Time to Change the Music...

     

     When the Beatles invaded the country in 1964, and then were quickly followed by such groups as The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Herman and the Hermits, et al. – folk music took a cultural nose dive in the U.S. Even though the Hustlers were now more of a lounge and concert act than a true folk group, we still were struggling with what might be next for us career-wise in this new musical climate.

     Yes, it was a whole new era and Jan and I made the decision to re-invent ourselves musically. We said a fond goodbye to Chub and Twerp, and I have to say that was bittersweet after a fabulous seven-year run together, and started re-engineering the act. 

     We felt we had a strong base upon which to build with Jan’s highly marketable musicality along with my own pretty-well now developed comedic chops. Now what?

     It was a blessing from on high for us to have found Peter Martin in Denver. Here was an absolutely over-the-top talent and a wonderfully delightful person who, when he played his piano, you would have thought he had 13 fingers on each hand. He was beyond phenomenal on the keyboard. I mean his skills were absolutely dazzling.

     After making friends with Peter and his beautiful new wife, Susie, we created a three-way partnership, went out and searched for and found a truly outstanding bass player, Joe Bellamy, along with one of the all-time best drummers I’ve ever heard, John Pesci.

     Enter a brand new band – The Five Part Invention.   

     The harmonies we created and the music that began to flow out of all of us, was really, really exciting. We were good at the start, but we continually improved over the next two years and wound up being an excellent act.

     We found ourselves retracing some steps that Jan and I originally made with the Hustlers…the Cart and Rib Room, The Red Onion and once, amazingly, we were the opening act at Red Rocks Amphitheater – this time for reigning Motown royalty – Diana Ross and the Supremes.

     We moved to California and got an agent who immediately booked us to open for the hottest act on the charts at the time - The Righteous Brothers.  I mean Wow!

     We were together for a little over two years and never quite broke through to the rarified atmosphere of true national “stardom” but we made great music together, worked with some real rock stars, and had some truly fun times along the way all the while solidifying true forever friendships.