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These are just a few of the bands who played the soundtrack of our lives in Minnesota's Early Years
HEAR THEM AGAIN...
You can check out their music right here.
The 1950's
An MMHC Blast From The Past
Coming Soon
AUGIE GARCIA
Dubbed the “Godfather of Minnesota Rock” by Tom W. Tourville, Augie Garcia is a Twin Cities music legend. When he returned from Korea he began working for NSP and put the band back together, calling it the Augie Garcia Quintet.
Stebbins:
In 1954 the [small jazz] group was playing at the River Road Club again, but they never sold very well as a jazz band. As the years went by, they converted to rock-and-roll, a formula which brought them considerable success.
They played what he called “blues,” later “rhythm and blues,” with songs like “Goin’ to Chicago” and “Let the Good Times Roll.” The term “rock ‘n’ roll” hadn’t been invented yet – they called their music “kicksy.” He always had a black sax player. They were regulars at the River Road Club from 1954 to 1958. The band played eight times a week – every night and an extra matinee on Sundays.
Stebbins:
In 1954 the [small jazz] group was playing at the River Road Club again, but they never sold very well as a jazz band. As the years went by, they converted to rock-and-roll, a formula which brought them considerable success.
They played what he called “blues,” later “rhythm and blues,” with songs like “Goin’ to Chicago” and “Let the Good Times Roll.” The term “rock ‘n’ roll” hadn’t been invented yet – they called their music “kicksy.” He always had a black sax player. They were regulars at the River Road Club from 1954 to 1958. The band played eight times a week – every night and an extra matinee on Sundays.
Eddie Cochran
From Albert Lea- 1956 Eddie Cochran plays Twenty Flight Rock! Noticed the guitar solo has been restored by Heppest of the Hep in livin' HD! Was never happy with the "studio cut" in the movie , The Girl Can't Help It! Now, the Girl, Really Can't Help It! Made for all the Eddie Cochran fans world wide! FYI we also have easy on the eyes, blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield sharing the screen! Dig it the most!
TEXAS BILL STRENGTH
Before Waylon and Willie, Bill was the original "Texas Outlaw."
Although I never saw him I heard from others that did that as the night went on his shows would get wilder and wilder.
And that the most entertaining stories would come out when he would celebrate and "imbibe" with the audience and that was a key part of his charm.
I remember Dale Strength sharing some of the details of the car accident that took Bill's life. He had just got done doing a gig where he was paid in cash. The Highway patrol thought he was a goner. All of the money from the show "mysteriously" disappeared on the way to the hospital but Bill held on long enough top make sure he got paid for his last job and whoever took it was brought to task.
His pallbearers were a "who's who" list of the greatest country artists of the time and even the famous Watergate -era "fiddle playing" US Senator from the state of Tennesee flew in to pay his final respects.
In the 90's Dale and I unsuccessfully lobbied Showtime to make a movie of his life. They liked the story but thought it had limited appeal .
Dale has a wealth of knowledge about his father's career and it is a story that needs to be told. Could someone from the History Theater or KTCA -PBS please make a biography while the people who remember him are still around ?
Bill's life was the model for Buck Owen's big hit "Excuse Me ( I think I've got a Heartache)
It's One Heckuva Story about a light that burned out way too soon.
Although I never saw him I heard from others that did that as the night went on his shows would get wilder and wilder.
And that the most entertaining stories would come out when he would celebrate and "imbibe" with the audience and that was a key part of his charm.
I remember Dale Strength sharing some of the details of the car accident that took Bill's life. He had just got done doing a gig where he was paid in cash. The Highway patrol thought he was a goner. All of the money from the show "mysteriously" disappeared on the way to the hospital but Bill held on long enough top make sure he got paid for his last job and whoever took it was brought to task.
His pallbearers were a "who's who" list of the greatest country artists of the time and even the famous Watergate -era "fiddle playing" US Senator from the state of Tennesee flew in to pay his final respects.
In the 90's Dale and I unsuccessfully lobbied Showtime to make a movie of his life. They liked the story but thought it had limited appeal .
