Blue Angels - Hammond, Indiana

The Blue Angels from Hammond, Indiana have reported in, and we have a great story to tell. The Blue Angels started as the Starlighters, but that name was cut short when they joined the musicians union. Seems there was some band known as Joey D & the Starlighters that had some hit record or something, and the Blue Angels was chosen as the new name.
Band members pictured: (B&W photo)
Mario Muniz - Singer
Kenny Simmons - Bass
John Puskas - Sax
Bob Zemburski - Drums
Rick Toth - Guitar

Also members included Paul Rivich (first guitar player) and singers H.A. Gentry and Micky Mack. The Blue Angels were on the cutting edge as style went, sporting blue silk suits, blue boots, and of course BLUE HAIR!!!

I'll step aside and let John tell his story!

John Puskas:

WE STARTED OUT AS A 3 PIECE POLKA BAND. KENNY ON ACCORDION -JOHN ON SAX AND BOB ON DRUMS. WHEN WE ADDED THE GUITAR AND SINGER KENNY STARTED PLAYING ORGAN AND BASS GUITAR. WE CHANGED OUR NAME TO THE BLUE ANGELS AND ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. I'M NOT SURE WHO THOUGHT OF THE BLUE HAIR. WE SOMETIMES CHANGED OUTFITS EVERY SET. WE PLAYED EVERY VFW , AMERICAN LEGION , LIONS CLUB, AND EVERYHALL BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD A CROWD. WE PLAYED AT LEAST 5 NIGHTS A WEEK--NIGHT CLUBS--TEEN DANCES--CONCERTS- WEDDINGS. WE WERE THE HOUSE BAND AT MADURAS DANCE LAND IN WHITING INDIANA. IT WAS A HUGE PLACE WITH A STAGE ON BOTH ENDS. ALL OF THE TOP ACTS IN THE COUNTRY CAME THERE TO PLAY. WE MET A LOT OF FAMOUS GROUPS THIS WAY. THE KINGSMEN OF LOUIE LOUIE FAME WOULD EVEN COME TO VISIT US WHEN THEY CAME TO TOWN. THEY SHOWED UP ONE NIGHT AT MIDWAY BALLROOM IN CEDAR LAKE INDIANA WHILE WE WERE ON STAGE. WE TALKED THEM INTO PLAYING A SONG-- THE CROWD THOUGHT WE WERE KIDDING- BOY WERE THEY SURPRISED! ONENIGHT WE PLAYED A BIG CONCERT AT THE HAMMOND CIVIC CENTER-- 10,000 PEOPLE--CHUCK BERRY AND BOBBY FREEMAN WERE THE BIG DRAWS. THE RIVIERAS-- CALIFORNIA SUN FAME- WERE SUPPOSED TO BACK CHUCK UP-- WE CAME OUT FIRST AND BLEW THE CROWD AWAY. CHUCK WENT RIGHT TO THE PROMOTER AND SAID I WANT THOSE GUYS TO BACK ME UP- FORGET THE RIVIERAS! WE DID --CHUCK LOVED IT-- WE LOVED IT - AND HISTORY WAS MADE. THE RIVIERAS -- THEY WERE FROM GARY INDIANA-- WERE NOT HAPPY CAMPERS AND DID NOT TALK TO US MUCH THAT NIGHT. SPEAKING OF GARY-- ONE NIGHT WE WERE PLAYING A VFW IN HAMMOND WHEN THIS FAMILY OF 5 LITTLE BLACK BOYS AND THEIR FATHER SHOWED. THEY PLAYED DURING ONE OF OUR BREAKS. THEY WERE FANTASTIC. I PATTED LITTLE MICHAEL ON THE HEAD AND SAID, YOU KIDS ARE GOING TO BE FAMOUS SOME DAY. BOY --WHAT A MOUTH FULL-- THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW THE JACKSON 5 LIVE! NOT VERY MANY BANDS WANTED TO PLAY ON THE SAME STAGE WITH US-- MORE THAN ONCE. WE PLAYED JAMES BROWN-- CHUCK BERRY- OTIS REDDING-- BO DIDDLEY-- RAY CHARLES- KINKS -- BEATLES- SAM AND DAVE- WELL YOU GET THE IDEA-- LOTS OF ROCK AND ROLL AND BLUES. ALL OF OUR RECORDS WERE ORIGINAL EXCEPT FOR SHAKE A TAIL FEATHER. WE DID TRY TO GET ON THE TED MACK AMATEUR HOUR ONCE-- WHILE WE WERE PLAYING FOR HIM--MOST OF THE GROUPS WAITING IN THE HALL FOR THEIR TURN-- PACKED UP AND LEFT. TED SAID WE WERE TO GOOD TO PLAY ON THE SHOW AND SENT US HOME.

