Suns of Summer

Suns of Summer - mid 1967.

What you see is what I know, anyone have the "rest of the story"?

Lovin' Kind - Ft. Wayne

Teenage moppets from Concordia and South Side High Schools, Ft. Wayne, 1967.

The Lovin' Kind :
Brian Kosteck - seated - drums
Jim Papagiannis - far left - lead guitar
Bruce Etzler - far right - bass
Gary Hall - back left - lead singer
Ken Schiebenberger - back right - Rhythm guitar

The Lovin' Kind started in Sept. '66, and added Brian and Gary in early '67. With the "Animals" being the groups favorite band, the Lovin' Kind had big dreams for the future. Bruce had one song " I Like" arranged and ready for recording, but it's unknown if they ever got to the studio.

Thanks for the memories boys! It's time to be heard from. Recordings, records, other bands, funny stories? We will keep a spot here open for you.

Gentlemen Bleu

Where are you, Gentlemen Bleu?
Who are you, Gentlemen Bleu?

The only clues are writer credits:

Al Stone & Mike Hunting

The Gentlemen Bleu performed at the Cabaret (I presume a teen dance club) and left this ad in Ft. Wayne, June 1967. Since the 45 was pressed in 1967, we can assume that they were together for a least a couple of years. Believed to be students attending Hanover College (Madison, IN), and hailing from Indianapolis.

One 45 known - Trump 355 - Louisville label

Let's hear some music:

Hate to Tell You
One More Day

Looking forward to these guys checking in! Give us the scoop Gentlemen Bleu!!

The Flock - 1967 - Ft. Wayne

Close your eyes and envision a formal cocktail party.
The place, Orchard Ridge Country Club.
The date, Saturday, July 1967.
The band: The Flock.

Of course it helps if your parents are members, and you can dress nicely, unlike those "hippie kids".

Band members that day:
Denny Grosenbacher
Andy Barile
Mark Richards
Rick Furniss
Denny Burns

Where did you go guys, any recordings left behind? There was a "Flock" that released an LP and a few 45's in 1969, but none of these guys seem related.

Quinchords - 1965

The Quinchords, from 1965, a folk rock band that had many interesting stories.

The Quinchords were:
Terry Talbot
John Michael Talbot
Tanni Talbot
Tom Wright

Headin' for Missouri
Outside Lookin' In

The Talbots were from Oklahoma City, and moved to Indianapolis in the early '60s. When this 45 was recorded and released, John Michael was just 11 years old. Terry was the ringleader, and just a few years older.

Tom Wright went on to co-found the "Wright Brothers Overland Stage Company", an Indiana mainstay of country rock.
Terry & John Michael joined the Indianapolis based "Sounds Unlimited" in 1966 - 1968. In '69 the brothers founded the long-lived "Mason Proffit" country rock outfit.

The Talbot brothers were also in "Fourscore", a folk-rock band before "Sounds Unlimited", but details are fuzzy.

As always, any info you have, we'd love to have it and share it with the world! Who, what, where was the Big Star label?

The Wild Ones - Ft. Wayne

Another entry from Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The Wild Ones were skilled enough to be selected to the Indiana Bandstand tour.

From Left:
Mike Babcock - Lead Vocal
Mike Heime - Bass
Joe Long - Drums
Rick Babcock - Lead Guitar
Larry Miller - Rhythm

The Wild Ones, students from Northside High School, recorded this 45 in June '66.

Hear "Tale of a City" now!

What was Indiana Bandstand you ask?
The bandstand consists of 10 bands from throughout Indiana, who were selected in a contest held at Kokomo. This summer (1966) the bands tour Indiana, playing two and three-night stands at various teen clubs and dance halls.

By February 1967, the Wild Ones had written 13 original songs. Rick, being the prolific songwriter, was looking forward to entertaining offers from Indianapolis bands for his material.

Where are they now?

Our Generation - 1966 -

"They've got to be great - or crazy". That's the reaction from the interviewer, circa 1966, Teen Tempo magazine. Obviously named after the Who's "My Generation", these guys were regulars at the Le Scene nightclub / teen hotspot.

Back row:
Michael Stack - Singer - Broad Ripple High
Doug Kennerly - Drums - Broad Ripple High
Front Row:
Al Smith -Lead Guitar - Arlington High
Dave Fitch - Keyboards - Broad Ripple High
Mike Rea - Bass - Broad Ripple High

Al gets bonus cool points for playing a Vox guitar. Time to check in guys and give us the skinny on what was the haps in '66!