Old Hollyhock Ballroom poster

Old Rides Soul Express and Spider & the Crabs

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

The Fabulous Flippers-Where are they Now

So where are The Fabulous Flippers now? (As of 1998 article) Dennes Frederick, bass guitarist, lives in Nashville and works as a chemist. Doug Crotty, sax player, practices law in Garden City. Jerry Tammen, drummer, is an investor in Larned. Gary Claxton, sax player, is in the insurance business in Bella Vista, Ark. Terry Wierman, lead guitarist, is a carpenter in Hays. Danny Hein, vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist, is in the real estate business in Bella Vista. Roger Lewis, lead trumpet player, is a band director at Butler County Community College in El Dorado. And Loewen, after moving to Nashville and pursuing a career in contemporary Christian music, is now a property manager in Lawrence.

Rising Suns poster

South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association 2013

SIOUX FALLS — Tyndall’s Groveland Park is among the 2013 inductees to the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association Hall of Fame, the association announced Tuesday. The April 13 induction at the Ramkota in Sioux Falls will include 10 bands from South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota, three venues, and four individuals who were early contributors to the enjoyment of rock ’n’ roll music in South Dakota.Playing at the 2013 induction are The Hursmen and Ma’s Boys, from Sioux Falls; Nickel Bag of Soul, from Flandreau; Outer Limits, from Madison; Burch Ray & the Walkers, from Spearfish; Lads of Sherwood, from Sisseton; and The Roselles Brothers, from Lead. Also performing will be two Iowa bands, The 7 Sons and The Velaires, from Sioux City. The Trashmen of “Surfin’ Bird” fame have also agreed to perform.The Trashmen, from the Twin Cities, became world famous with the release of the 1963 song “Surfin’ Bird,” a medley of two songs by the Rivingtons, “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “The Bird’s the Word.” Most recently, the song again hit No. 3 in the United Kingdom in 2010 after a Facebook promotion. The association also recognizes venues — dance halls, popular lounges and other facilities — that were instrumental in bringing people together to enjoy rock ’n’ roll. Inductees for 2013 include the White Eagle Ballroom, of New Effington; Horatios, of Brookings; Tyndall’s Groveland Park; and Lyal’s Music Store, of Lake Preston. Individuals to be honored in 2013 are Promoter Dick Matousek, from Sioux City, and DJ Ray Durkee, from Aberdeen, with Dennis Brown, aka Jim Rose, Aberdeen, winning the Lifetime Achievement Award and the late Lloyd Nerland, Huron, winning the Spirit of the Music Award. Now in its fifth year, the induction ceremony annually sells out to a crowd of 1,600 people. Details, tickets and VIP tables are available for reservations online at SDRRMA.com.

Dark Horse Inn, Hays, Kansas

2013 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Inductees

The 2013 Kansas Music Hall of Fame inductees have been announced. The induction ceremony and concert will be held March 2, 2013 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence. The new inductees are: Devastating Dinks, Salina Exceptions, Topeka Ray Hildebrand, Prairie Village Kerry Livgren, Berryton/Topeka Chuck Mead, Lawrence Mystic Number National Bank, Kansas City Playmate Blues Band, Hays Tempests, Hays Steve Werner, Kansas City Wizards From Kansas, Lawrence Sherman Halsey, Independence (Directors Award) Clyde Bysom and Junkyard Jazz, Lawrence (Directors Award) Larry Emmett & Sliders, DeSoto (Bob Hapgood Award) So far the Devastating Dinks, Ray Hildebrand, Playmate Blues Band, Tempests and Clyde Bysom & Junkyard Jazz have indicated that they will perform at Liberty Hall March 2. It’s important that we pack the place, so please spread the word about the show and make plans to attend.

The Devastating Dinks flyer

More Fender Guitars

Fender Guitars

Fender Amplifiers

Old Posters from the 60's

Turtle's Concert, Sioux Falls, SD

An autographed poster!!! What a find.

