Roosevelt Johnson & the 7 C's, direct to you from Muncie, Indiana. Top to bottom - Right to left:
Roosevelt Johnson - Phil Dunn - Trumpet & Vocals Phil Mann - Bass & Vocals Allen Henry - Sax Dennis (Dino) Springer - Drums Bob Duncan - Trombone Hubie Ashcraft - Guitar Gary Thresher - Keyboards
This a true collaborative affair, Jason sent a photo of the band back in 2007. Didn't ring a bell, but put it in the "to do" file. John Hiatt mentions that he was in a band - Roosevelt & the 7C's - BINGO! Although John wasn't in the band that recorded, he put me in touch with Dennis, who was 16 (!) at the time of the 1st 45. Dennis sent a 45 to John via someone else. and we have some groovin' R&B sides here.
And although it's not in my 60's focus, here is another 45 from the team.
Rondo 1118: We were always sweethearts / Black Cat The 7 C's were from Muncie save Hubie, who hailed from Seymour. Hubie went on to play on the John Cougar Mellencamp demos. The band existed from '65 to 1973.
Has to be lots of stories about this band. Chime in!!!!!
It's a dark night, and I'm reading a facebook page, "Planet Hammond". Suddenly a plea catches my attention:
"The "Kritters" were definitely the most popular. Band leader Ron Jongsma, and Rick Grigsby lived in my neighborhood and we were treated to garage concerts on summer nights. They recorded a record called "Hey Car Hop", but I believe it it was under a previous name, which I can't remember......Help."
The Exports is the band in question, circa 1964.
Band Members: Ron Jongsma - Guitar George Felaney - Guitar Tom Barnhart - Guitar Howard Friedman - Drums
Mike Curtis - Vocals / bass Rick Curtis - Vocals / guitar Tom Curtis - Vocals / guitar Patty Curtis - Vocals / tambourine and (non family member) Travis Rose - Drums
One of the local bands that had a major label release, but didn't translate into major success. I don't know all the details but I'm going to "cut and paste" the info from Jason's Indiana 45's site. Anyone willing to correct, if needed.......
Don't know what the 5th demo was, can anyone shed some light?
"By Phil Yoder -courtesy of Jason at Indiana 45's.
The first band I will tell you about is the Curtis family, from Goshen, Indiana. The Curtis's are probably the most famous and succesful from my area. These Vizitors went to NYC in ' 67 and cut 5 demo tracks with a then unknown producer, Phil Ramone. 2 were released on a Capitol 45 "For Mary's Sake" b/w "Happy Man". They played in Florida at an outdoor rock festival in ' 68 on a bill that included Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane etc. At that time they lived in Florida and were one of the "local" acts that had a major label 45rpm, so they were added to the festival line up. They were a psych / folk sound (kind of like We 5 with a fuzz sounding lead guitar) They all sang well and still do. After Vizitors folded Rick and Mike were invited by Ralph Molina (drummer) to join Crazy Horse and were the main song writers on the 1972 Epic album "At Crooked Lake". In 1974 they cut some demos with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, who at that time were on option to the Polydor label, as were Rick and Mike Curtis. One of these demos was "Blue Letter" written by Rick Curtis which appears on the 1975 Fleetwood Mac album. The other was a song called "Seven league Boots" which features Stevie Nicks singing backup with Rick Curtis. This song was 50% sold to Steven Stills in 1980 and turned into "Southern Cross", in which Stills changed the lyrics and some of the arrangement and appears on the 1982 Crosby, Stills & Nash album "Daylight Again". Rick and Mike, along with brother Tom cut an album in 1976 on Polydor called "The Curtis Brothers" and also had a shelved (unreleased) album in 1978 on the International Artists label. In the 1980s Rick spent time out of the music scene and Mike went on to play with Gene Clark's Byrds on the road. Then in the early ' 90s Mike played with Dewey Martin's Buffallo Springfield. He also played for 12 years with Hoyt Axton's band. In the middle 90s Mike played in the "Byrds Celebration". In Janurary of 1995 Rick Curtis died from a seizure at his home in California.Michael continues to play and lives just north of Nashville, Tennessee. Rick and Michael Curtis are 2 of my best friends. In 1992, ' 93, ' 94 I promoted shows entitled Reunion Jams I, II, and III at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in which the Curtis's werethe headliners. Each drew about 4000 - 5000 people."
Exciting News! The Young Society was one of many bands that flourished in Ft. Wayne , mid '60's.
Young Society (left to right):
Doug Gard - drums
Steve Zweig - Organ - rhythm guitar
Lee Stamm - Bass
Dave Lloyd - Lead guitar
Obviously folk rock was the focus, but the boys could rock. Beatles, Byrds, James Brown, Them, Turtles, and more were on the Young Society's set list. They also had at least 3 original songs that I know of.
I have swapped a few e*mails with Steve, and was kind enough to send the newspaper article (that is in much better shape than the one I had). And the NEWS........ Lee still had some rehearsal tapes, and next thing you know, they are in my hands on CD. Stunning. And very soon they will share a couple of songs with the Indiana 60's Band Szene followers.
Presenting "OPUS 1", an original written and performed by "The Young Society. Strong tune with a pounding beat, pulsating organ, and a wicked fuzz break! If it had a scream in the lyrics, it would be a 10 on the garage-o-meter (editorial license, it is MY blog!).
OK team, any ideas? This contribution is completely unknown. Obviously late 1969, was found in southern Indiana, and recorded in Gary (Way North) Indiana.
Never seen, heard a whisper, no rumors. Who are these guys?
Here's the tunes, courtesy of Jason at Indiana 45's, the new owner of the "reference lacquer". Thanks, Jason!
Been some good info and comments on the Dawnells coming from friends and family. I received a note about this video on YouTube. Great photos and unreleased song all in one!
Special Thanks to Mike Parton for the heads-up on this.
Roosevelt Johnson & the 7 C's, direct to you from Muncie, Indiana.
Black Jack 713 (scan courtesy of Dante Carfagna)
