Kenny and the Kasuals

Last updated
Kenny and the Kasuals
Also known asKenny Daniel Combo
Origin Dallas, Texas, United States
Genres
Years active1964–1967; 1981–2019
Labels
Past members
  • Kenny Daniel
  • Lee Lightfoot
  • Jon D. "Bird" Blachley, M.D.
  • Jerry Smith
  • Paul Roach
  • Tom Nichols
  • Alan McDaniel
  • Gregg Daniel
  • Dirk Gabrileson
  • Dan Hoden
  • Rollie Anderson
  • Dan Green
  • Tedd Brumm

Kenny and the Kasuals were an American garage rock band formed in Dallas, Texas in 1964. The band played at various venues, including the Studio Club, with a repertoire that consisted of material taken from the British Invasion and R&B standards. Over time the band began experimenting with early elements of psychedelic music and are often cited as one of the first groups to play in such a style. Kenny and the Kasuals released several singles including their best-known song, "Journey to Tyme". A live album, Impact, was also recorded in 1966.

Contents

History

Encouraged by his father, a former big band leader in the 1930s, Kenny Daniel (rhythm guitar, backing vocals) formed the first line-up of Kenny and the Kasuals in 1964 with high school classmate Tommy Nichols (lead guitar, lead vocals) who began jamming with Daniel at his home. Known early on as the Ilusions Combo, the duo was joined by neighborhood friends Blaine Young (drums) and Charles Beverly (bass guitar) to perform for small-time local events. [1] [2] Daniel and Nichols, however, were forced to restructure the line-up later in the same year after Young joined the Marines. Young contracted meningitis while serving and died at the age of 19, And Beverley expressed no desire to tour with the band. [1]

Taking over as frontman, Daniel put together another variation of the group, this time with the name Kenny Daniel's Combo, with guitarist Jerry Smith and bassist Lee Lightfoot, former members of rival band the Vibrations, as well as Jon David "Bird" Blachley (drums) and Paul Roach (keyboards). Daniel and Smith knew Dallas businessman Rick Norwood, leading to frequent gigs at his hotel club and an opportunity for the band to hone their skills as musicians. [1] Soon after, Mark Lee introduced himself to the group at another nearby club with an offer to take on management duties for them. Not much older than the band members, Lee nonetheless sensed potential in Kenny Daniel's Combo and saw an opportunity to cash in on the craze caused by the Beatles. [3] He renamed the group Kenny and the Kasuals and dropped Nichols, making Daniel the face of the band. [1]

Lee methodically promoted the band to the public; "He researched the Beatles and tried to do the same thing with us", Daniel recalled, "He dressed us up in white satin pants with blue blazers and introduced us to Dallas media. We bought all new Vox equipment, because that’s what the Beatles used". [4] Neatly dressed in matching suits and ties to emulate the Fab Four, Kenny and the Kasuals began to appear at more high-profile venues in Dallas such as the Three Thieves and the Studio Club, but also embarked on a tour in Oklahoma and Louisiana in 1965. The band had several residencies at the Studio Club, a newer venue popular in Dallas's teen scene, and opened for nationally successful acts. Sonny and Cher, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, and the Buckinghams among others, shared the bill with Kenny and the Kasuals. In addition, the band became a favorite on Sump N' Else, a regional version of the American Bandstand television show hosted by Ron Chapman. All the while, the group continued to rehearse their material until they felt competent enough to enter the recording studio for the first time. [1] [5]

The band recorded and released their debut single "Nothin' Better to Do" late in 1965 for Lee's own label, Mark Records; "Don't Let Your Baby Go" and "It's All Right" followed. [6] Based on their self-penned releases, music historian Richie Unterberger described the group as "too accomplished to be called a garage band in the usual sense of the term". [7] In 1966, Kenny and the Kasuals decided to record a live album at the Studio Club – in actuality, not entirely live, by the band's own admission it was recorded mostly at Robin Hood's Studio in Tyler, Texas with crowd noises from the club added in. The results were released as The Impact Sounds of Kenny and the Kasuals Recorded Live at the Studio Club on a limited 500-copy pressing. [1] [8] Known by collectors simply as Impact, an original version of the album was described by Rolling Stone magazine as "one of the most collectible American albums" ever distributed. [1]

