OLD BAND HISTORY
(Last update 11/23/2007)
WHAT FORTY YEARS OF MUSIC LOOKS LIKE....
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The
Girls Band Now in our fourth year and a few personnel changes this has been an incredibly exciting project. We are a nice piece band with six of the finest Cleveland musicians and three incredible young ladies fronting the band. This picture includes my daughter Caylee on the far upper left who is an "informal" 10th member of the band playing with us every chance she gets. The members in this photo are: (Left to right, top to
bottom) For all the newest information about the band and it's current members just go to www.thegirlsband.com.
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BELOW IS THE HISTORY OF MY MUSIC |
BROWSE AND ENJOY |
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Magic Will this be our new band for the year 2001? It very well may be. Watch this site for the latest news on the Magic Band. Magic is an amazing trio bringing you a combination of great live vocals and music created with the newest technologies available. We will bring to you the flair of outstanding vocals and entertainment mixed with musical styles from the jazz sound of Stormy Weather to the funk dance beat of Super Freak. We can accomodate almost any musical taste. Benny Jackson - Lead Vocals |
BELOW IS THE HISTORY OF MY MUSIC |
BROWSE AND ENJOY |
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Masterpiece At their finest on New Years Eve 2000 at the Holiday Inn Wickliffe. |
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The Take Five Trio Boy, I am getting so old I can't remember exactly but I think this is around 1980. Playing locally and on the road this was a lot of fun. Except when we were moving my Hammond B3 from town to town. This great little group was myself on keyboards, Dave Dietz on drums and Mary Ann singing. I lost track of Dave although I tried to find him several times. If you see him, tell him I said hi. He was a crazy guy. Oh yea, ask him about his breakfast cigar. |
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Take Five I think this one hits about the late 1970s. I may correct this later when I work on it. Check out the collars. This particular arrangement of the Take Five band was on the road playing the hotel circuits. Remember John Belushi's imitation of the night club band. Yea, that was us. Tuxes, long trips, small rooms and never home. What a life. Take Five was around for about 12 years in various configurations. The members of the band from LtoR are: Joe Stevens-Lead Guitar & Vocals, Me(Dan Watkins)-Keyboards, Mary Ann Luster-Lead Vocalist, Joe Monaco-Drums. |
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My Keyboards - Mid 1970s Oh yes! This was quite a setup for those days. This is before I got my Hammond B3. Got Moog Bass, Ensoniq SQ80, Fender Rhodes, Roland SH 1000, Arp String Ensemble and a Clavinet D6. I could make some music with this setup. Yea, and I took up a lot of room too. |
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The Guy George Jazz Quartet One of my most enlightening musical experiences. This band running about four years with a few changes in members was a memorable experience. Some of the best music in the early part of my career came from this group. Eventually we added a vocalist named Joan Marie and became a five piece. Playing some of the better more sophisticated clubs in the Cleveland area. This band was circa 1971. Guy George is now a nationwide figure specializing in hammer dulcimer with many CDs featuring his music in this field. . Walt became a doctor, Tom disappeared and me, well, I'm still wondering who I am and what I should have been. Me-Hammond B3-Rhodes Piano, Walt Viewig-Bass, Flugelhorn, Vibes, Tom Neiless-Drums and Fu George on Tenor-Alto and Soprano Sax and Flute. |
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The Popcorn Patch Better than Professor Peabody and his Wayback machine is this photo of my second band. March of 1968 (yea I'm and old man) playing Paul Revere and the Raiders, Cream, Beatles and such. I am the long haired hippie on the upper left. Tom Jones shirt, Davy Jones haircut and all. And for you musicians out there that's an EMC speaker column in the background and I was the Keyboardist playing my Farfisa compact duo organ. The members of the band LtoR TtoB are: Me-Farfisa Duo Organ, Mike Harris-Bass, Larry Jones-Lead Vocals, Ron Abbott-Lead Guitar, Glen Bernie-Drums and Jim Hocepal-Rhythm guitar. |