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¶ … MASTERS OF ROCK & ROLL

THE KINGSMEN: Composed of Jack Ely on guitar and vocals, Mike Mitchell on guitar, Dan Gallucci on piano, Bob Norby on bass and Lynn Earton on drums, the Kingsmen are best known for their hit "Louie, Louie" and essentially began the form now known as the "garage band" sound in 1963. Also, the Kingsmen were one of the earliest bands from the Northwest, being Portland, Oregon, where many bands in the years to come would call home. One of their local rivals was Paul Revere and the Raiders who established the Northwest R& B. sound so popular in the mid to late 1960's.

PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS: Like the Kingsmen, Paul Revere and the Raiders came out of the Northwest. Singer Mark Lindsay, along with drummer Mike Smith, created a new sound based on traditional classical music interwoven with boogie-woogie which resulted in their number one hit "Like Long Hair" in 1961. Paul Revere and the Raiders was also one of the first bands to wear elaborate costumes on stage, in this case dressed up in 18th century-style clothing, reminiscent of George Washington.

THE MONKEES: Made up of Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Mike Nesmith, the Monkees became one of the first bands to have their own television show in the mid-1960's. The Monkees were originally created to provide some competition with the Beatles and through the songwriting talents of professional musicians Nesmith and Tork, the Monkees went on to great success and became a true band despite the fact that on their TV show, they were not allowed to play their own instruments.

IRON BUTTERFLY: Headed by frontman/keyboardist/vocalist Doug Ingle in the mid-1960's, Iron Butterfly, one of the premier psychedelic bands, is best known for their hit "In A Gadda Da Vida" which featured blistering guitar solos, a Hammond B. organ and a drum solo almost three minutes long. This song brought Iron Butterfly to national recognition and virtually began the so-called psychedelic era, most closely associated with LSD and the hippie movement in San Francisco.

BOB DYLAN: As one of the first solo guitarists, Bob Dylan epitomized the musical style of the rock balled with such songs as "Like a Rolling Stone" and "All Along the Watchtower." Dylan also exemplified the rebel musician who wrote songs immersed in political and social commentary. However, Dylan is best recognized as a songwriter instead of a musician and has come under much criticism for his singing style. Dylan also influenced a whole generation of singer/songwriters, such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.

THE BYRDS: Headed by guitarist Roger McGuinn, the Byrds came out of California in the mid-1960's and is best known for their hit songs "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn, Turn, Turn." McGuinn was also one of the first guitarist to play very intricate musical compositions on the guitar. Along with the Doors, the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, the Byrds brought the psychedelic era into the mainstream and influenced the musical styles of many bands in the late 1960's and early to mid-1970's.

JIMI HENDRIX: Best known for his band "Jimi Hendrix and the Experience," made up of Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, Hendrix created his own style of guitar playing which out-shined all of his contemporaries. He brought new dimensions to the guitar through the use of Marshall amplification, the Fender Stratocaster guitar and the use of various pedals and effects. Hendrix was also one of the first guitarist to play left-handed with the guitar at times strung upside down. His contributions to the psychedelic era are unquestionable, due to his musical/songwriting style that incorporated many political/social issues so prominent during the mid to late 1960's.

THE DOORS: Headed by singer Jim Morrison, along with Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Robbie Kreiger, the Doors are best known for their hit "Light My Fire" which was performed on the Ed Sullivan Show under much criticism, due to the then-perceived explicit lyrics. As a band, the Doors did not have a bassist; instead, Ray Manzarek played the bass lines on a Fender Piano Bass keyboard for most of their recording history. Of course, Jim Morrison was the most controversial figure in this band, due to his outspoken views on drugs and sex.

THE GRATEFUL DEAD: With Jerry Garcia on guitar, the Grateful Dead has become a cultural institution as a result of their fame and recognition in San Francisco during the psychedelic era. The Dead's popularity marked a change in popular music; their commitment to their own musical rules and styles was often seen as anarchistic by the recording industry, yet hey managed to remain as a band for many decades and epitomized the Haight-Ashbury psychedelic experience through the style known as acid rock.

JANIS JOPLIN: As the lead singer for her band Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin created a very unique singing style via her raunchy and somewhat masculine voice. Her best-known hit song "Bobby McGee" catapulted her to national stardom and stood as the prime musical example for non-conformity during the turbulent 1960's. Today, she is best remembered for her on-stage antics, especially under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE: Best known for their hit "White Rabbit," Jefferson Airplane, headed by singer Grace Slick, was but another prominent band that came out of the San Francisco psychedelic lifestyle and epitomized the acid rock style of musical performance. As a band, the Jefferson Airplane condoned the use of LSD in order to heighten the psychedelic effects of their music. The band, especially Slick, influenced many other bands and vocalist well into the 1980's

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY: Composed of David Laflamme on vocals, Linda Laflamme on keyboards, Hal Wagonet on guitar, Mitchell Holman on bass and Val Fuentes on drums, It's A Beautiful Day incorporated various musical styles and complex melodic interpretations. Like their counterparts during the mid to late 1960's, this band also came out of San Francisco and is best known for their hit song "White Bird." Musically, It's A Beautiful Day combined non-traditional melodies with traditional musical styles to create music with a very powerful appeal to a very wide audience.

ERIC CLAPTON: Best known for his involvement in the band Cream (Clapton on guitar, Jack Bruce on Bass and Ginger Baker on drums), Clapton was perhaps the first guitarist to successfully combine a free-from musical concept with mass appeal. He was also one of the first rock musicians to gain a large following based on his instrumental abilities and creative musicianship. Along with Jimi Hendrix, Clapton remains one the best examples of consistency as a lead guitarist in the rock field.