I think at least some of you know that my dad was a musician, and also the one who really got me started in music. Rather than share stories of my dad and what he meant to me (we lost him to a brain tumor Nov. 30, 2007), I thought it might be nice to share a few songs from the two bands he was in. Since my dad's birthday is Nov. 7, the entire month of November has sort of become a time of reflection for me-a time to remember where I came from, and how memories of these sorts of things have shaped the person I've become.
Due to the kindness of one of my dad's good friends, I'm fortunate to have some tapes of live performances, and even just a bit of info about them.
The first two songs I've posted are from his very first band, The Shantels, which he formed with childhood friends when he was 17. My dad is the guitar player and does backing vocals; his best friend from youth (and next door neighbor) Gary Brooks is the lead vocalist. Gary Brooks died many years ago also from cancer, I believe, but I can't remember which type. Other members of The Shantels (all from Morris, Illinois) are Denny Neary, Greg English, Dave Butz, Terry Nelson, and John Boyle (though I don't know who played which instruments aside from my dad and Gary).
The two songs by The Shantels I've included here are from a show they played at the Morris Catholic School gymnasium from August of 1970 (my dad would have been 19 at the time) You'll forgive the sound quality, I'm assuming, and understand what it means to me to have these recordings.
The third song I've included here is by his second band, Prairie, which he formed in '71 while attending college at NIU in DeKalb, Illinois. Unfortunately I have no info about any of the other members of prairie at all, other than I know a couple of them were friends with REO Speedwagon who were essentially the SIU (Champagne, IL) version of my dad's band at the time-as I understand it.
This is from a live show at the 5th Dimension in Joliet, Illinois, though I do not have a date--it had to be somewhere between late '71 and early-mid '72. My dad is the one who says "The name of our group is Prairie, and we're from Northern Illinois University, if anybody doesn't know" before the song starts.
I hope some of you can find a little pleasure in hearing these songs (they really do capture a neat element of the time period, rough as the recording quality is). I really appreciate those of you out there that have supported Atomic Honey, and given me the outlet to share my time of reflection; being able to do so makes it a much more pleasant season for me. Thank you again.
Kev
oxox
Due to the kindness of one of my dad's good friends, I'm fortunate to have some tapes of live performances, and even just a bit of info about them.
The first two songs I've posted are from his very first band, The Shantels, which he formed with childhood friends when he was 17. My dad is the guitar player and does backing vocals; his best friend from youth (and next door neighbor) Gary Brooks is the lead vocalist. Gary Brooks died many years ago also from cancer, I believe, but I can't remember which type. Other members of The Shantels (all from Morris, Illinois) are Denny Neary, Greg English, Dave Butz, Terry Nelson, and John Boyle (though I don't know who played which instruments aside from my dad and Gary).
The two songs by The Shantels I've included here are from a show they played at the Morris Catholic School gymnasium from August of 1970 (my dad would have been 19 at the time) You'll forgive the sound quality, I'm assuming, and understand what it means to me to have these recordings.
The third song I've included here is by his second band, Prairie, which he formed in '71 while attending college at NIU in DeKalb, Illinois. Unfortunately I have no info about any of the other members of prairie at all, other than I know a couple of them were friends with REO Speedwagon who were essentially the SIU (Champagne, IL) version of my dad's band at the time-as I understand it.
This is from a live show at the 5th Dimension in Joliet, Illinois, though I do not have a date--it had to be somewhere between late '71 and early-mid '72. My dad is the one who says "The name of our group is Prairie, and we're from Northern Illinois University, if anybody doesn't know" before the song starts.
I hope some of you can find a little pleasure in hearing these songs (they really do capture a neat element of the time period, rough as the recording quality is). I really appreciate those of you out there that have supported Atomic Honey, and given me the outlet to share my time of reflection; being able to do so makes it a much more pleasant season for me. Thank you again.
Kev
oxox
RSS Feed
