GYPSY: The Evolution of 3 Local MPLS Bands to make a legend.
A Dr. Rox Remember When? (for WDGY) Article: Feb 2018: #83-G
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0
With a rich history in the 60s from the St. Paul -Minneapolis Local Music Scene, we will cover (as best we can), the history of “GYPSY” & the 3 bands from they evolved from:
GYPSY: 1969 -1973
The Escapades: 1962 -1964
The Underbeats: 1965 -1969
Hot Half Dozen:1967
This article is the follow up to the DVD released on the band GYPSY back in 2016, and the precursor to the “Groundbreakers” (2, half hour episodes) & “PsychoGello” (1, half hour episode) radio shows on WDGY (740am & 92.1 & 103.7fm & Streaming 107.1) coming up in March 2018.
> The Escapades: 1964- 1966: St. Paul <
Our story begins when Enrico Rosenbaum’s Mother (Lisa) a survivor of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland (she had her internment number tattooed on her left forearm, Gene Simmons’ (of KISS) Mother; Sophie is also a Auschwitz survivor), relocates to Italy & gives birth to future Vocalist & Lead Guitarist Enrico Rosenbaum in 1944. Rico co-founded ‘The Escapades”’in St. Paul, MN. in 1964. Though there was already another band going by the name “The Escapades” from Memphis who released the 45 singles “I Tell No Lies b/w She’s The Kind” in 1966 on Arbet Records #A-1010 & “Mad Mad Mad b/w I Try So Hard” Verve #VK-10415 also later in ’66 (so hard-core collectors, don’t get confused there are 2 different bands).
> The Underbeats: 1962 -1969: Minneapolis <
Hailing from N. MPLS & Brooklyn Ctr. founding members James Calvin Johnson (26 Aug 1947: MPLS) on Guitar & Vocals & Doni Larson (Brooklyn Ctr.) on Bass & Vocals form the band in Larson’s basement in ’62 with: Russ Hagen on Guitar & “Duke” (Robert) Duane on Drums. In 1963 Hagen & Duane leave the band for military service & are replaced respectively By: Ray Berg & Rod Eaton (later of: TC Atlantic) on Drums, the band plays such venues as: Chisago City Civic Center, Bill’s Roller Rink in Anoka, & the Bloomington Rink. Sometime in 1964 ‘The Underbeats‘ connect with local Record Label Mogul George Garrett who owns the labels “Garrett” “Banger” “Twin Town” & “Bear”. George releases a couple of 45 Singles for the band on his smaller label “Bangor” in ’64, recorded at ‘Kay Bank Recording Studio’ they are; “Annie Do The Dog b/w Sweet Words Of Love” #BA 00632 “Little Romance b/w Broken Arrow” #BA 00657, apparently selling well enough that their 3rd 45 single in ’64 was released on his more mainstream label “Garrett” this was “Foot Stompin b/w Route 66” #GA 4004, becoming a Top 50 hit in the MPLS- SP area. In Fall ’65 Rod Eaton leaves the band & is replaced by Tommy Nystrom form another local band ‘The Accents’ from Bloomington, MN. also signed to the ‘Banger’ label, releasing 6 singles from: 1964 -66 they also have a Top 50 local hit played on WDGY with the Lonnie Mack song “Why b/w Road Runner” #BA-00648.
In 1966 Berg decides to get married & leaves ‘The Underbeats’ Jim Johnson recruits local guitar hero Rico Rosenbaum from ‘The Escapades’ the band release a couple of 45 Singles on Amos Heilicher’s “SOMA” record label those being; “Book Of Love b/w Darling Lorraine” #1449 & “I Can’t Stand It b/w Shake It For Me” #1458, also this same year Jim Johnson is drafted by the military & sent to Vietnam, in his absence Johnson hires Wilmer native Wally Walstead on Guitar & convinces James Walsh to leave the ‘Hot Half Dozen’ to play Keyboards in this band. In 1967 while on leave Jim Johnson records with the band & releases a 45 Single under the name ‘Calvin James & The Haymarket Riot’ on Stature Records #1104 “Footsteps b/w Find This Woman” & returns to the service, later this year the band release its 6th single “It’s Gonna Rain Today b/w Sweetest Girl in the World” on Metrobeat Records #MBR-4449, written by: Rosenbaum & sung by: Walsh.
In Sep 1968 Jim Johnson returns from Vietnam & rejoins his band full time, then release their final 45 Single “Darkness b/w You’re Losing Me” ( both written by: Johnson- Rosenbaum) on Ira Heillicher’s PIP Records. There are a few unreleased songs from the Dove Recording Studio: “Love To You” “Fate Of A Fool” “Don’t You Lie To Me” & “Wishes Don’t Come True”. In Nov ’68 Rosenbaum’s high school buddy Steve Freeman becomes the band’s manager, convinces the band to relocate to Los Angeles, & quickly lands a gig as the house band at “Gezzarris” on Sunset Strip, however billed as “The Groovy People” with Tom Green on Drums for a brief period of time.
