The Blue Things "Doll House"

The Rising Suns

The RISING SUNS (Coffeyville version) formed in Lawrence, Kansas in the mid 1960’s under contract and being promoted by Mid Continent Entertainment, a booking agency started by John Brown and Mike Murfin, that booked the band throughout the United States performing thousands of venues from Texas to Canada, and California to New York. The “SUNS” were known as the band to see and packed the venues they played. Known for producing great music, they were also known for putting on a great show with the ability to draw in the crowd and get the rock and roll, adrenalin flowing. Their music focused on artists such as James Brown, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, Tower of Power and many more. The dance concerts were advertised through the famed 50,000 watt KOMA radio station based in Oklahoma City, which reached approximately three million listeners per night throughout the western and central US. Through the contract years of 1966 through 1974 there were 23 different musicians that traveled the nation. One of the longest playing bands under contract with Mid Continent, the band would play three nights a week during the school term, and seven nights a week the rest of the year. Thirteen of those members reunited in 2006 to continue producing that good ole rock and roll, rhythm and blues sound discovering that their old fans, as well as new younger fans are enjoying that “SUNS” sound. The RISING SUNS were inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in January 2007, and the Lions Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October of that same year. They are scheduled for induction into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Labor Day weekend, September 5, 2010 The “SUNS’ Members that reunited in 2006: Isy Martin Jr. Guitar; vocals Anaheim Hills, CA Bill Snow Bass; vocals Tulsa, OK Butch Neese Bass; vocals Afton, OK Mike Floyd Guitar; vocals Wichita, KS Randall Grundy Keyboard; vocals Vista, CA Steve Datson Drums Coffeyville, KS John Keith Saxophone Coffeyville, KS Jim Jensen Saxophone Birmingham, AL Jack Rawlins Saxophone Ponca City, OK Richard McBride Trombone Caney, KS Doug Bundy Trombone Edmond, OK Steve Alter Trumpet Jenks, OK Doug Rike Trumpet Parsons, KS Gene Tucker Road Manager Coffeyville, KS