The Avantis

Last updated
The Avantis
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Surf
Years active1963 - 1964
LabelsAstra
Chancellor
Regency
Sundazed
Past members Pat Vegas
Lolly Vegas
Danny Hamilton
Mike Kowalski
Judd Hamilton

The Avantis were a surf group from Los Angeles, California, that was active from around 1963 to 1964. They recorded some singles on a couple of labels. They are known for their 1963 surf rock instrumental, "Wax 'Em Down".

Contents

Background

The group was made up of Mexican-Americans, Pat and Lolly Vegas who led the band. The group challenged the norm as the brothers Pat and Lolly were of Native American as well as Mexican heritage. The brothers came from Fresno, California. [1] Their drummer was Mike Kowalski. The line up also included guitarist Danny Hamilton. They were also a support act for the Beach Boys. Later in 1963 they changed their name, and were going by the name of Pat & Lolly Vegas, and were the house band of The Haunted House Nightclub in LA. [2] [3] [ citation needed ] [4] During their time, they worked closely with Judd Hamilton (Older brother of Dan Hamilton [5] ) who was the arranger and co-composer on their records. [6] [7] [8] For a period of time, Judd Hamilton was also in the group. [7]

According to Walk-Don't Run: The Story of the Ventures by Del Halterman, the group was assembled by Judd Hamilton who took Pat and Lolly Vegas and added his brother Danny and drummer Danny Leeds to form the group. [6] However the notes by Pat Vegas on the sleeve of the 2014 Sundazed release of "Gypsy Surfer" / "Wax 'Em Down" state that the line up was Pat Vegas, Lolly Vegas, Danny Hamilton and Mike Kowalski. [3] [ citation needed ]

An article about the group also appears in the Pipeline magazine in its Summer 2008 issue. [9]

Info on releases

"Wax 'Em Down"

In September 1963, "Wax 'Em Down" b/w "Gypsy Surfer" was released on Chancellor 1144. Both sides were written by Pat Vegas, also with Judd Hamilton handling the arrangements for both sides. [10] [7] [11] The single was their debut on the Chancellor label in 1963. Music magazine, Cashbox in its September 28 issue, gave it a favorable review with a B+ Rating, saying that the Avantis were a pro-sounding group and the track was first rate surfin’ stuff. [12] It became a minor hit for the group that year. [13] [6] The single was distributed in Canada by Sparton of Canada Ltd. [14] It also got into the C-FUNTASTIC FIFTY chart in Canada. On October 12, 1963, the chart recorded the single's status as having moved up one notch from 37 to 36, sitting right behind "Fools Rush In" by Rick Nelson. [15] The record also ended up being bootlegged on an infamous label called Astra. [6]

"Wax "Em Down" in later years

Some decades after the record was recorded, an acetate demo of "Wax 'Em Down" caused a bit of a stir when it ended up at the Ventures fan club in the UK. Being only partially labeled, rumors were going around the club that it was an unreleased Ventures recording. The truth was realized when a labeled copy of the Avantis 45 came to light. [6]

In a review of Rock Instrumentals Volumes 1-10, Reverb Central/Phil Dirt referred to the song as "a dry guitar chamber reverbed adventure in the surf culture". With the B-side he said that "it was a chilling track with the organ break being different from the other discs of the day". [16]

"Wax 'Em Down" appears on the 2014 VA comp, Long-Lost Honkers & Twangers Ace CDLUX-013, which also includes The Impacts, The Exports, The Swanks, and Johnny & The Hurricanes. [17]

Other songs

"Surfin' Granny" b/w "Do The Surfin' Granny" was released on Regency RP-107. The A side was written by Danny Whitten, Judd Hamilton and Pat Vegas, with the B side by Danny Hamilton and Pat Vegas. Judd Hamilton arranged both sides. [18] [19] [20] Later in 1964 "Phantom Surfer" (Regency 110) was released. The recording "Phantom Surfer" featured some extra studio musicians, David Gates on guitar and Leon Russell playing Hammond organ. [21]

Later years

Some time after they ceased performing as The Avantis, they released Hotrodders' Choice (as The Deuce Coupes) on the Del-Fi label. Later they would go on to form Redbone. [22] [23] In 1970, Dan Hamilton along with Tommy Reynolds and Joe Frank Carollo, co-founded Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds. They had a million dollar smash hit with "Don't Pull Your Love". [24]