Things really start to happen for the band in 1969, Nystrom leaves band for good & goes back to Minnesota & the Winona, MN. Native James “Jay” Epstein takes over on Drums. The band then replaces the band ‘Chicago Transit Authority (later known as just CHICAGO)’ as the house band at the legendary “Whiskey A Go-Go” (the Whiskey A Go-Go was a national chain & there was one in St. Paul in the mid 60s)here are some dates from this time period:
Nov 26 – 30 – 1969 Whiskey A Go Go West Hollywood, Calif.
Nov 30 1969 Huntington Beach, Calif. @ Golden Bear (2nd show on this same day)
It is also at this time Doni Larson comes up with the band’s New Name, based on the way they have been living for the past few years. GYPSY.
> Hot Half Dozen: 1964 -67: Minneapolis <
The local band ‘Half Dozen’ in ’64 then later the ‘Hot Half Dozen’ in 1966 featured one James “Owl” Walsh (6 Sep 1948: Minneapolis) on Lead Vocals & Keyboards, Walsh: “I got interested in music because my Mom sang & played Piano, she used to take me to the U of M to hear the symphonies there” Walsh attended Edison Sr. High in MPLS, & left in ’65 to join the ‘Hot Half Dozen’ the band released one 45 Single “Heat Wave b/w Keep It Simple” on SOMA Records #1453. Walsh was eventually hired by ‘The Underbeats’ in 1966.
> GYPSY: 1970: Los Angeles <
It’s now early 1970 & Doni Larson, has come up with a new name for the band, that being “GYPSY” & the line-up at this time is: Jim Johnson: Guitar & Vocals, Rico Rosenbaum: Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar, Owl Walsh: Keyboards & Lead Vocals, Doni Larson: Bass & Jay Epstein: Drums. Still the house band at the “Whiskey A Go-Go” the band attract interest from several record labels, ultimately it comes down to Atlantic (at this time primarily a R&B label) & Metromedia was a media company that owned TV & Radio Stations, in 1969 the branched out into the Record Business, who’s biggest selling artist at the time is Bobby Sherman: 9 LPs from 1969 -72, & Peter Allen (1944 -1992), KISS was also considering Metromedia in 1973 before they signed with Casablanca. The band decided to go with the smaller company for several reasons, Metromedia offered a larger monetary advance, the smaller label would have more concentration on the band’s promotion, & paid for a better recording studio, & the band convinced Metromedia to let their debut LP be a Double Album (at the time only ‘Chicago Transit Authority’ had such a luxury) & allowed the band to help create the LP cover using drawings of Alfons Mucha: (1860 -1939; Czech Republic) artwork titled “Zodiac”, giving the band’s albums immediate & lasting recognition, my friend Debi from St. Louis, told me her Jr. High School art project was a drawing of the 1st album cover, because GYPSY was so popular in that area. The band’s 1st LP is released in Fall ’70
“Gypsy” recorded at Devonshire Studios in North Hollywood, Produced By: Glen Pace on Metromedia #M2D-1031 with 13 tracks clocking in at 1:11:03min, the album hit #44 on Billboard Charts. The CD issue in 1999 on Bedrock Records contains the extra track (#14) ”The Innocence”, the 45 Single released for this LP is “Gypsy Queen Part #1: 3:53min b/w Dead And Gone: 3:05min” both songs are edited down from the LP versions, the “A-side” hit #62 on the Billboard Charts from 5 Dec ’70 to 16 Jan 1971 & stayed for 8 weeks on the Charts.
Walsh: “We fought very hard to get the label to let us do a 2 record set, the label’s concern was the jacket cost almost .25 cents, a lot of money back then for a small label” “We (the band) would hear our songs being played on KQRS, and think We are way ahead of our time”
Here are a few of the Concert Dates the Band performed in the year 1970:
Jan 18 1970 @ Whiskey A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA.
Apr 17 1970 @ Whittier College in Whittier, CA.
May 14 1970 @ Fillmore West in San Francisco, CA. w/ Spirit
May 15 1970 @ Fillmore West in San Francisco, CA. w/ Spirit
May 16 1970 @ Fillmore West in San Francisco, CA. w/ Spirit
May 22 1970 @ Monterey County Fairground in Monterey, Ca. w/ SHAG
May 27 1970 @ Whiskey A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA.
May 31 1970 @ Whiskey A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA.
Jul 3 1970 @ Atlanta International Pop Festival, Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Ga. to a crowd of some 400,000 people with: Jimi Hendrix, Allman Bros & Mountain
Sep 9 1970 @ Labor Temple in MPLS, MN.
