Another lead, another band found, kinda....Ronnie & the Rascals, the ad you see is from May, 1967.
Bob Brown left a message on the Idle Few's page:
"Interesting blog. I played guitar for a group called 'Ronnie and the Rascals' in the 1960s, as well as a number of other groups. The Flame Club was one of my favorite venues. Ron Blackstone, the lead singer of the group died in 2002. I have long since lost track of Lanny Lambert, our bass player, but Rick Wilhelm and Mike Quick are alive and well.
Other notable venues from the '60s were the 'House of Sounds' in Plainfield, 'Westlake Country Club' and 'The Whiteland Barn.'
I no longer play music professionally, but have taken up the piano for my own enjoyment. I also shoot still photography, not only in America, but western Europe as well. Examples of my work can be seen on my website.
Best,
Bob Brown "
Thanks for the info Bob! Please contact me with your website information and e*mail, and I'll get the skinny straight from you.
Update..............
Great pics from Bob Brown!Left to right:
Mike Quick
Rick Wilhelm
Ronnie Blackstone (with umbrella)
Lanny Lambert
Bob Brown
Another great shot from Dino Enterprises, owned by Norm Viehe. Many an area combo were under the wing of Norm. Seems Norm also played drums, the J.D. Combo shared Norm and Bob as members!
Ronnie & the Rascals played mostly R&B (that was the top 40 in the mid sixties!) "In the Midnight Hour, Shotgun, Hold on, I'm Comin', Turn on Your Lovelight, etc".
Bob also played with the Noblemen before they recorded the 45 they left us.Another photo - from left:
Bob
Lanny
Ronnie - top center
Mike
Rick
Great info, and Bob was in a few bands, and that means more leads!
Thanks again, Bob! Pretty cool.
19 comments:
Used to have a band called the Zircons come over and play at dances at the High School at Westfield, Indiana. They were from Lebanon, Indiana. They had 4 in the band, 2 wore red sequined shirts and 2 wore blue sequined shirts. This was the 1964-1966 time frame.
Hi Joe,
Thanks for the note on the Zircons. I have some ads for "Sir Douglas & the Zircons", would that be the same? Please contact me with more band names!
I am the 1st grand daughter of ronald blackstone. he was an amazing man when he was still with us. he is dearly missed by many and will always be spoken of. i miss him so much. R.I.P. Grandpa! I love you! "you are the best R&B singer that i've ever heard."
nobody in my whole life has ever told me im beautiful, as much as my grandpa did. i miss you grandpa! many hugs and kisses!
Lydia Marie Blackstone Price
I knew Ron Blackstone quite well, and actually did play a little music with him in the 1970's. He had the most amazing voice. Ronnie & the Rascals opened for Sonny and Cher at Clowe's Hall, Cher was so impressed she wanted to take the band back to
L.A. to record, sadly it did not happen.He really was a R@B legend.
Bill Armstrong
I played drums with Ronnie Blackstone's group in 1971, which was after the split up of the Rascals three years or so earlier. Rob Swaine was the lead guitarist then. This was at the same time that I worked at Phelan's Music Studios on Main Street in Carmel, and we rehearsed there in the basement. Ronnie had a tremendous raspy voice, with a style that was ahead of his time.
He was my grandpa Ronnie. I only knew him up until I was 6 years old. The last memory I have he wanted to teach me the song, "I could have danced all night" from the play "My fair lady", and he did. It was all I ever had from him. At his funeral, I sang the song. I listen to it time and time again when I think of him. Last week, my husband and I were driving home and I started talking to him about my grandpa while we were listening to "The Animals". My heart burns reading others talk of him also. "In loving memory". They say the best thing you can do to honor loved ones who have passed is to speak of them as if they're still here. I long to hear my grandpa's voice, I never really heard him sing. I'd love to see the movie he acted in again also. Just one more day to sit at his feet and sing with him. Peace and love, Grandpa
-Emma
He was my grandpa Ronnie. I only knew him up until I was 6 years old. The last memory I have he wanted to teach me the song, "I could have danced all night" from the play "My fair lady", and he did. It was all I ever had from him. At his funeral, I sang the song. I listen to it time and time again when I think of him. Last week, my husband and I were driving home and I started talking to him about my grandpa while we were listening to "The Animals". My heart burns too read others talking of him also. "In loving memory". They say the best thing you can do to honor loved ones who have passed is to speak of them as if they're still here. I long to hear my grandpa's voice, I never really heard him sing. I'd love to see the movie he acted in again also. Just one more day to sit at his feet and sing with him. Peace and love, Grandpa
-Emma
About the two mp3 links: The featured vocalist is not Ronnie Blackstone. Sorry. I know his voice very well.
