Billy Rat & The Finks – All American Boy / Little Queenie
IGL Records – 45-122 US 1966
"One off band and single,a crazy wild cover of Little Queenie, best i've heard 'till now. While living in Northwest Iowa, Wally Shoop decided to put a band together and recruited a few “younger guys” to play in his band. Shoop was in his early 20’s and commandeered some quality younger musicians (the keyboard player was all of 14 at the time). They became Billy Rat (Wally) & the Finks.
The Finks were Chas Efting, Mike Osgerby, Jack Gilenfeld and Tom Bedell. The band was originally called The Zombies but the English band by that name became extremely popular so Wally and the guys changed their name to Billy Rat & the Finks in late 1964.
BR & the Finks played throughout Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. They recorded a 45 of “Little Queenie” and “All American Boy” at the IGL Studio in Milford. Some New York FM Radio stations still play the Finks’ version of “Little Queenie” in their song rotation today.
This band was innovative by nature. They were one of the first local groups to incorporate a tape deck through their PA system to add background. They would “mess” with the audience by prerecording their break songs and, pretending to play, while individually walking off stage to the utter amazement of the crowd. They were also one of the earliest to use the “fuzz-tone” when recording.
Jack Gilenfeld was drafted into the army in late 1966 and was replaced by Bruce Church. The band was one of the first local groups to add GoGo dancers to their performances. Debbie Martin and Cherie Smith added much pizzazz to the show with their dance moves, mini-shirts and go-go boots. However, at some venues (mostly schools), the dancers were deemed “too risqué” and asked to leave the stage. The band lasted from 1963-67." - Michalis Matthaiou
Billy Rat & The Finks – All American Boy / Little Queenie
ReplyDeleteIGL Records – 45-122 US 1966
"One off band and single,a crazy wild cover of Little Queenie, best i've heard 'till now.
While living in Northwest Iowa, Wally Shoop decided to put a band together and recruited a few “younger guys” to play in his band. Shoop was in his early 20’s and commandeered some quality younger musicians (the keyboard player was all of 14 at the time). They became Billy Rat (Wally) & the Finks.
The Finks were Chas Efting, Mike Osgerby, Jack Gilenfeld and Tom Bedell. The band was originally called The Zombies but the English band by that name became extremely popular so Wally and the guys changed their name to Billy Rat & the Finks in late 1964.
BR & the Finks played throughout Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. They recorded a 45 of “Little Queenie” and “All American Boy” at the IGL Studio in Milford. Some New York FM Radio stations still play the Finks’ version of “Little Queenie” in their song rotation today.
This band was innovative by nature. They were one of the first local groups to incorporate a tape deck through their PA system to add background. They would “mess” with the audience by prerecording their break songs and, pretending to play, while individually walking off stage to the utter amazement of the crowd. They were also one of the earliest to use the “fuzz-tone” when recording.
Jack Gilenfeld was drafted into the army in late 1966 and was replaced by Bruce Church. The band was one of the first local groups to add GoGo dancers to their performances. Debbie Martin and Cherie Smith added much pizzazz to the show with their dance moves, mini-shirts and go-go boots. However, at some venues (mostly schools), the dancers were deemed “too risqué” and asked to leave the stage. The band lasted from 1963-67." - Michalis Matthaiou