Beat Generation - Ft. Wayne

Trying to get the stage lights to flash with the beat gave rise to the "Beat Generation"! Didn't work, but hey, they tried. Mostly high school kids from Ft. Wayne, circa 1967.

Mike Rontfrow - organ
John Gall - bass
Don Squires - Rhythm guitar
Steve Leakey - Drums
Tom Romine - lead guitar

The Beat Generation favored songs that have a lot of harmony, favorite groups include the Who and Indy's Sounds Unlimited.
The Beat Generation had plans for a 45 and were in "negotiations"
with Tiara (Fewdle Lords) and Motown labels. Don't think that bore any fruit.

Give them a hand for livin' the dream in the 60's!

Sir Winston and the Commons

Happy New Year 2012!
John Gillis introduces Sir Winston and the Commons, Vogue Theater Reunion Show 2004:

"Sir Winston and the Commons originally formed in 1963. The members of the band consisted of Don Basore from Northwest High School, Joe Stout and Gary Crawford from Ben Davis High School and John Medvescek and Ron Matelic from the old Cathedral High School. Don played bass, Gary and Ron played guitars, Joe played sax and John was the drummer. The band’s first name was The Illusions, but was soon changed to The Suspicions. Their repertoire at that time consisted mainly of instrumental surf music and other classics such as Honky Tonk and Harlem Nocturne. Their first shows were at parties, VFW dances, and promotions for Paul Harvey Ford and Dog & Suds drive in. With the advent of the British invasion in 1964, the band, like everyone else, assimilated the new British sound. The surf sound and instrumentals were eventually dropped in favor of the current chart toppers of the day, and Herb Crawford from Speedway High School replaced Gary Crawford on guitar. A new booking agent who wanted to capitalize on the ever growing English musical dominance suggested that the band’s name be changed to Sir Winston and the Commons. For several years, they played a number of college fraternity dances and were fortunate enough to have all the local teen venues like Party Time, The Flame Club, the House of Sound, Westlake Beach Club, Tiger a’GoGo, the Scene, the Indiana Roof Ballroom, and the Whiteland barn, to perform for the Indianapolis teen crowd.

They enjoyed local success and even chartered buses with friends and fans to several dates at The Cellar, a club in the Chicago area. They opened national shows for the McCoys, Beach Boys and Byrds and as they began to write and perform more original material, they recorded 2 singles “We’re Gonna Love” and “Not the Spirit of India”.

Through the remaining 1960’s, the band member count diminished from 5 to 4 and eventually to 3. The group finally discontinued performing as Sir Winston in 1970."

Just about covers all the bases for the band. They were known as the wild guys with costumes and Joe with the cape. This is one of the bands with the least amount of personnel changes over the years.

Sir Winston and the Commons recorded some great tunes and released 2 45's!
We're Gonna Love / Come Back Again - Soma 1454 (1966)
Not the Spirit of India / One Last Chance - Nauseating Butterfly 2207 (1967)

Also recorded during the Soma sessions were two unreleased songs

All Of The Time & No Sorrow - I'll only put up clips as these are for sale on the Norton records website. Hell, if I put up all the songs, who will buy the records?

Of course we previously covered Sir Winston and the Commons involvement with Rojay Gotee.

I've had more requests for this band than any other so far, so get the comments and additions in gear, and let them know they are remembered!

Cardboard Bachs

Chances are that if you frequented "Le Scene" in the Fountain Square area of Indianapolis, around 1967, the Cardboard Bachs were your scene.

Maybe you remember this band painted van tooling around town.
Seems as perhaps something other than coffee and cigarettes may have been involved!

The Cardboard Bachs were one of many bands in the "Dino Enterprises" stable.

Rick Durrett - Seated at Harpsicord
Jack (Sean) Jones - Kneeling

Sadly, Sean passed way earlier this year. Blog friend Laura (Stout) Harmon opined that he was the best lead player in town.

Rick - here in the splendor that was the late 60's, went on to record with the Olivers, and joined Coven by 1968. He's still rockin' and played with many great bands since.

Thanks Rick for the great photos! And Laura for the great list of bands that I need to hunt down!

PJ and The Gentry - Beaver Records - Hammond

Totally unknown group, with little to go on, that's the challenge we love! "PJ" and The Gentry had a couple of 45's on the short-lived Beaver Records out of Hammond, Indiana.

The Wounded Camel
Sing and Dance

This 45 has writer credits of Hebel - Farag. It also states a "James B. Hebel production". Their other 45 has writer credit to H. Farag III.

Nice song production, it may be as early as 1962, but I am just going by the matrix designation - SS2538-01a. Anyone have any idea on the members of this group?

Randy Benjamin - Vincennes

Randy Benjamin is quite the enigma. From Vincennes, and Lincoln High School ('65), Randy managed to have his first 45 released with involvement of Mike Curb. Mike seemed to be golden on everything, except this time.

From Randy's website: "I was a songwriter and singer long before I became an author. I received my first guitar at the age of 4. It was bigger than I was! My first recording contract was with Mike Curb back in the early 60s in Hollywood, CA. I’ve also been an artist/writer for Mercury and Warner Brothers records. I had a top 40 record in Europe (Look At You Now) on Mercury in the late 60s. I owned a recording studio in Nashville, TN in the mid-70s."

The 45 is most probably recorded with Randy and session men.

Lovin' Man

Old Man

Randy also released a 45 on Mercury "Look at You Now", as far as I know it was released in early 1970.

I've tossed a few e*mails at Randy, but haven't heard anything. Look forward to filling in some blanks! Randy had to have a high school band...........

Kraftsmen - Parti Tyme 1965

The Kraftsmen (with an extended T, think BeaTles) were together from 1963 to 1966. Picked by Jerry Kunkle of the mighty WIBC powerhouse out of Indianapolis to go on a tri-state tour and open for the "Dick Clark Caravan of Stars".

Tommy Shields - Lead guitar - Lead vocals
Mike Shields - rhythm - vocals
Charlie Lashbrook - bass - vocals
Mike Mull - drums - lead vocals

Looking at the ads, I don't think Parti Tyme lasted more than a few weeks. A photo of the place would be great.......

Riddlers - LaPorte

The Riddlers:

Dan Malstrom - organ
Steve Kirkman - lead vocal / bass
Carl Roach - guitar
John Barkow - drums

From LaPorte, Indiana, the Riddlers. Other than Steve played with the band for awhile, I don't know much about them.

The ad is from December 1966.


Steve was a founding member of the Bare Facts, and thanks to him we now know the "Instant Happiness / There won't be a next time" 45 is from that band! Very cool!

Dimensions is new to me, but the Swingin' Stingrays are coming soon!

Thanks Steve for the photo!