Mitchell, South Dakota Roller Drome

The Roller Drome was owned by Ray Weinhart. Alternated between skating and dances. The stage was not permanent and very low. Audience could getright next to the band. Great for both the audience and the band. Drome "tended" to be a Wed, Thurs, Friday night gig because of dances at Milltown on Tues. and Ruskin on Sat. "All wood" inside, the sound bounced everywhere. In the mid 60's all the local groups played there...Myron, Velaires, Talismen,Jay Bee and the Kats, Torres, Blue Denim Sneakers,Sting Rays, et al. All the Mid-Continent groups made it plus lots of National Acts...Cascades Bobby Vee, Crickets, Buddy Knox, Hullabaloes, Ronnettes,Tommy Roe. There is a picture of the Red Dogs on their site taken in front of the building in the 60's. It does not exist today, my understanding was that it was destroyed by fire.

The Sensational Torres-Thanks to Rick Gillis

Visit their website for pictures and videos. www.torrestheband.com/home

Kansas Music Hall of Fame 2012 nominations

The following 30 names appear on this year's ballot, however, write-in votes are not only allowed, but encouraged: Dana Cooper, Devastating Dinks, Embarrassment, Larry Emmett & Sliders, Exceptions, Get Smart, Ray Hildebrand, Freedy Johnston, Junkyard Jazz, Julia Lee, Kerry Livgren, Lotus, Kevin Mahogany, Chuck Mead, Mortal Micronotz, Mystic Number National Bank, Pedaljets, Playmate Blues Band, Samuel Ramey, Scamps, Secrets*, Tony Teebo, Tempests, Thumbs, Roger Walls, Steve Werner, Johnny Western, Marva Whitney, Wichita Linemen and Wizards From Kansas.

Old Dark Horse Inn, Hays, Kansas calendar ad

Playmate Blue Band old poster

Another old Flippers poster

Flippers Poster

Old Flippers' poster from their reunion tour in 1994 held at the Belleville Kansas fairgrounds.

Red Dogs in Hawaii

Rising Suns-Coffeyville, Kansas

The Rising Suns-Coffeyville
Inducted Members: Steve Alter, Doug Bundy, Steven Datson, Mike Floyd, Randall Grundy, Jim Jensen, John Keith, Richard McBride, Isy Martin Jr., Jacks Rawlins, Dougls Ricke, Bill Snow, Butch Neese, Gene Tucker
Home Town: Coffeyville, Kansas

Everyone fondly remembers the exciting show band, the Sensational Rising Suns. The Rising Suns were another of the incredible horn bands booked, promoted, and sold through the legendary Mid Continent Productions of Lawrence, Kansas.
With such groups as the Fabulous Flippers, The Young Raiders, and the Roarin’ Red Dogs, the Rising Suns are another in the long line of creative and highly successful Kansas show and horn bands, entering the IRRMA Hall of Fame in the out-of-state category.
The band started out in 1967 in Topeka, Kansas and went on the road as the Rising Sons. Six months into their new career, the group would experience a terrible bus accident, and the group no longer existed. Mid Continent needed to find another Rising Sons and fast, as bookings were starting to pile up.
This time they recruited a great horn band out of Coffeyville, Kansas that was originally called the Dalton Gang. The band took on the new name of the Rising Suns and would tour as the Rising Suns all the way into 1972.
The Rising Suns were a 7-8 man horn and show band that featured Mid Continent’s first interracial soul band fronted by black singers, “Big” Walter Downing and Izzy Martin. Walter was the younger brother of the legendary R&B performer “Big” Al Downing.
Mid Continent was not sure that a multi-cultural band would be accepted in many of the Midwest ’s small rural ballrooms, but the opposite occurred, as the band became one of the hottest sellers on the Mid Continent roster. With Downing’s and Martin’s incredible live shows, they became a Midwest rock and roll rage. One special aspect of their show was that their last set of the evening featured a complete costumed recreation of James Brown’s Live At The Apollo show. The band was heavily featured on KOMA Radio in Oklahoma City, and KAAY in Little Rock Arkansas , so when they showed up in town, it was always a major music event.
Because of being a Mid Continent band, they played virtually every ballroom in Iowa including: the Roof Garden-Arnolds Park, Cobblestone-Storm Lake, Surf-Clear Lake, Val Air-Des Moines, Inwood-Spillville, Matter’s-Decorah, Electric Park Ballroom-Waterloo, Avalon Ballroom-Remsen, Danceland Ballroom-Cedar Rapids, Starline-Carroll, The Library Ballroom-Iowa City, Dancemor Ballroom-Swisher, Star Ballroom-Dakota City, Lake Robbins Ballroom-Woodward, Lakewood Ballroom-Lake View and the Pla Mor Ballroom in downtown Fort Dodge on three separate occasions.
In 1972 the group would disband with Downing and Martin relocating to California and becoming members of national soul group, the Undisputed Truth and their big hit record, “Smiling Faces”.
The Sensational Rising Suns of Coffeyville are honored to be inducted into the Iowa Rock & Roll Music Association Hall Of Fame. They were inducted into the Kansas Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. What an exciting Induction Spectacular show it will be, when all the horns and original players along with Izzy Martin are on the Roof Garden stage for the Hall of Fame concert. “Big” Walter Downing passed away in 2004 due to complications from diabetes but will certainly be there in spirit!

