bob Boone owned a organ piano store at the corner of 46th and college I believe it was simply called Boone's organs and pianos or perhaps just Boones music. Bob actually gave me a copy of that 45 single which I believe I still have. I knew Bob because after he got out of the music business he became a sales rep for an insulation company.
The Benhams are my cousins. Steve is alive and well. His son Mark is extremely talented and sings and plays all around Indy including Ruoff or whatever the name is today.
At the funeral the chamber orchestra was sick! I was glad to have been invited just to hear the violins and cello. I always had the upmost respect for all of the people mentioned in the band. David Lovell - Idle Few.
I'm QUITE sad to be publishing my dear brother's obituary in the Indianapolis Star for Sunday Oct. 8, 2023 Although the Dawn 5 was not mentioned in the obit. He was the best guy one could have for a brother
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