Sep 20 1970 @ Labor Temple In MPLS. w/ Pepper Fog for 2 Shows 7:30 & 10:15pm Tickets $2.75 @ Optic Nerve)
Nov 26 1970 @ Winterland Ballroom in San Fransisco, CA. w/ Mason Profit & Chambers Bros. Tickets $3.50
Nov 27 1970 @ Winterland Ballroom in San Fransisco, CA. w/ Mason Profit & Chambers Bros.
Nov 28 1970 @ Winterland Ballroom in San Fransisco, CA. w/ Mason Profit & Chambers Bros.
Dec 18 1970 @ Fillmore East in NYC, NY w/ Savoy Brown
Dec 19 1970 @ Fillmore East in NYC, NY w/ Poco
Walsh: “We met Jimi (Hendrix) in ’70 at a festival, after that we used to hang and party with him all the time, both here (St. Paul) & there (L.A.)”
> 1971: out of L.A. <
The band’s 2nd album “In The Garden” is released in 1971 on Metromedia #KMD -1044; containing 7 Tracks @ 36:42min on Vinyl & 8-Track & hit #173 on the Billboard charts, the LP was Produced by Clark Burroughs & recorded at Larrabee Sound Studios. The 1999 CD issue on Bedrock Records contained 8 songs, with the bonus track “20 Years Ago Today”, 2 Singles were released for this album; “Here In The Garden Part #1 (3:04min) b/w Here In The Garden Part #2” (edited down from the LP versions) & “As Far As I Can See b/w Blindman” The band has a lineup change when Larson & Epstein leave before this LP is recorded. Bassist Willie Weeks (born August 5, 1947 Salemburg NC. performed with: Doobie Bros, Gregg Allman, Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder & George Harrison: 1974 -82) fills in for this release only, along with Joe Lala (1947 -2014; performed with Blues Image & CSNY) on percussion, And on Drums; Bill Lordan (22 May 1947 in Minneapolis, MN; married to Diana Olson, an entertainment journalist; Lordan performed with Robin Trower: 1975 -87 & Sly & Family Stone in 1974 & started out with The Esquire’s in 1967 on their hit: “Get On Up” (covered by The Monkees on the 1969 Tour with Dolenz on lead vocals). 1971 finds the band out on more national tours with bands like ‘The Guess Who’. Walsh: The label released the album, really without our permission while we were on tour”.
Apr 25 1971 @ The Depot (1st Ave.) in MPLS. for 2 Shows: 7:30 & 10:30pm tickets $3.75
Aug 28 1971 @ Auditorium in St. Paul w/ Guess Who 8pm tickets $4.oo @ Oblivion Records
> 1972: The RCA Years <
In 1972 the band finds itself on a new & major label with ‘RCA’, though Metromedia started off with the best offer, ultimately fell short in the financial area to continue to promote the band properly, Metromedia closed its Record Label in 1974, after just 5 years of operation. The band’s 3rd album ‘Antithesis’ (the 1st LP to not have a Alfons Mucha type cover) on RCA #LSP-4775 with 12 Tracks @ 39:49min was recorded from July 3-9 1972 at the RCA Music Center of the World in Hollywood, CA. & Produced by Jack Richardson, the 45 Single from this release was “Day After Day (3:11min) b/w Lean On Me (3:13min)” (the 1st single not not have edited down versions from the LP) The band’s line-up stabilizes with Bill Lordon on Drums & Randy Cates on Bass.
> 1973: the End of the Original Run <
The band’s 4th & final album of the original run ‘Unlock The Gates’ (the 2nd without a Alfons Mucha cover) is released in 1973 on RCA: #APL1-0093 on Vinyl & 8-Track with 10 Tracks @ 32:51min 2 Singles are released from this album; “Don’t Bother Me (3:10min) b/w Make Peace With Jesus (3:03min)” & “Need You Baby (3:05min) b/w Precious One(4:19min)” this LP was also produced by: Jack Richardson, with the same GYPSY lineup as the previous album with the addition of the ‘CHICAGO’ Horn Section: James Pankow (20 Aug 1947: St. Louis): Trombone (one of my favorite song writers of all time) with Walter Parazaider : Saxophone & Lee Loughnane: Trumpet.
Sep 27 1973 @ Union Ballroom in Mankato, MN. w/ Prodigy @ 8pm tickets $2.50
> 1975 -1979: Still Working <
It’s been 2 years since the last LP & the band is now Johnson, Walsh with Lewis Derry: Bass & Vocals, Stan Kipper: Drums & Chico Perez: Percussion. they release 1 single in 1975 on Dore #907 “Magic In My Life (3:04min) b/w Don’t Stop For Nothin (2:57min)” produced by: Terry Furlong, both songs are re-recorded on the ‘5th Dimension’ s 10th album;”Earthbound” on ABC Records released in Aug 1975.