Arnold's Park- Lake Okoboji, Iowa

Arnolds Park Amusement Park - 2011 Spirit Award
Home Town: Arnolds Park

In the late 1800's, when steamships carried passengers to historic ballrooms and other grand sites around the Iowa Great Lakes, pioneer developer Wesley Arnold envisioned an attraction that would draw visitors to his lakeshore property in Smith's Bay on West Lake Okoboji. The construction of a formidable water toboggan slide on that property gave birth to the Arnolds Park Amusement Park , a landmark that would evolve over the next century into the very essence of the Okoboji experience.
Throughout the next one hundred years - as the amusement park diversified into a Coney Island-style attraction and became known as a vacation destination, throngs of visitors and local residents alike filled the 21-acre lakeside site to ride the roller coaster, bumper cars and go-karts, shop the Queen's Court for Okoboji memorabilia, nutty bars and listen to big bands and rock n' roll at the legendary Roof Garden under star-studded summer nights. Arnolds Park Amusement Park became synonymous with the best music anywhere in the USA.
The "Roof,” as it became known, was a “must” destination for several generations of music lovers. Thousands danced to the music of the big bands in the 1920s, 30s and 40s - Count Basie, Harry James, Dorsey Brothers, Duke Ellington, and Glen Miller orchestras, to name just a few. The 1950s ushered in the Rock and Roll era and the ballroom featured nearly all of the top-40 artists and bands of the time, including Jerry Lee Lewis, The Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin and the Four Freshmen.
Throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s impresario and Roof Garden owner Darlowe Oleson continued to bring the stars of the day to Okoboji. Teenagers boogied to The Beach Boys, Bobby Rydell, Johnny Cash, Bobby Vee, the Yardbirds, the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars, and more – if they had chart-topping hits, they played “The Roof.”
The ballroom also featured regional bands, including perennial favorites The Fabulous Flippers from Lawrence, KS and The Rumbles from Omaha . Iowa-based bands competed in an annual Battle of the Bands competition and the top finishers were rewarded with future performance dates. Playing “The Roof” became the sign that a band had “arrived.” Interestingly, many of the groups that played the ballroom back then have been inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘N Roll Music Association Hall of Fame and many are still performing.
Although different owners and attractions came and went over the years, the park and music remained a staple of Iowa Great Lakes tourism and fashioned generations of fond Okoboji memories. After a stunning renovation by owner and philanthropist Chuck Long that revitalized attendance, the park’s existence was threatened by a developer who announced plans to turn the historic landmark into a condominium, hotel and retail complex. The battle to save the park was won when a non-profit, “Save the Park” group raised $7.25 million and purchased it.
The entertainment complex is now officially titled Historic Arnolds Park, Inc. (HAPI) and is run by a board consisting of community leaders who oversee the operations of Arnolds Park Amusement Park , Arnolds Park Raceway, the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum , Preservation Plaza , the Majestic Pavilion, the Roof Garden and the Queen II excursion boat. With the proven fiscal and management skills of these individuals, the preservation and bright future of this historic landmark is certain.
The HAPI board and staff was and is dedicated to bringing live musical entertainment throughout all of these years. They erected a large performance stage on the “Green Space” area on the east end of the Amusement Park and present regular free concerts during the summer season. A new Roof Garden was built in 1997 so that rain or shine; the public can enjoy live entertainment. The IRRMA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies have been held in that facility from the very beginning. The IRRMA Museum is located adjacent to and under the roof of the new Roof Garden.
The "Park” staff works diligently with the IRRMA board, staff and volunteers to present 10 Thursday night Rock the Roof concerts during the summer for locals and visitors to enjoy. Keeping the music alive and accessible to the public garners Historic Arnolds Park Inc. the 2011 Spirit Award.