Dale has a wealth of knowledge about his father's career and it is a story that needs to be told. Could someone from the History Theater or KTCA -PBS please make a biography while the people who remember him are still around ?
Bill's life was the model for Buck Owen's big hit "Excuse Me ( I think I've got a Heartache)
It's One Heckuva Story about a light that burned out way too soon.
SHERWIN LINTON
Sherwin learned to accompany his singing while chording on the piano and guitar as a child, and at sixteen, he had his own radio show on KWAT Radio in Watertown, South Dakota. Sherwin and his band “The Rocketeers” were soon in demand all over eastern South Dakota. Moving to Minneapolis in 1957, Sherwin formed the “Fender Benders” which became a very popular ballroom and nightclub act that rocked and rolled great audiences from Minnesota to the west coast in the early to mid-sixties. Having had several Rock-A-Billy records successfully released in the mid-west, Sherwin journeyed to Nashville in 1966 where he cut “Cotton King”, a song that catapulted him to the top of the Country music charts. Roy Acuff became aware of Sherwin’s talents when they toured together in 1968. Roy introduced Sherwin to his partner Wesley Rose, who had guided the careers of such illuminaries as the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, and Hank Williams.Sherwin was signed to a long term management, recording, and songwriting contract. With the promotional arm of the Acuff-Rose Company of Nashville behind him, Sherwin was soon appearing on numerous TV shows and performing from coast to coast. T
BOBBY VEE
Bobby Vee's stardom began ''the day the music died'' when he performed at the Moorhead Armory in place of Buddy Holly.
DAVE DUDLEY
Dave Dudley reigns supreme as the one and only king of trucker's country music. The tremendous success of his hit single "Six Days on the Road" in turn beget a whole new genre of country music. Other trucker's country songs Dave did are "Truck Drivin' Son of a Gun," "Trucker's Prayer," "Anything Leaving Town Today," "There Ain't No Easy Road," and "Two Six Packs Away." Moreover, "Six Days on the Road" has been covered by such artists as Steve Earle, Sawyer Brown, Red Sovine and George Thorogood & The Destroyers.
JULES HERMAN
Jules Herman was a Trumpeter with Lawrence Welk in the 1930's. Lois Best was Lawrence Welk's very first "Champagne Lady." She and Jules married and later left the Welk Orchestra (with Welk's blessing and support) to settle in Chicago where Jules performed with the Johnnie Davis Orchestra and later a five year stretch with Wayne King. Jules and Lois decided to form their own band in the early 1950's, settling down in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. They soon thereafter became the "house" band at the Fabulous PROM Ballroom in St. Paul. This album is taken from radio broadcasts over station W-C-C-O from the 1950's and features the Jules Herman Orchestra performing at the PROM Ballroom. The announcer was Bob White. The PROM was demolished in 1987. Vocals are by Lois Best Herman, Jules Herman, and Ray Komischke. The album was released in 1978.
WHOOPEE JOHN
"Whoopee John" Wilfahrt and his band enjoyed popularity through the 1940s and 50s on the polka circuit. Over the course of his professional career Wilfahrt recorded nearly 1,000 songs, the most popular being “Mariechen Waltz” and “Clarinet Polka.”
MARVIN RAINWATER
Marvin Rainwater was one of country's most noteworthy stars in the late 1950s, when his good looks and baritone voice made him popular. One of the first country songs he recorded was "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird", which he wrote. Released in 1957, the song became a big country-pop crossover hit, making Rainwater among the first country singers to appeal to a pop market. The song reached No. 3 on the country chart and 18 on the pop chart. It sold one million copies by 1957, and gave Rainwater his first gold record.
WDGY RADIO
WDGY went through several ownership changes, and in the mid 1950s, it began playing rock and roll in a top-40 format.
GAIETY RECORDS
The first Twin Cities Rock and Roll label
BRUCE SWEDIEN
Early Twin Cities recording engineer -Went on to engineer Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
Films | TV Shows | Creative Development
TE MINNESOTA MUSIC HISTORY CHANNEL
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