Dan Hamilton died on December 23, 1994, at the age of 48. [25] Lolly Vegas died of cancer on March 4, 2010, in Reseda, California. He was 70 years of age. [26]

Discography

Singles
TitleLabel and catYearNotes #
"Wax 'Em Down" / "Gypsy Surfer" Chancellor C-11441963 [27]
"Surfin' Granny" / "Do The Surfin' Granny"Regency RP-1071964
"Phantom Surfer" / "Lucille"Regency 1101964 [28]
Wax 'Em Down / "Gypsy Surfer"Astra A-10061965
"Gypsy Surfer" / "Wax 'Em Down" Sundazed S-2872014 [29]
EPs
TitleTracksLabel and catYearNotes #
"For Gremmies Only" 1st 60s Surf E.P.Side A. * The Teenbeats - "Mr. Moto", "Surf Bound" * The Vaqueros - "Echo"
Side B. * The Gamblers - "LSD-25", "Moon Dawg! * The Avantis - "Gypsy Surfer".		Moxie M-10291980 [30]

Compilation albums

"Wax 'Em Down" appears on ...
ArtistsTitleLabel and catYearFNotes #
Terry LeeThe Best Of The TL SoundsAstra Recording Co. ALP-10001966LP [31]
Various artistsSurfin' U.S.A. Vol. 2Surfville Records 1003LP [32]
Various ArtistsWax 'Em Down!Revell Records RR-1001LP [33] [34] [35]
Various artistsSurf-Age Nuggets: Trash & Twang Instrumentals 1959-66RockBeat Records ROC-CD-30982012CD [36]
Various artistsLong-Lost Honkers & TwangersAce Records CDLUX-0132014CD [37]
"Gypsy Surfer" appears on ...
ArtistTitleLabel and catYearFNotes #
Various artistsSurfin' U.S.A. Vol. 2Surfville Records 1003LP [32]
Various artistsGuitar Player Presents...Legends of Guitar: Surf, Vol. 1Rhino Entertainment R2-707241991CD [38] [39]
Various artistsThe Birth of SurfAce Records CDCHD-11552007CD [40]
"Phantom Surfer" appears on ...
ArtistTitleLabel and catYearFNotes #
Various ArtistsWax 'Em Down!Revell Records RR-1001LP [33] [34] [35]

Related Research Articles

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

The Surfaris are an American surf music band formed in Glendora, California, in 1962. They are best known for two songs that hit the charts in the Los Angeles area, and nationally by May 1963: "Surfer Joe" and "Wipe Out", which were the A-side and B-side of the same 45 rpm single.

Surf music is a genre of rock music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Southern California. It was especially popular from 1958 to 1964 in two major forms. The first is instrumental surf, distinguished by reverb-heavy electric guitars played to evoke the sound of crashing waves, largely pioneered by Dick Dale and the Del-Tones. The second is vocal surf, which took elements of the original surf sound and added vocal harmonies, a movement led by the Beach Boys.

The Fantastic Baggys were an American surf and hot rod group, created by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. The studio group released several unsuccessful singles. They released one album internationally, Tell 'Em I'm Surfin' (1964) on Imperial Records, and several singles and albums only in South Africa, where they proved to be briefly popular.

<i>Surfer Girl</i> 1963 album by the Beach Boys

Surfer Girl is the third studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released September 16, 1963 on Capitol Records. It is largely a collection of surf songs. The LP reached number 7 in the U.S. and number 13 in the UK. Lead single "Surfer Girl", backed with "Little Deuce Coupe", was also a top 10 hit.

Redbone is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 by brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas. All members during their commercial peak and success were of Mexican American and Native American heritage, which was heavily reflected in their songs, stage costumes, and album art.

Danny Ray Whitten was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work with Neil Young's backing band Crazy Horse, and for the song "I Don't Want to Talk About It", a hit for Rod Stewart and Everything but the Girl.

The Centurians were an instrumental surf rock band started by Dennis Rose from Newport Beach, California. They were active in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Their music has been used in at least two films. They reformed as The Centurions in 1995 and released new material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Honeys</span> American girl group

The Honeys were an American girl group, formed in Los Angeles in 1958, that initially comprised sisters Marilyn, Diane, and Barbara Rovell. Barbara was later replaced by their cousin, Ginger Blake. After 1962, the Rovell Sisters were rechristened "the Honeys" by the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, who envisioned the group as a female counterpart to his band. Wilson served as the Honeys' record producer and chief songwriter, and later married Marilyn in late 1964.