The Sensational Showman are mentioned under Hatfield, MN

When you think “Minnesota,” you might immediately picture the scenic North Shore or the bustling Mall of America. But Minnesota is much more than that. The Land of 10,000 Lakes is peppered with small communities, and Little Minnesota spotlights 100 towns with populations under 100. Each entry features folks who know what it means to help their neighbors and locales that range from quaint to historic.

Jill has been working on Little Minnesota for the last few years. The project began as an effort to recall the history of Strandquist, MN, the small town where her father, Jim Musburger, began his coaching career. Excited by the fascinating stories she found there, she continued on to other small towns in the area, eventually covering the whole state in search of the tales and characteristics that make each little city so special. The 100 towns represented are now “around 100″ in population after the 2010 census, as some of them have grown, bucking the trend of metro migration of the last few decades.

Each town has a photo gallery, a story of how and why the city was founded, and where it stands today. When you read about these little places, still alive and well in most cases, you will want to see them for yourself. Enjoy the journey with us, and then plan your own visit to see what makes each town unique. You will find everything from a top-class steakhouse to fabulous pies to a biker bar or two. These are quiet places, away from frantic traffic (harvest time excepted), noise, and bright lights — cities where you can still see the stars.

Publication date: November 28, 2011 from Adventure Publications. http://www.adventurepublications.net

You can order from Beagle Books & Bindery in Park Rapids. http://www.beagle-books.com

Or you can contact us directly at the address below, or via email with the form on the “Contact” page.

Little Minnesota

PO Box 649

Park Rapids, MN 56470

Listing of the 2012 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Inductees

The 2012 inductees will be Bloodstone, Burlington Express, Max Carl, Clocks, Cole Tuckey on Rye, Finnigan & Wood, Johnny Isom, Krazy Kats, Morningstar, Stanley Sheldon, Tommy Stephenson, Craig "Craig Twister Steward, White Clover. The inductions will take place at Liberty Hall in Lawrence on February 25&26, 2012. Congrats to all of our new KMHOF inductees.

The Red Dog Inn, Lawrence, Kansas

Blue Things Video - Great Pics!

The Blue Things - Doll House 1966

The Red Dogs - Then and Now

More rare posters from the 60's

Rare Band Posters

The Fabulous Flippers - Don't Want To Cry No More

1966 Bio - The Fabulous Flippers

THE FABULOUS FLIPPERS:

THE EIGHT EIGHTH WONDERS OF THE WORLD

Watch-

Listen-

And talk about-

THE FABULOUS FLIPPERS

The Fabulous Flippers were originally formed in Hays, Kansas almost seven years ago. The band was then a five piece. Terry Wierman was the leader who formed the group for the purpose of playing local dance jobs on the weekends. Unlike most groups, this band early in high school met with very good success locally and were able to stay together through four years of high school.

