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 The Palomino Riders 1960-69
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 01 June 2000 01:50 AM
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Well here it is, my rough notes on the Palomino bands from around 1960 to 1969. It was assembled with a lot of scraping and prying, plus a lot of help from a few Forumites, like Jerry Hayes and Ace Tipton, although there was input from many others who are too plentiful to thank here, but thank you one and all. There's still a bit of work to go and any input would be greatly appreciated. THE PALOMINO HOUSE BAND 1960-1969 When steel player Red Rhodes joined the Gene Davis band at the Palomino Club in 1960, Gene had already been there a couple of years leading a group, while Red had only moved to the West coast that year. quote: Gene’s group had become the dominant group at the Palomino with Speedy West leaving California in 1960, and Johnny Meeks TuneToppers splitting up, this left Gene’s group to play the week rather than alternate {two nights Each} with other groups, which had been the format in the 1950’s. When Red came in there'd already been steel players like Ralph Mooney and Ernie Ball in Gene’s Palomino group, the mainstay of the group at this stage was drummer Mel Taylor having joined in 1959. Mel was active in the L.A recording scene and did sesionwork for the likes of Gary Paxton (‘Cherry Pie’ by Skip & Flip, ‘Alley Oop’ by The Hollywood Argyles in 1960, ‘Monster Mash’ by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett), Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass (‘Lonely Bull’), and Buck Owens. By 1962 the group at the Palomino were Gene Davis {guitar & vocals}, Red Rhodes {steel guitar}, Delaney Bramlett {bass & vocals}, Mel Taylor {drums} and Glen D. Hardin { piano}, Glen had joined from a brief stint with the Crickets. In 1962 young Bakersfield guitarist vocalist Bobby Durham joined this line-up, but left before the year was out, having gained a solo record deal that year. He was replaced by Jerry Inman {guitar & vocals}. Jerry had been playing in a group with Ace Tipton in North Hollywood , with Biff Adam on drums and Ace on guitar. They'd started with that line-up, but had added a bass player to fill their sound. Then Gene Davis came down and hired Jerry to work at the Palomino club and leaving the Tipton outfit without a lead singer. It has been reported that Leon Russell was a Palomino Rider for awhile in 1962. Presumably on piano. The 1962 group at the Palomino evolved into Gene Davis {guitar & vocals}, Red Rhodes {steel guitar}, Delaney Bramlett {bass & vocals}, Mel Taylor {drums}, Glen D. Hardin {piano} and Jerry Inman {guitar& vocals} . Around this time all the group were doing sessions for Toppa Records, Delaney Bramlett and Red Rhodes played on a Toppa session for singer Janet McBride at this stage. While Mel Taylor even had a single on the label. Toppa 1054 Drum Fever/That's It 1962? Later in 1962, Washington State group the Ventures were in town and came into the Pal' from doing ‘The Wink Martindale Show’. They were asked to get up and sit in. They didn't have their drummer, but Mel sat in with them. A few months later while they were recording their ‘Twist, Vol. 2’." album the Ventures drummer was unable to continue with the group, they called Mel and he joined the group in 1962 and finished the album. Around this time they appeared as Gene Davis & the Star Routers on the "Star Route" TV program of the hosted by Rod Cameron the cowboy actor. Red even had an instrumental 'Star Route' which became the shows theme. For a permanent replacement Gene Davis hired Jan Curtis Skugstadt, a one time Seattle based jazz drummer who'd swithched to country and played with the bands of Ernest Tubb and Ray Price. He'd met Gene on a West Coast tour in the early 1960's and in '62 had travelled to join Judy Lynn's group in Las Vegas. On arrival there was no vacancy and Jan called Gene, who hired him to join the group. The 1962 group at the Palomino was now Gene Davis {guitar & vocals}, Red Rhodes {steel guitar}, Delaney Bramlett {bass & vocals}, Jan Curtis Skugstadt {drums}, Glen D. Hardin {piano} and Jerry Inman {guitar& vocals}. Jan remembers James Burton constantly sitting in with the group and played with Gene whenever he could. Jan Curtis lasted until 1963 then worked in the bands of Jimmy Bryant and Sammy Masters before returning to Seattle in 1964 and starting a studio there in 1965, which is still active to this day. Jan was replaced by Archie Francis in 1963 alongside the group of Gene Davis {guitar & vocals}, Red Rhodes {steel guitar}, Delaney Bramlett {bass & vocals}, Glen D. Hardin {piano} and Jerry Inman {guitar & vocals} Later in 1963 Delaney Bramlett was replaced by Glenn Cass {aka Kastner or Kass} on bass. By 1964 Glen D. Hardin would leave the group to play with the Shindogs, this outfit was the house band for the Shindig T.V show which started in 1964 and folded in 1966, Delaney Bramlett was also part of the house band with James Burton. By 1965 the 'Star Routers' were still going through line-up changes, Gene and Red were still using Glenn Cass on bass, while Johnny Carver had replaced Jerry Inman who was leading his own club band elsewhere. It's quite possible that Jerry Cole {guitar} was involved with the group around this time. While Archie Francis had left and was in Roger Miller's group. Bill Graham who moved to California from Texas to join Roger Miller's group remembers quote: In early 1966 Gene Davis left the Palomino Club, he was hired away to join Roger Miller's road band as MC, opening vocalist, road manager and rhythm guitarist. He lasted about a year then went out on his own again. By 1969 The Detours were Red Rhodes {steel}, Don Holiman {vocals & bass}, Garland Frady {acoustic rhythm guitar & vocals}, Biff Adam {drums}, Tom Brooks {aka Holbrooks} on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Johnny Meeks on lead vocals, lead guitar and piano. |
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Jason Odd Member From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
posted 02 June 2000 05:02 PM
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A little update. Thanks to Tom Bradshaw, I hear that in 1960 when Red joined the Gene Davis band, the group already consisted of Norm Raleigh {bass}, Jimmy Snyder {rhythm guitar}, Gene Davis {lead guitar, voc}, Mel Taylor on drums. Apparently Red mentions that Leon Russell, Glen Campbell, Glen D. Hardin, Delaney and Clyde Griffin all went through the early 1960's group. It's interesting to note that in the early 1960's, Sneaky Pete, Johnny Meeks, Norm Raleigh and Mel Taylor formed the Norm Raleigh Band {aka} 'Sir Raleigh & The Coupons' and worked the Lazy X Club in North Hollywood, they used to do Beatles songs as part of their act! ------------------ |
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