This group of strapping young men is the 1985 musical group, Momentum. Haven't heard of them? Well, join the other 7 billion people on Planet Earth. This is another post on musicians that never quite made it past the State Fair level. Back in the day, it was alright to not play Shea Stadium, there was always a place for you at the local hotel lounge. So, here's another loving tribute to bands like Momentum. Enjoy.
I'm thinking the guy on the right has to be the band's accountant. And "misspent youth" sounds like a punk band's name - they look more like a Manhattan Transfer.
They are all staring into the light, and it is bringing them much joy..... except for the dude on the right who seems a bit wary of The Light.
The Knewtones: an a capella group from 1981. The fella in the back seems out of place. Perhaps he's beginning to regret dropping out of the Skynyrd cover band in favor of his uncle's a capella quartet.
Not to be confused with The Oak Ridge Boys.
Love Craft 1975
I have this dated as being from 1972, but I don't recall the group's name. I'm thinking they're associated with a college, not unlike this next group of finely garbed youth...
Not sure who this is in this found photo; however, this groovy wardrobe deserves to be seen.
Recognize these guys? Yep, it's Momentum again. This picture was from 1984; the one at the top of the post is from 1985. We've come full circle. Seems a good place to end. Bye!
The Henry Paul Band featured Henry Paul (duh), former guitarist of The Outlaws. He later formed country group Blackhawk, before eventually returning to The Outlaws. He is still in the present day version of The Outlaws
ReplyDeleteScott Lovrine, aka Cherokee Jack
You're Cherokee Jack?
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfms_a13g30
- Landis
Oh good lord the tidal wave of fugliness and greatness - forever in your debt. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThese are pure gold. There is one song for Love Craft on Youtube. Sounds good too.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCyLwCizx74
T.M.S. Too Much 'Stache!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Knewtones - featuring Hondo from S.W.A.T.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Sammy Davis, Jr. played bass for Blanco!
ReplyDeleteI think those pictures of the really large groups are pictures of "Up With People" or something like that. I was forced to sit through a performance of "Up With People" once, and it was horribly, horribly excruciating. The relentless, loud and aggressive optimism and upbeat, wild-eyed, manic joy was like a nightmare.
ReplyDeleteThe Oak Ridge Band actually was the band for the Oak Ridge Boys. I have no idea who Mark is, but I definitely remember Garland, Skip and Don. I've been an Oak Ridge Boys fan for many years. Yes, I'm that old!
ReplyDeletePaula Kelley and the Modernairs sang with the Glen Miller Orchestra and continued singing after his death. Paula Kelley retired. Her daughter, Paula Junior, took over the group. Paula Kelley Jr was at one point married to Michael Cole, who played Pete on the Mod Squad.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I got a kick out of The Oak Ridge Band.
The Chieftones and Henry Paul made Wikipedia at least.
ReplyDeleteHaving been in a few of these kind of pics, take it from me: Taking a good band publicity photo is an excruciating, often impossible task. How do you project your band's style & repertoire with a picture? How do you present an eye-catching image without looking stupid, pretentious and/or uncomfortable? And then there's the whole inverse relationship of musical talent to physical aesthetics...Best to go with a logo instead.
ReplyDeleteRight on, Brother. As most musicians, at any level, are trying to hone their skills on their instrument, few of us had much time to cultivate a "look".
DeleteWow! I know of the bands, the Ladybirds. Don't know why or how. It's such a loooong time ago and I am ancient now, so memory is failing.
ReplyDeleteJust looked them up and found out why I know them. They appeared on the Benny Hill Show.
Deletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ladybirds
Love Craft is a band I NEVER want to hear.
ReplyDeletehttp://vintage-ladivas.blogspot.com/2011/01/dutch-girl-band-centerfold.html (NSFW)
ReplyDeleteMore info on "Centerfold": they were Dutch appeared on stage in lingerie, did a lay out in The Netherland's version of Playboy.
Looks to me like the guitarist for the Birdwatchers could have become "The Nightrider" in Mad Max.
ReplyDelete"The Toecutter - he knows who I am! I am the Nightrider! I am the chosen one! The mighty hand of vengeance, sent down to strike the unroadworthy! I'm hotter than a rollin' dice. Step right up, chum, and watch the kid lay down a rubber road, ride to freedom!"
Do you have one of a band called Dazzle? They were on the east coast, late 70's thru early 80's. I would love to find one of them.
ReplyDeleteExcelente post amigo, muchas gracias por compartirlo. Te quiero invitar a mi nuevo Blog de Cine de Terror que seguramente te gustará, espero tus comentarios en:
ReplyDeletehttp://terror-en-el-cine.blogspot.com/
Un gran saludo, Oz.
The college-based group in mostly red is obviously from Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. That's Bascom Hall in the background
ReplyDeleteThe Oak Ridge Band was managed by Jim Halsey the picture says. He was from Independence, KS and managed Roy Clark. Halsey still had a house in Indy when I was growing up there and sometimes you'd see a Rolls Royce parked outside. I think Halsey was the key factor in getting a bunch of MAJOR country western stars to come to Indy for our Neewhollah festival in the early '80s and they showed it on HBO. I'd love to find a copy of that show.
ReplyDeleteFASCINATING and COOL! I love vintage hotel culture - the looks, the restaurants, the lounges, and yes, the BANDS. What an awesome thing it must have been ... I'm sorry I missed this era of local dudes and dudettes playing their hearts out in Holiday Inns and the like, never to "make it," but to make wayward travelers dance or at least tap their feet.
ReplyDeleteToday's hotels don't really have an equivalent of lounge bands, though I suppose some places in heavy tourist areas must do something.
There were two different Ladybirds groups. The topless/nude one and the Benny Hill ladies.
ReplyDeletePretty sure I've seen every member of A New Personality in gay porn.
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