The beginning of the eight piece show band that has captured the attention of everyone in the mid-west, was in June 1964. Auditions were held over a four state area to come up with the best talent possible. Seven men were selected and were told they had two days to put together a show and get on the road. The boys had just me, but it was soon discovered that working together was easy. Each man that was selected had been playing in various bands for at least five years. All of the boys were 19 and 20. Terry Wierman was still the leader and was the only original Flipper.

The summer of 1964 proved to be one summer that the people of Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa will never forget. Radio station KOMA in Oklahoma City was used for advertising. Regular spots ran every day and people all over [the] central United States heard the name of the Flippers. Posters, handbills, and newspapers were used that summer as the Flippers started their journey across becoming a legend that was to build bigger every time they played. It was not uncommon at all for the Flippers to be mobbed when they came into town. Many times extra police officers had to be called in to hold back the excited mobs that would try to get to the band on stage. By the time the band had been on the road for five or six weeks the word [began] to get around about the band. Many newspapers interviewed the boys and did full page articles on the band. In almost every town pictures appeared in local newspapers about the band.

The reason for the large success of the band was this. The band was then seven pieces, using a standard five piece [rhythm] section plus one trumpet and one sax. The band was playing the current hits, but had re-worked the songs, [adding] horns, [choreography], trick lighting systems, and dyed [blonde] hair. This unusual combination of horns with popular songs was [new] [to] the kids [;] they were liking it so much that the Flippers would average 1,000 people a night playing in towns that most agencies have never heard of.

Probably one of the main secrets of the success of the band was the show they put on. On [no] song, at any time, was anyone standing still. The band had spent many hours practicing and working out routines for each song. Dance steps were used, and at [points] of the evening, a vaudeville show was put on. And it was done well. The boys ended the summer playing 108 dances in eight states, and leaving people talking about the band everywhere they went.

It s not even fair to compare this band with other groups. All you can say is they work together with a talent that is unbelievable. You can say all you want about this band, and when you see them you ll have to admit that enough hasn t been said yet. The foresight and talent of this band is expressed by the way the band predicted a coming trend for horns and went to eight pieces. This gave them three horns on every number, and sometimes up to five since almost everyone in the band plays every instrument except the drummer. The drummer would if he had a chance, but to describe the drummer is like talking about the seven wonders of the world, so he stays on the drums. Bands all over the mid-west have copied the Flippers. Anyone who has ever been to a mid-west dance knows that there s a different kind of music out there.

More than a year ago the Flippers changed the musical trends of the mid-west They started playing [Rhythm] and Blues with a Blue Eyed Sound. They added trumpets to old blues songs which had not been heard of in the mid-west except by a few. The songs were re-arranged and presented to the public and the response was overwhelming. The Flippers had done it again. The whole mid-west was behind them. The Flippers were doing Taste Of Honey with two trumpets and a trombone three months before Herb Albert brought it to the public.

Last year the Flippers were asked to play for [the] National Ballroom Operators Convention. After their performance a special meeting was held by the operators. They could not believe it. The Flippers moved into Minnesota and Iowa and completely upset the ballroom circuit The second and third times around many attendance records were set. Many crowds over 2,500 were recorded.

WATCH OUT WORLD, the Flippers may be coming your way, and when they do, you won t believe it. It s easy to say that the world would stand, watch, and be entertained by this eight piece band like they have never been entertained before. Anybody who has seen this band once can t help expressing their respect, admiration for this eight piece group of musical talents called THE FABULOUS FLIPPERS

P.S., And this is [an understatement,] see them, you ll be writing letters too.

Catch Lines:

Never will you see a group that works so hard to please a crowd.

This band uses eight men who play with a sound that only big bands can equal.

This band is destined to be the Count Basie of this era.

Every number is accompanied by a show also.

This band has held crowds of thousands spellbound. It s not uncommon for crowds to just watch for the first hour.

The Dark Horse Inn, Hays, Kansas

2011 KMHOF Credit Roll

2011 KMHOF Credit Roll

Fabulous Flippers signed poster - Roller Drome, Mitchell, SD 1966

Old Red Dog Inn advertisement