Ballad of Jimmy Bryan - Harry Weger - Indianapolis 500

It's May in Indiana, and all thoughts turn to the Indy 500. Quite a few records have memorialized the race and drivers, so why not have a go here.

Harry Weger had quite a country music career, record producer, and music store owner. He passed away in 2007 at 80 years.

Ballad of Jimmy Bryan
Back Home Again in Indiana

Harry had become close to quite a few drivers and recorded and released this tribute to Jimmy Bryan, 1958 winner who lost his life in a 1960 accident at Langhorn Speedway (Pennsylvania)

Released in 1961 - 4:22 was very long for contemporary 45's. Back Home Again In Indiana needs no introduction for any Hoosier. Wonderful arraignment on this.

Harry Weger also released a 45 on Adair, which was Bryant Wilson's label for his bluegrass output. (Only Adair 45 that I still need - hint hint). Read Harry Weger's obituary here.

the Children - Ft. Wayne 1967

The Children is born of the "Miles Bluffton Blues Band" with one member change. The group spanned 20 years, quite a run.

Gary Sauers - drums
Mike Madrid - bass
Kevin Walsh - rhythm guitar
Cliff Webb - Lead guitar

From Gary:

The Band just is us at age 18 and 19. We were ALL living in a big house in Fort Wayne together. Shared the rent and played in the living room for a practice place. We did gigs and parties in the city and began playing in night clubs. This night club thing was supposed to be a very short thing to get up some money only. We never wanted top play any top Forty stuff. Well, 20 years went by and we were still doing clubs and bars around the city and from time to time out of town. Again, Lots of people knew us, but we never did anything big time.

Special thanks to Gary & Mike for the photo and info!

Surf Suns - New Haven - Ft. Wayne area

The Surf Suns formed in 1966, a joining of two bands.

From left:
Denny McComb
Mike Kelly
Tony Lello
Phil Himelstein
Jason Liechty

The Surf Suns open for the Lovin' Spoonful and the Association at the Coliseum. Very cool.
In an interview circa 1967, the Surf Suns confided that their ultimate goals were making a record and purchasing a bus to go on a cross-country tour.

I can confirm they made the record!

Still In Love with You Baby
I Can't Stop It Now

I Can't Stop it Now is an original penned by McComb / Kelly.
The flip is a Beau Brummels tune. Maybe you remember the "beau brummelstones" on the Flintstones........maybe not.

Just some record geek musings:

Every copy I have ever seen has the labels reversed. BEN records could possibly be "Billy E. Nix" records, since Nix had a high output on the label.

Teen Tones - Mike Ryan

Once upon a long time ago there is the "Teen Tones" with Mike Ryan. Mike hailed from South Bend (translation to non-hoosier - way up north) and the band kept pretty busy before college called.

Mike Ryan - Sax -lead vocal
Tom Hemminger -guitar
Ken Kidder - electric piano /key bass
Lew Kimbal - drums
Roger Lackey - guitar

The Teen-Tones recorded three 45's, with the first in 1963.

Premier IV - 368 (1963)
Long Cold Winter Ahead
Hurtin' and Cryin'

T and T Records (1964)
Do You Want to Dance?
Long Cold Winter Ahead (different version)

Don and Mira (1964)
Poison Ivy
Fortune Teller

Mike went on to the Other Five, Decembers Children, Walking Catfish and Poppa Jazz. Currently with the Souled Out Band (r.i.p. Russell) out of Indianapolis.

Band pics courtesy of Mike Ryan!

Swingin' Surfers - The Questions - Nov. 66

This tiny little ad in the "Indianapolis Star" November '66.
This much is known about the "Swingin' Surfers":

All hailed from Warren Central High School
Danny McMullin - Bass
Roger Carr - Guitar / vocals
Patrick Rafferty - Drums
Steve Griggs - Lead guitar
Jeff Mills - rhythm guitar

Mills and McMullin also played in the "Joys of Life".

This much about "The Questions":
Zip - nothing, can we fix that?

WFYI - Indy in the '60s!

Short notice 60's Indiana Band Szene Team.

Tonight - 8:00PM - WFYI (local indy PBS station) will have a two hour retrospective on the Indy scene. The TV schedule says "indy 500" but that seems to be a typo.

Wayne Wilson (drummer - sounds unlimited, owner of Dino Enterprises) called and said they filmed at his place for several hours as he talked about the Sounds Unlimited, Boys Next Door, Idle Few, Sir Winston and more.....

Should be interesting!

Hitch Hikers - Portage

Bill, from St. Paul, MN, sends a suggestion for the Hitch-Hikers from Portage, Indiana! "Great idea" I exclaim!

The Hitch-Hikers had several 45's (I'm not sure how many) and released an LP (that I don't have, yet).

HH1:
Beaver Shot
Fool

HH2:
Stay Away
Five To One

I know nothing about the band with such a great output. The writer credits are simply:

Healey - Cole
Garrison - Rubino
Healey - Boese

Just not much to go on. There are a couple of other 45's, namely:

Thank you for your love (HH7)
Somf (HH8)

This could be just one 45 and a strange numbering. I need help here!

Thanks for the inspiration Bill. I have to share his "insight", it's priceless!

"Maybe you folks have heard of them. The rude & crude "Beaver Shot" was written by Healey and Boese. The sensitive/teen whiner ballad flip, "Fool" is credited just to Healey. I especially like the rude lyrics/double entendre sub-category of garage 45s for no other reason than you can speculate how it went when they got home. The Hitchhikers probably hit up everyone (mom, dad, grandma, grandpa) in their respective families to press the record up. The boys spend the $4-500 on a disc that has zero chance of radio play and then they still have to go home and play it for their families. A most of the Moms no doubt hit the roof, the Grandmas were disgusted. The Dads and Grandpas probably had a laff over it, at least Gramps did."

I can't say I disagree with that assessment!