Band Posters of the 1960's printed by Cawker City Ledger Litho.

3 Versions of The Sensational Showmen

Just to clarify any confusion of the versions of The Sensational Showmen bands, there were 3 versions. The original group, hosts of this blog, were from Concordia, Clifton & Clyde, Kansas. The other two versions came about after the disbanding of the original group in 1967. The other two versions of the band hailed from Chanute, Parsons and Pittsburg. All the groups were affiliated with Mid-Continent Entertainment, John Brown, out of Lawrence, Kansas.

Mike Fitzsimmons, lead guitarist of The Sensational Showmen (Parsons/Pittsburg) passes

< Michael T. “Mike” Fitzmorris, 61, of Parsons, passed away at 6:39 p.m., Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at his home where he had resided his entire life. He was born March 4, 1953 in Neodesha, Kansas to Dennis and Rosemary (Patchin) Fitzmorris. He grew up in Parsons where he attended school and was a 1971 graduate of St. Patrick’s High School. He then attended Pittsburg State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in music education and vocal performance. Music was his passion. He worked as a professional musician, gave guitar lessons, taught music at Labette Community College, and entertained during the evening hours at the Parsons Country Club by playing the piano. He also had worked at the M-K-T Railroad, the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, and Class LTD where he was founder and director of the Class LTD choir. In earlier years, he toured with several bands including The Gang Band, The Sensational Showmen, The Fitz Band, and Trouble Maker. In 2008, he and The Sensational Showmen were honored by being inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame. His hobbies included photography, astronomy, and metal detecting. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and jamming with his friends who fondly called him “Fitz”. In 1990, he and Gretchen Wheelan were married at the Calvary Baptist Church in Joplin. They later divorced. Survivors include two sons, Erin Fitzmorris and Eric Fitzmorris and his wife, Jill, all of Lawrence, KS; three grandchildren, Lily Ann Kaiser, Brenya Rose Fitzmorris, and Ridley Michael Fitzmorris, and one granddaughter, Cambria Kay Fitzmorris, “on the way”; two brothers, Larry Fitzmorris, McPherson, KS, and Dennis Fitzmorris, Owasso, OK; and lifelong friend, Marvin Foreman, Parsons, KS. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Norman Fitzmorris; and one sister, Lynda Hedgepath. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 1, 2014 at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Michael Fitzmorris Memorial Fund. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

The Rising Suns being inducted into the 2014 South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association

Old photo of Playmate Blues Band

2014 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

KANSAS MUSIC HALL OF FAME 2014 INDUCTION CEREMONY Saturday, March 1st, 2014 All Ages // 6:00pm Doors // 6:30 Ceremony Start // 7:00pm Show FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE TICKETS: All Tickets Are General Admission $30.00* General Admission All seating is available first come, first served For more information, contact kansmusic@aol.com or ksmusichalloffame.org. 2014 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Inductees Beast Bon Ton Soul Accordion Band Clif Major Glow Jimmy Dee & Fabulous Destinations Junior Brown Sanctuary Wichita Linemen Ed Down (Audio House) Director's Award Donnie and Diane Bob Hapgood Award

King Midas and the Mufflers - late 90's

L to R top: Mike Hill, the late Bob Hapgood, Richard Collins, Ron Foulk bottom: the late Dennis Frans, Ralph Brown

The Innkeepers 1965

Mau Maus - 1965 Abilene, Kansas

Seeds of Friar Tuck and the Monks - Ron Bowell, Ron Fitch, and Richard France, the heart of Friar Tuck and the Monks came out of this 1965 band called the Mau Maus. Shown here at the Abilene, Kansas City Auditorium in the summer of 1965.

Soul Arrangement

Soul Arrangement. 1969? Main Stage at KS State Fair. Left to right Kenny Rice, Jr. Bowen, Bruce Huss, Ron Trelk,Willie Cheeks, Mike Bighart, Mike Lucas, Bill Spece.

Concordia, Kansas hot spots

Played Pop's Pizza many times. DJ's came later. Many excellent concerts at both venues.

Old Vette's, Clifton, Kansas poster from 1963 era

These were the very early stages of our musical venture of playing in public. No recollection of what we sounded like but I am sure it was very simple and amateurish, but at least it was a start. Making handmade posters using Magic Markers and colored construction paper. As you can see, we were not very artistic but were creative. After making the posters, then we had to hand deliver them to places that would gladly display them in their store windows or bulletin boards. After all the expense, we probably made nothing at the gig! Those were the days!!! Phil Pfister and Larry Jackson left the Vette's to launch The Sensational Showmen

Old Newspaper Clipping for the Vettes, Clifton, Kansas

Battle of the Bands , Concordia, Kansas

2014 Inductees to the Kansas Music Hall of Fame

The voting is over and the results are confirmed. Next March 1 the following will be inducted: Beast, Bon Ton Soul Accordion Band, Junior Brown, Jimmy Dee & Fabulous Destinations, Glow, Clif Major, Sanctuary and the Wichita Linemen. The Directors Award inductee will be Ed Down of Audio House, and the Bob Hapgood Award winner will be Donnie & Diane.

Great Documentary of Bud Ross- Kustom Electronics of Chanute, Kansas

"watch.ktwu.org/video/2365121470/"

Pop's Pizza Parlor, Concordia, Kansas

A great location for kids to gather, eat pizza and listen and dance to the many bands that played the venue. Too bad it has been shuttered for years. Even though it is empty now, it contains a lot of memories of teenagers from north central Kansas.

Concordia, Kansas National Guard Armory

Great acoustics. Jam packed dances in the 60's,

KOMA kissing tone

2013 KMHOF poster

The Tempests - Hays, Kansas - 2013 KMOF Induction

Gary "Igor" Crawford

He traveled with many a band in his days with Mid Continent

Spider and the Crabs pictures

Thank you to Wes Strowig,former trombone player from Salina, Kansas. He played with the Kopi Kats from Manhattan, Ks and versions of Spider and the Crabs and the Rising Suns 1968-1970.

Playmate Blues Band pics from the past

Salina Journal writeup on The Devastating Dinks induction

"http://www.salina.com/news/dinks-3513"

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

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