The same year, Smith and Lee co-wrote the song "Journey to Tyme" when the band was afforded additional time in the studio. Around the same time, Lightfoot, who was recently introduced to the Who's music, shared his enthusiasm with the band by purchasing a fuzz tone pedal for use in the recording of the new song. [1] He relied heavily on distorting the sound of his bass on "Journey to Tyme"; coupled with its existentialist concept, the song is considered one of the earliest – if not the first – songs to incorporate elements of psychedelic music. [1] Local deejay Jimmy Rabbit, in the studio during recording, was impressed by "Journey to Tyme" and played an acetate of the song at his radio station. United Artists negotiated a deal with Kenny and the Kasuals to distribute the song nationally; it became a Top 10 hit in Dallas and the Northeast not long after. [1]

Encouraged by their success, the band relocated to Greenwich Village in New York City in 1967. [1] There, Kenny and the Kasuals began receiving concert offers while United Artists presented the group with an enormous opportunity: Kenny and the Kasuals would share the bill with the Beatles at Shea Stadium. The band was listed to appear; however, in a last-minute decision, United Artists banned the group when Lee refused to give the label exclusive publishing rights. [9] Kenny and the Kasuals released one final single, "See-Saw Ride", but disbanded in mid-1967 after Daniel was drafted. Before Daniel was deployed to Germany, the band reunited for a final show called "The Flower Fair" in April 1968, which was received positively by the audience. [6]

In the late 1970s, Daniel reformed Kenny and the Kasuals, abandoning the psychedelic sound that characterized the early incarnation of the band in favor of a punk rock-oriented act. The Impact album was heavily bootlegged across Europe and Japan, leading to an official reissue of the recording in 1977. The new band took advantage of the revival of their music by touring as openers for such acts as Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, and The Boomtown Rats. [10] In the 1980s, the original members began to leave Kenny and the Kasuals. The final recorded appearance of the original band was a 1985 live television broadcast of the 20th anniversary of the afternoon dance show "Sump'N Else" ( WFAA TV, Dallas ) with radio/TV giant Ron Chapman. Kenny went on to form other variations of the group that performed well into the 2010s. [10]

Cover versions of "Journey to Tyme" were released by garage rock revival band the Fuzztones on their debut studio album, Lysergic Emanations , [11] in 1985, as well as by the Time Beings [12] on their 2007 CD entitled Journey to Tyme with The Time Beings on dino Records. [13]

The final incarnation of the band, with Daniel as the only original member dissolved in 2018 as a result of Kenny's deteriorating health. Kenny Daniel died on November 22, 2021, aged 75, after suffering from dementia. [14]

Members

Discography

Singles

Albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psychedelic rock</span> Genre of rock music

Psychedelic rock is a rock music genre that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelic culture, which is centered on perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music incorporated new electronic sound effects and recording techniques, extended instrumental solos, and improvisation. Many psychedelic groups differ in style, and the label is often applied spuriously.

Garage rock is a raw and energetic style of rock and roll that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The style is characterized by basic chord structures played on electric guitars and other instruments, sometimes distorted through a fuzzbox, as well as often unsophisticated and occasionally aggressive lyrics and delivery. Its name derives from the perception that groups were often made up of young amateurs who rehearsed in the family garage, although many were professional.

? and the Mysterians are an American garage rock band from Bay City and Saginaw in Michigan, initially active between 1962 and 1969. Much of the band's music consisted of electric organ-driven garage rock and an enigmatic image inspired by the 1957 Japanese science fiction film The Mysterians. In addition, the band's sound was also marked by the raw, resonating lead vocals of "?", making Question Mark and the Mysterians one of the earliest groups whose musical style is described as punk rock. Their music and imagery were highly influential on later bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roky Erickson</span> American musician (1947–2019)

Roger Kynard "Roky" Erickson was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was a founding member and the leader of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psychedelic rock genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Texas</span> Overview of music traditions in the U.S. state of Texas

The U.S. state of Texas has long been a center for musical innovation and is the birthplace of many notable musicians. Texans have pioneered developments in Tejano and Conjunto music, Rock 'n Roll, Western swing, jazz, punk rock, country, hip-hop, electronic music, gothic industrial music, religious music, mariachi, psychedelic rock, zydeco and the blues.

