Music...
Dean Reed, The Red Elvis
The mysterious Dean Reed, “The Red Elvis”, motorcycles through Moscow.
Denver-born Dean Reed graduated Wheatridge High in 1956.
In 1958 he took off for Hollywood, but suddenly became a huge star in South American
countries Chili, Peru & Argentina, where he heavily embraced Marxism!
He later moved to Europe where he became a socialist singing sensation in the U.S.S.R.
and East Germany. He became fluent in Spanish, German and Russian!
Reed’s body was discovered in a lake outside near Berlin in 1986. There is still
speculation on his cause of death. Was he murdered by the Russians, the Germans,
maybe even the Americans, or is was it suicide?
Reed is buried in Green Mountain Cemetary in Boulder.
Dean Reed was also a TV star and an actor, starring in many spaghetti westerns
like Adios Sabata and this odd film below:
July 22nd, 2010 / 2 Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Fuzz
Denver teen band Fuzz, from 1966.
Fuzz came in the top ten at the 1965 KIMN Radio Battle of the Bands
at Denver’s Whisky A Go Go.
Like most pictures on this site, click on the photos to make them larger.
June 28th, 2010 / 1 Comment » / by Tom Lundin
Phil Urso
Denver jazz great, Phil Urso, enjoys a day in the sun, 1956.
This LP is Chet Baker at his peak! From left to right is: Jimmy Bond (bass), Chet Baker (trumpet), Peter Littman (drums), Bobby Timmons (piano) and Phil Urso (tenor saxophone).
Here is a snippet of the first Phil Urso solo from the LP: To Mickey’s Memory
June 17th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Jay Wieder Orchestra
This 1976 big band lp by the Jay Weider Orchestra gives us an opportunity to view
the historic Denver skyline. (You can click these photos to enlarge)
Here you can see some of the contributions of architects I.M. Pei, James Sudler (who co-designed the Denver Art Museum with Gio Ponti), Charles Strong (designer of Denver’s Art Deco Poet’s Row), Raymond Harry Ervin (note the original “W” on the Western Federal building) and Minoru Yamasaki (designer of NY’s World Trade Center twin towers).
Across the street from the Denver Public Library, you can see the construction site for the Colorado Judicial Building and the Colorado History Building, both currently being torn down.
Jay Wieder was a famous local orchestra leader who often played at the Trocadero Ballroom (Elitch Gardens) and the El Patio Ballroom (Lakeside Amusement Park). Wieder and his orchestra portrayed the Glenn Miller Orchestra in the 1953 film The Glenn Miller Story.
June 8th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
The Rainy Daze
Denver 1966, The Rainy Daze
While their recording career with Phil Spector didn’t work out as planned, Tim Gilbert did have success when he co-wrote the famous ’60s song Incense and Peppermints. (click on the picture to enlarge)
Here is a little bit of their song Discount City:
And here are some photos of what remains of Discount City today: Discount City
May 22nd, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Crypt Kickers
A solemn 1966 photo of Boulder band The Crypt Kickers, named after
the fabled band in Boris Pickett’s Monster Mash.
They played The Cody Inn up on Lookout Mountain in Golden.
As with almost all pictures on this site, click on photos to enlarge.
April 28th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
University of Denver Jazz Band
Great cover on this University of Denver Jazz Band record Big Band Sound from 1966.
April 19th, 2010 / 2 Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Paul Quinichette
Paul Quinichette, “Little Pres”, “The Kid From Denver”
One of Denver’s greatest contributions to jazz, Quinichette would replace Lester Young
in the Count Basie Orchestra.
Picture borrowed from Gokudo.
March 29th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Soothsayers
Greeley greats, 1966!
March 17th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Astronauts in Boulder
My copy of this 1964 AOK – Astronauts Orbit Kampus LP has a bit of cover wear, but despite considerable time spent, I cannot quite line up where on Flagstaff Mt. this picture was taken.
It would seem that the street on the right is Aurora Ave, but I cannot be sure, maybe it is College Ave. You can see that the foothills up right against the mountains have yet to be filled in with Charles Haertling’s masterpeice designs, though you can spot some new mod houses in the lower right.
The mighty Astronauts ruled over the front range in the years 1963-65.
February 19th, 2010 / 1 Comment » / by Tom Lundin
Beatles play Denver
In August 1964 The Beatles came to Denver to stay at the Brown Palace and play at Red Rocks Ampitheatre.
Local heros The Astronauts tried to get on the bill and turn it into a battle of the bands, but that didn’t happen.
The Beatles were still a new phenomenom, some of the Rocky Mountain News headlines are a little bitter.
It would be the only Colorado Beatles appearance.
January 30th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Böenzee Cryque
Denver band Böenzee Cryque, standing on a rooftop in downtown Denver 1966. You can faintly make out the Cosmopolitan Hotel sign in the background.
Here is a clip of their 45 on Chicory Records:
January 19th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
The Soul Survivors
Denver’s Soul Survivors early 1966.
Always a big hit at Elitch Garden’s Trocadero Ballroom.
Here is a snippet from one of their 45s:
Can’t Stand To Be In Love With You
December 19th, 2009 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Taylor’s Supper Club sign
LP cover with a rendering of the sign in front of Taylor’s Supper Club, an entertainment institution on West Colfax in Lakewood from the 1940s through the 1970s. Run by Sammy Toole and starring The Taylors, who put out many local LPs aside from this one.
December 13th, 2009 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Moonrakers
Denver band and Tower Records recording artist The Moonrakers circa-1966.
In 1965, the Moonrakers played the El Patio Ballroom at Lakeside Amusement Park,
opening for The Byrds!
December 4th, 2009 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