The Marketts were an American instrumental pop group, formed in January 1961 in Hollywood, California, by Michael Z. Gordon. They are best known for their 1964 million-seller, "Out of Limits".

<i>Wovoka</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Redbone

Wovoka is the fifth album by the American rock band Redbone. It was recorded between June and October of 1973, and released in November 1973 on Epic Records. The album was produced by brothers Pat Vegas and Lolly Vegas, in addition to sound engineer Alex Kazanegras. It was the last Redbone album to feature Peter DePoe on drums. Wovoka was recorded with the help of multiple session musicians, including several additional backing vocalists. All main members of the band notably contributed to vocals. As with the band's other releases, Wovoka features songs with Native American themes; each of the band members at the time had either Native American or Mexican American heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Witch Queen of New Orleans</span>

"The Witch Queen of New Orleans" is a 1971 song by Redbone. The single was released from Redbone's third album Message from a Drum, which is also titled The Witch Queen of New Orleans in its European release. The song peaked at No. 2 in the United Kingdom and No. 21 in the United States.

Lolly Vegas was a Mexican American musician of Indigenous descent. He played in numerous ensembles with his brother, Pat, including Pat & Lolly Vegas, The Avantis and Redbone. The brothers have Yaqui, Shoshone and Mexican heritage.

The Revels were an American rock band from California, associated with the 1960s surf music craze. They had hits with "Six Pak", and "Church Key" which was their most famous single.

The Surfin' Lungs are an English surf music band originally from Bracknell, Berkshire, who were formed in 1981 by Chris Pearce and Geoffo Knipe. The original line-up consisted of: Chris Pearce, Geoffo Knipe, Steve Dean and Lee Money (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church Key</span>

"Church Key" is an instrumental single that was released by California surf group The Revels on Tony Hilder's Impact Records label in 1960. It was a hit for the group and later a hit for Dave Myers and his Surf-Tones.

The Charades is a doo-wop, r&b group which was mostly active in California in the early to mid-1960s and has released a number of singles on various labels. One of the songs it recorded, which was associated with the surf genre, was "Surf 'n Stomp" on the Northridge label. The band also recorded for Tony Hilder's Impact label, and even had a release on a label owned by Fred Astaire. They had a minor hit with "Please Be My Love Tonight". The group, though it has been through some changes, still continues today, and has a history that spans six decades.

Judd Douglas Hamilton is an American musician, former band leader, writer, film producer, and actor. He recorded for the Dolton, Liberty, American International, United Artists and RCA Victor labels. He contributed to the music of California, and to surf music from his involvement with the T-Bones and 1960s surf groups, the Avantis and the Ventures. During the 1960s, he was part of the groups Judd Hamilton & the Furys, The Marketts and The T-Bones. As a film and television producer, he was the executive producer and co-screenwriter for the films Maniac and The Last Horror Film, and the executive producer for The 7th Annual Sci-Fi Awards, a 90-minute TV special. His brother was Dan Hamilton. He was married to English actress Caroline Munro for some years.

Daniel Robert Hamilton was an American musician and singer. He was a member of The T-Bones with his brother Judd Hamilton and later formed the soft-rock group Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, performing lead vocals on the band's two biggest hits, "Don't Pull Your Love" and "Fallin' in Love". He was also a composer who, in addition to co-writing "Fallin' in Love", was the sole songwriter for the Ventures hit song "Diamond Head".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Vegas</span> American musician

Patrick Vasquez-Vegas is a Native American musician of Yaqui/Shoshone descent, vocalist, writer, and producer of Redbone, known for their hit singles "Come and Get Your Love", "The Witch Queen of New Orleans", "Maggie", and "We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee". He has played in numerous ensembles which include Pat and Lolly Vegas, The Avantis, and Redbone. Vegas, along with his Redbone bandmates, was featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian for being the first rock/Cajun group of Native American ancestry to have a No. 1 single.

<i>Surfin with Bo Diddley</i> 1963 studio album by Bo Diddley

Surfin' with Bo Diddley is the tenth studio album by American musician Bo Diddley released on the Checker label in 1963.