Acid rock is a loosely defined type of rock music that evolved out of the mid-1960s garage punk movement and helped launch the psychedelic subculture. While the term has sometimes been used interchangeably with "psychedelic rock", acid rock also specifically refers to a more musically intense, rawer, or heavier subgenre or sibling of psychedelic rock. Named after lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), the style is generally defined by heavy, distorted guitars and often contains lyrics with drug references and long improvised jams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Kimock</span> American rock guitarist (born 1955)

Steve Kimock is an American rock guitarist. He was a member of San Francisco Bay Area bands Zero and KVHW.

<i>The Joker</i> (album) 1973 studio album / live album by Steve Miller Band

The Joker is a combination live and studio album by the Steve Miller Band. The album was recorded at Capitol Studios and released by Capitol Records in October 1973. The album marked a period of significant change for the group as the band abandoned their psychedelic-oriented music for a more melodic, smooth rock/blues sound. It was also their first solid commercial success due to the strong radio-play of the title track. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and has been certified Platinum in the United States. It reached No. 1 on the Cash Box Albums Charts on January 8, 1974.

The Choir was a garage rock band largely active in the greater Cleveland area from the mid-1960s into the early 1970s. Originally called The Mods, their largest commercial success came with the release of their first single "It's Cold Outside" in December 1966. The song, considered to be a classic of the garage rock era, was featured on Pebbles, Volume 2, one of the earlier garage rock compilation LPs. The flipside, "I'm Going Home" was included as a bonus track when the Pebbles album was reissued as a CD, and it can also be found on a garage rock compilation LP on Ohio bands, Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 9. The Choir is well known for containing three of the four original members of Raspberries.

Mouse and the Traps is the name of an American garage rock band from Tyler, Texas, United States, that released numerous singles between 1965 and 1969, two of which, "A Public Execution" and "Sometimes You Just Can't Win", became large regional hits. The leader of the band, nicknamed "Mouse", was Ronny Weiss. Two of their best known songs, "A Public Execution" and a cover of "Psychotic Reaction", are not actually credited to this band but, respectively, to simply Mouse and Positively 13 O'Clock instead. Their tangled history also included one single that was released anonymously under the name Chris St. John. The band are not to be confused with the girl group Mousie and The Traps who recorded for Toddlin' Town records around the same time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Outcasts (Texas band)</span> American garage rock band

The Outcasts are an American garage rock band from San Antonio, Texas that released a total of five singles between 1965 and 1967. Their best-known songs are "I'm in Pittsburgh ", and "1523 Blair". Their recordings have been reissued on a number of compilation albums. According to the Ugly Things compilation album notes, they are the most recognized band of this name that were active in the mid-1960s, including another popular band from Manhasset, New York.

Sump'n Else was an American live teen dance television show that aired from 1965 to 1968 on Channel 8 WFAA-TV in Dallas, Texas, formatted similarly to American Bandstand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're Gonna Miss Me (song)</span> 1966 song by the 13th Floor Elevators

"You're Gonna Miss Me" is a song by the American psychedelic rock band the 13th Floor Elevators, written by Roky Erickson, and released as the group's debut single on Contact Records in 1966. It was reissued nationally on International Artists, in May 1966. Musically inspired by traditional jug band and R&B music, combined with the group's own experimentation, "You're Gonna Miss Me" with its Stacy Sutherland and Tommy Hall-penned B-side "Tried to Hide" was influential in developing psychedelic rock and garage rock, and was one of the earlier rock compositions to use the electric jug. Accordingly, critics often cite "You're Gonna Miss Me" as a bona fide garage rock song and a classic of the counterculture era.

The Dolly Rocker Movement were an Australian neo-psychedelic rock band, formed in 2002 by singer and guitarist, Daniel Poulter, the Australian line-up included, Ricky Drabsch (bass), Martin Walters (keyboards) and Christopher Rudge (drums). They released three full-length albums, Electric Sunshine, A Purple Journey Through the Mod Machine and Our Days Mind the Tyme (2009), through independent Australian record label Off the Hip before disbanding in 2013.