Bob Brown
Ronnie and the Rascals Guitarist
Hey guys! Just stumbled across this. Norman Viehe was my father. I remember Ron Blackstone and others coming to our house to jam with my dad when I was a kid. I got to see him play in a house band at a bar in Florida one summer.I would be very interested to buy lunch or dinner for any one that could tell me stories (flattering or not) about my Dad.
Hey guys! Just stumbled across this. Norman Viehe was my father. I remember Ron Blackstone and others coming to our house to jam with my dad when I was a kid. I got to see him play in a house band at a bar in Florida one summer.I would be very interested to buy lunch or dinner for any one that could tell me stories (flattering or not) about my Dad.
Ronnie was my my moms sister son ,he was one of my favorite cousins plus his sister Barbara brother Qordy And
GEAN ,always loved going to aunt Margaret’s house for
pan fried chicken dinners, I miss them so much .
Mark Gleichman
I’m Ronnie’s cousi and Jama his daughter is one of my favorite cousins sparkyg55@yahoo.com
He was one of my favorites , my mom and his mom were sister
Norm Viehe and I were married, living in the mountains of western Montana... Raising six kids when Ronnie came to live with us for several months.
Norm had a great set of drums , ( he was a marvelous drummer)and Ronnie played our piano...this went on night after night.
Our family loved him! Our ranch was very rural but sometimes a rancher would stop by and " stay awhile! Norm and Ronnie had been friends back in the 60s scene, before Dino Enterprises.
Two of my favorite memories of Ronnie were his unique piano style... Melody with his left hand , played left of middle C. Very inventive, coupled with his raspy confident masculine voice.
Norm Viehe and I were married, living in the mountains of western Montana... Raising six kids when Ronnie came to live with us for several months.
Norm had a great set of drums , ( he was a marvelous drummer)and Ronnie played our piano...this went on night after night.
Our family loved him! Our ranch was very rural but sometimes a rancher would stop by and " stay awhile! Norm and Ronnie had been friends back in the 60s scene, before Dino Enterprises.
Two of my favorite memories of Ronnie were his unique piano style... Melody with his left hand , played left of middle C. Very inventive, coupled with his raspy confident masculine voice.
Is this Gary? Aunt Deanie's son?
Hello Bob!!!! It's been quite sometime since we've all seen you! I was curious if you have any tapes or any of the movies he had his rascals made? I'D LOVE TO SHOW MY SON!!!
I consider Ronnie a friend, I went to school with his daughters Jama & Marie. I love his stories, to hear him clear out his vocal pipes witha "Brap- Brap - Brap" and hear him tell me his meeting Cher after performing. "God she smelt pretty!" Priceless. I may be mistaken, but thought Ronnie had told me that he had helped Tobey Meyers early in his bass playing in a band together. Any info on this ? Several stories I'll share Next time. God Bless You Ronnie- "cause if He don't, nobody will !"
Does anybody in this chat know where I could find ANY of my Grandpa Ronnie's music or old movies such as "Good Cop, Bad Cop"??? A family friend who passed away within the last few years known as "Vandoor" ihad some items for my Mother, Jama, Ronnie's oldest daughter and unfortunately she didn't get the opportunity to visit to pick those items up before he passed. We have no idea how to get intouch with anybody within Vandoor's family for these items or where they went.
Any information can be emailed to me at:
lydia.price89@gmail.com
Thanks in advance!
-Lydia Marie Blackstone-Price
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