References

  1. ↑ Surfing about Music, By Timothy J. Cooley - Page 59 Surf Music and the California Surfing Boom
  2. ↑ Plásticos y Decibelios, 2 septiembre, 2020 - ARCHIVOS MUSICALES, REDBONE: LA SENSACIONAL HISTORIA DE LOS INDIOS VAZQUEZ-VEGAS - Julian Ruiz
  3. 1 2 45Cat - The Avantis (Los Angeles) - Discography, sleeve back notes for Sundazed / Chancellor S 287
  4. ↑ Written in Music, 22 februari 2017 - Pat ‘Redbone’ Vegas heeft nog steeds een droom - Ans van Heck
  5. ↑ AllMusic - Dan Hamilton, Biography by Bruce Eder
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 102
  7. 1 2 3 Music Metason - ArtistInfo, The Avantis
  8. ↑ Northwest Music Archives - "Lucille" / "Phantom Surfer", "Surfin' Granny" / "Do The Surfin' Granny"
  9. ↑ Pipeline, Summer 2008 - Pipeline 77
  10. ↑ Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 102
  11. ↑ Billboard , September 28, 1963 - Page 41 Singles Reviews, Popular
  12. ↑ Cashbox , September 28, 1963 - Record Reviews
  13. ↑ Ask Mr Music - FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2003
  14. ↑ Cashbox, October 5, 1963 - Page 13 MR. DEALER-MR. ONE STOP MR RACK JOBBER look what ABC PARAMOUNT just cooked up !
  15. ↑ Vancouver Top 40 Radio - C-FUNTASTIC FIFTY, WEEK OF OCTOBER 12, 1963
  16. ↑ Reverb Central - Collection: Rock Instrumentals Volumes
  17. ↑ Record Collector , January 2014, Issue #423 - Various Artists - Long Lost Honkers & Twangers - Reviewed by Kingsley Abbott
  18. ↑ Music Metason - ArtistInfo, The Avantis, Surfin' Granny / Do The Surfin' Granny
  19. ↑ You Found That Eastside Sound, Friday, March 30, 2012 - EASTSIDE LEGENDS - PAT & LOLLY VEGAS, "Surfin Granny" b/w "Do The Surfin Granny" on Regency in 1963
  20. ↑ The Illustrated Discography of Surf Music 1961-1965, by John Blair, 1985 - ISBN   9781560750406 - Page 4
  21. ↑ Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 102
  22. ↑ Indigenous Pop: Native American Music from Jazz to Hip Hop, edited by Jeff Berglund, Jan Johnson, Kimberli Lee - Page 99 Redbone
  23. ↑ BadCat Records - Pat and Lolly Vegas
  24. ↑ Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door, By Nick Talevski - Page 240
  25. ↑ The Billboard Book of One-hit Wonders, Wayne Jancik - Page 198
  26. ↑ Variety , March 9, 2010 - Guitarist and vocalist Lolly Vegas dies, Co-founded all-Native American rock group Redbone
  27. ↑ Global Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Chancellor Records
  28. ↑ Music Archives - AVANTIS, The (CA)
  29. ↑ Global Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Astra Records
  30. ↑ Worth Point - 1ST 60'S SURF EP FOR GREMMIES ONLY 6 SONG 45 7" NM MOXIE VINYL SURF ROCK
  31. ↑ Popsike - TERRY LEE: Presents The Best Of the TL Sounds LP Pittsburgh Oldies Moldies 331/3
  32. 1 2 Surfadelic, June 8, 2019 - SURFIN’ U.S.A. vol. 1 & 2 (60's Surfin’ & Rockin’ Instros)
  33. 1 2 Popsike - V/A WAX EM DOWN LP vinyl avantis enchanters surf garage
  34. 1 2 Popsike - v/a - Wax Em Down Vol 1 SURF / GARAGE / PUNK LP
  35. 1 2 MuseCat - Various - Wax 'Em Down! release
  36. ↑ Discogs - The Avantis Discography, Appearances
  37. ↑ Record Collector, JANUARY 2014, Issue#423 - Various Artists - Long Lost Honkers & Twangers - Reviewed by Kingsley Abbott
  38. ↑ Rubber City Review, January 1, 2010 - SURF’S UP IN CLEVELAND By Tim Quine
  39. ↑ Shook Down Underzine, 02/06/2014 - JOIA OCULTA TALLY HO! , PJ & THE GALAXIES (1964)]
  40. ↑ Ace Records - The Birth Of Surf, Various Artists (Birth of Surf)

Further reading

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.