<i>Lysergic Emanations</i> 1985 studio album by The Fuzztones

Lysergic Emanations is the debut studio album by the American band The Fuzztones, released in 1985.

<i>Psychedelic Moods</i> 1966 studio album by The Deep

Psychedelic Moods is the debut album by the American psychedelic rock band, The Deep, and was released on Cameo-Parkway Records in October 1966. The album was one of the first pieces to produce a consistent psychedelic theme throughout the whole LP. All of the material featured was originally composed by the band. Despite the conflicting dates, it is sometimes considered the first album to use the term "psychedelic" in its title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gentlemen (Dallas band)</span> American garage rock band

The Gentlemen were an American garage rock band from Dallas, Texas, who were active from 1964 to 1968. They are best known for their 1966 song, "It's a Cry'n Shame", which has been recognized as one of the greatest songs in garage rock. The band is noted for the contributions of guitarist and songwriter, Seab Meador. Jimmie Vaughan, later a member the Fabulous Thunderbirds and brother of Double Trouble guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, served a brief stint for several months in the Gentlemen in late 1965 and early 1966, but did not appear on any of their recordings. He went on to play in another Dallas garage rock band, the Chessmen.

The Penthouse 5 were an American garage rock band from Oak Cliff, Texas, a suburb of Dallas and were active from 1964-1967. The band's style was highly influenced by popular British acts like the Beatles and the Kinks, as well as the folk rock of the Byrds. In 1967 they shortened their name to the Penthouse and also began to play occasional gigs with a horn section as a soul outfit under the name of Dr. William’s Soul Emporium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Novas</span> American garage rock band

Novas were an American garage rock band from Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, who were active in the 1960s. Noted for their harmonies, they became one of the most popular bands in the local area and toured throughout the Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana region, enjoying a following outside of their immediate vicinity. The group released a single featuring the song "William Junior" in 1966. In the intervening years since their breakup, the Novas' music has come to the attention of garage rock collectors and enthusiasts and their collected work is included on two anthologies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Heard</span> American garage rock band

The Heard was an American garage rock band formed in Longview, Texas, in 1965. Within a year of their formation, the band gained a reputation as one of the loudest musical acts in Texas, soon receiving a string of gigs at Houston's Catacomb Club. In 1967, the Heard recorded the "Exit 9" single, an enduring piece in the musical genre of psychedelic rock. The band's blend of frantic melodies and studio techniques unique to most garage groups has brought praise to "Exit 9" and its B-side cover version of "You're Gonna Miss Me".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Kenny and the Kasuals". Texas State Historical Association . Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Kenny and the Kasuals". Ponderosa Stomp . Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  3. ↑ Austin, James (1994). Texas Music Vol. 3: Garage Bands & Psychedelia (booklet). Rhino Records. R2-71783.
  4. ↑ Hall, Michael. "Three Chords and a Station Wagon". Texas Monthly. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  5. ↑ Patoski, Joe Nick (1978). Texas Monthly. Emmis Communication. p. 141.
  6. 1 2 Joynson, Vernon (1984). The Acid Trip: A Complete Guide to Psychedelic Music. Babylon Books. p. 88. ISBN   0-907188-24-9.
  7. ↑ Unterberger, Richie. "Kenny and the Kasuals – Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  8. ↑ Widner, Johanna. "Kenny and the Kasuals". Dallas Observer . Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  9. ↑ "An interview with Ken Daniel". Beyond the Beat Generation. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  10. 1 2 Parker, Alan; Daniel, Kenny B. (2011). Stomp and Shout!. Oomph Media, LLC. ISBN   9780615478876.
  11. ↑ "Lysergic Reviews". Fuzztones.net. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  12. ↑ "The Time Beings | Rock from Worcester, MA". ReverbNation.com. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  13. ↑ Martorano, Joe. "dino Records". Dinorecords.com.
  14. ↑ Christina Hughes Babb, "Kenny Daniel of Kenny and the Kasuals has died", Lakewood Advocate. Retrieved November 26, 2021
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.