Thanks John!

The Blue Angels put out three 45s on Cap records out of Chicago.

Cap 76 Fame & Fortune - Quicksand
Cap 77 Dance with me Lynda - Shake a Tail Feather
Cap 79 Please Don't Leave Me - Let's Shout and Shimmy

Hear a clip of Quicksand here!!

Is it just me, or does the CAP font and label info look related to the Cha Cha records stuff?

Thanks to John and the guys for letting me do this! I'm sure I'll get the tunes soon, and I'll post them for all the fans listening pleasure!!!

Idle Few - Indianapolis - Indiana - Kingsmen

The Idle Few were born of the Arlington Kings'Men from 1964. When they decided to cut a 45, the other Kingsmen (maybe you have heard of "Louie Louie"), kinda stood in the way of the Kingsmen name.
Members included:
Rick Webster - guitarist
Ronnie Bennett - Sax - Lead Vocals
Greg Taggart - Bass
Dan McLean - drums
Mark Grey - organ

Hear Farmer John and Another World here.

There is an ongoing debate as to whether the Idle Few also did a
45 on Blue Book with the titles "people that's why / land of dreams". I say not the same, but if I'm wrong, please let me know!!!

Update 1: Jason sent a scan showing the writer credits on the Blue Book 45. I'm sure now it's the same Idle Few. Now I have to get that 45.

Update 2: Did you notice the "Skeet Bushor" production tag? Skeet played in the "Boys Next Door" and had writer credits on the "Sounds Unlimited" 45. Great guy to keep your eye on!

Our 1st Anniversary - Thank you!

I'd just like to say "THANK YOU" for everyone making this project so much fun. Today is our 1st anniversary of our Indiana 60's Band Szene blog. All of our readers and participants have made it a great success. I cannot thank the members of the bands enough for your help and encouragement. And all the family members, friends, and interested parties that have written, and shared such great info, Thanks!

To date I have shown 32 different bands, and members of 17 of those bands have contacted us. Stunning, far beyond my wildest hopes.

I have many, many more bands to keep us busy, and I promise more music, photos, and "stuff" for 2008. Keep writing in, and I'll try like heck to keep up!

Tim aka vinylfool

Fugitives - Indianapolis, Indiana

The Fugitives from Indianapolis, Indiana. Band member then Arlin Troutt, now known as U.S. Hemp (check out his site at ushemp.org) came forward with this great info.

Here's just one one of his memories:

"My name is Arlin Troutt and I played at La Scene many times when Tom Breedwell ran it and lived up stairs in the old Fountain Square area of Indianapolis. I will be telling the story of when I played with the Fugitives. At the end of the show we played "Land of a Thousand Dances”. I lit the smoke bombs at the end of the show and caught the curtains on fire at Le Scene. Trapped behind the sheer flaming curtains were Tom's extremely young male Go-Go dancing friends creating silhouettes with their Speedo clad bodies for the audience. The crowd was so high on speed and LSD they thought the flames were part of the act and they were packed so tight they could not dance much less run. It was one of those stories that we can all laugh about now but it was almost an Indianapolis tragedy."

U.S. Hemp is working on a piece about Indiana Beach (tons o' cool bands played there!) and I will be waiting for it!


Pictured members:

Steve Grimmes - Drums (State Champion Band Drummer too!)
Jim Inman - Bass
Arlin Troutt - standing with Harmony electric guitar
Bruce Morford - seated with his then new Gibson 335
Bob Morford - organ

I'm still not sure if these are the Fugitives that recorded "Sticks & Stones" / "Lonely Weekends" on the Dust label. But as always, you know we are on the lookout for all the tunes from Indiana bands!

Thanks Arlin!