At some point Walsh leaves the band, & the new lineup consisting of Johnson, Rosenbaum, Cates, Stan Kipper: Drums & Barry Kay: Keyboards performs on 9 July 1977 in St. Louis, MO. @ Busch Memorial Stadium for “Super Jam ’77” with REO Speedwagon, Ted Nugent, , Head East & Judas Priest. Eventually a CD Only release on Peak Records #16072, becomes available, here is the track list for the Show:
- Intro Jam
- Around You
- Blindman
- Is That News
- Crusader
- Facing Time
- Rouges Moon
- Young gypsy
- Only This Money
- Gypsy Queen
This lineup also plays a hometown date: Oct 9 1977 @ Civic Center St. Paul, MN. w/ Pine.
Somehow in 1978 Walsh gains control of the ‘Gypsy’ name from Johnson, Rosenbaum & Cates & releases a 45 Single “Cuz It’s You Girl b/w Rainbow (non-lp)” on F&E Records #7063-37 & hits #71 on the Billboard Charts on 9 Dec 1978, followed by the album ‘James Walsh Gypsy Band’ on RCA Records, with 11 tracks @ 42min recorded at: Cookhouse Studios in MPLS & Creation Studios in Bloomington, MN. with new members: Bob Jones: Lead Vocals, Guitar & Keys, Scott Fronsoe: Bass, Jim Behringer: Lead Guitar & Ernie LaViolette: Drums & on Horns Richard Jorgensen, Todd Hansen Deone & Johnson. A 2nd 45 Single is released to radio stations”Love Is For The Best In Us (mono b/w stereo). Walsh: “That 5th album is still very popular in Japan, to this day, it had a charting hit on it” Here are a couple of dates from the tour this year.
Mar 24 1978 @ Gemini II in Yorktown Heights, NY.
Mar 25 1978 @ Gemini II in Yorktown Heights, NY.
In 1979, Walsh & Co. begin recording at Muscle Shoals in Sheffield, Alabama, Walsh is living with Bob Segar at the time for about 3 months while the album is being recorded, with Walsh & The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Tower of Power Horns, Bee Gee Strings & was co-produced by Walsh & legendary producers Barry Beckett & Jimmy Johnson. (Peter Tork of the Monkees records a 5 song demo at the same studio about the same time), unfortunately this album goes unreleased until 2010 as James Walsh Gypsy Band “I’ve Got The Feeling” on Light in the Attic CDs #24441 with 10 tracks from ’79, in 2017 a 45 Single is released from this CD “I’ve Got The Feelin’ b/w Caves Of Altamira” on Preservation Records #P012.
Sometime later a CD only release becomes available “Final L.A. Sessions” on Peak Records #16080, recorded at Devonshire & Haji Recording Studios from1975 -1979 with various combinations of these members: Johnson, Rosenbaum, Walsh, Cates, Perez, Kipper, Kay, Derry with Mike Finnegan, & Chuck Rainy, along with several others; containing 14 unreleased tracks.
On the 30 Sep 1979 at age 36; Rico Rosenbaum loses his long standing battle with drugs & passes away. To commemorate his passing, the 1st ‘Gypsy’ LP is re-released on the Plymouth, MN. Record label Cognito a division of K-Tel (Canada) Catalog #COG-0006, along with the 45 Single “Dead And Gone (3:05min )b/w Here In My Loneliness (2:53min)” also on Cognito #008. The band performs this show this year.
Nov 17 1980, @ The Rox in Lubbock, TX.
In 1984 Jim Johnson, Stan Kipper and Brad Palmer: Bass have a band called ‘The Steamers’ they record an album in New York under the name several songs from this album are used in various movie soundtracks.
In 1996 Walsh & Company release 10 new tracks as “20 Years Ago: Today” on Metro CDs running 41:40min.
In 2010 Walsh releases ”The Gypsy Boxset” a 4 CD Boxset of the 1st 4 LPs with 2 bonus tracks on Gypsy Family Productions.
I met Walsh in Mar 2011, when he dropped into Mr. Zero’s 55113 in Roseville to sell me copies of the “Boxset” & Gypsy T-Shirts, I caught them in concert at the Mn. Music Cafe in Mar 2011, then again at The Myth in Maplewood on 21 Oct 2011, then at the Dugout in Mathomedi on 21 Oct 2013. Walsh & Co. performed their final concert on 17 Nov 2017 Sat @ Medina Ballroom in Medina, MN. 55340.
What a history these local legends have had, tune in for the WDGY (740am & 92.1 &103.7 fm Streaming @ 107.1) Shows “Groundbreakers” & “PsychoGello” Sunday mornings, 9am & 10:30am.
See you on the other side …. MrZerr0
Mr. Zero’s *Est.2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
Gypsy on WDGY
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