The Original Surfaris
The Original Surfaris (not to be confused with The Surfaris ) were an American surf rock band that formed in 1962 with Al Valdez ( piano ), Mike Biondo ( drums ), Bobby Esco ( guitar ) and Larry Weed (Guitar) and Doug Wiseman ( saxophone ) in Fullerton , California and emerged from the bands "The Vogues" (1960) and "The Customs" (1961). The "Original Surfaris" drew attention less through their music than through the dispute over the naming rights with the band The Surfaris.
biography
Al Valdes and Mike Biondo had known each other since elementary school in Fullerton, California, when they founded The Vogues with Bobby Esco and Doug Wiseman in 1960 . After Al Valdes' mother of the band had organized a TV appearance for a Mexican TV station (the station was looking for such a band and had published an advertisement with a telephone number), in 1961, after a few appearances, the producer Victor Regina asked them if they were Wanted to make recordings for his studio "Regano Records". With Al Valdes on piano, Mike Biondo on drums, Bobby Esco on guitar and Doug Wiseman on saxophone, the two instrumental tracks Hi Hat and Steppin 'Out were recorded in Los Angeles . Victor secured the rights to the pieces, changed their name to "The Customs" and introduced them to Tony Hilder, a better known producer, who cut them off their contract. At that time, in early 1962 , bassist Jim Tran also joined the band, who changed their name to "The Surfaris" (which happens to be the same name as the other surf rock band).
From October 1962 to January 1963 Hilder made recordings with the band. In addition to pieces like Bombora or Moment Of Truth , which were written by Hilder, the band also recorded various cover versions such as B. Pipeline or Ghostriders In The Sky . As a result, the band toured extensively in Northern California.
In early 1963 another band released the single Wipe Out under the name "The Surfaris" , which reached number 2 on the Billboard charts in the USA. The later "Original Surfaris" picked up the piece and played it in their concerts, for which they got into legal disputes with the other band, which they now forced to change their name. So the band name "The Original Surfaris" arose from 1963. Bobby Esco, who regularly missed band rehearsals, was replaced by Charley Vehle.
T. Hilder tried to turn the popularity of the name into a business and published various recordings under a new name. For example, Hi Hat Surfin became '63 or Steppin 'Out became Boss Beat . The 1964 album Wheels was credited to the "Original Surfaris", but only contained a few pieces actually recorded by the band. All other titles were played by other line-ups that Hilder arranged. In May 1965 the band split up.
Discography
Original Surfaris singles
- 1962 Hi Hat / Steppin 'Out
- 1963 Surfin '63 / Boss Beat
- 1963 Moment Of Truth / Church Key
- 1963 Bombora / Surfari
- 1963 Torchula / Psyche-Out
- 1963 Midnight Surf / Psyche-Out
- 1963 Gum Dipped Slicks / High Time
Original Surfaris albums
- 1964 Wheels
- 1994 Bombora! Sessions from 1963
Appearances on compilations
- 1982 The History of Surf Music
- 1994 Wild Surf!
- 1994 The Del-Fi Rarities
- 1999 Surf Monsters
- 2003 Lost Legends Of Surf Guitar - Vol. 01
Members of the Original Surfaris
The Original Surfaris were founded in 1962.
Founding members
- Al Valdez - piano
- Mike Biondo - drums
- Bobby Esco - guitar
- Larry Weed - guitar
- Doug Wiseman - saxophone
Other members
- Jim Tran - electric bass
- Charley Vehle - guitar
- Jerry Baker - guitar
- Franck Sibley - guitar
literature
- John Blair (Ed.): The Illustrated Discography Of Surf Music. 1961-1965 . J. Bee Productions, Riverside CA 1978, ISBN 0-9601880-0-2 .
- Robert J. Dalley: Surfin 'Guitars. Instrumental Surf Bands of The Sixties . Surf Publications for RJ Dalley, Azusa CA 1988.