Category Archives: Georgia

The Federal Fugitives “Woman of Stone”

Federal Fugitives Youmer 45 Woman Of StoneThe Federal Fugitives were unknown to me until Rick Ledbetter commented below with the lineup:

Rick Ledbetter – lead guitar
Steve Allen – rhythm guitar
Dennis Mitchell – bass
Gary Stone – drums
Johnny Stovall – horns
Steve Allen – horns

“Woman of Stone” is a good light-psychedelic original by Ledbetter and Stone. Jim Youmans (of the Swingin’ Apollos) did a fine job of production.

The musicians are accomplished, I wonder if the Federal Fugitives is a pseudonym for another group.

Ledbetter and Stone also wrote the harmony-filled ballad flip, “Just Remember”.

Released on Youmer Records Incorporated, YM 1002 with an address of 524 Plasters Ave, in Atlanta. Youmer’s first release was the Sons of Bach, “Stubborn Kind of Fellow” / “I Knew I’d Want You”, which I haven’t heard. Youmans produced this one too. Without original songs, there’s even less chance of finding out who played on that record.

Both songs published by Margie Music BMI, which was based in Decatur, but I can’t find registrations for either.

Rick told me more about the members of the Federal Fugitives:

Gary Stone went on to play with Billy Joe Royal.

Dennis Mitchell played with Ben Dover and Tennessee Tucker and also appeared in Six Pack with Kenny Rogers.

Rick Ledbetter went into radio broadcasting (Rick Ledbetter On Air on youtube).

Steve Allen performs as a one man band.

Johnny and Ted Stovall also played horns with The Soul Patrol around Atlanta after Rick formed the new group after two years in the Army.

Ted Stovall went on to arrange the horns on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “What’s Your Name” and “Moonlight Feels Right” by Starbuck.

The Venetian Blinds on Grudge

Venetian Blinds Grudge 45 Just Knowin' You Love MeThe Venetian Blinds released a great double-sided record in August, 1967, “Just Knowin’ You Love Me” and “Quit Your Belly Achin’ Baby”.

The band came from Atlanta, Georgia.

Members were Ric Jansen, Steve Abstance, Lance Adams, Mike Nolen, and Bill Allen.

On November 11, 1967, the Atlanta Constitution ran a short profile of the band headlined “‘Venetian Blinds’ Are Rolled Out”, written by Charlie Burks.

DJ Don Rose came up with the band’s name on his WQXI show when he said “The Doors, The Electric Prunes, The Strawberry Alarm Clock … Next it’ll be The Chairs or The Tables or The Venetian Blinds.”

The article mentions a second recording, “Bad News Girl” / “What’s His Face” and says “it has psychedelic overtones and should hit the charts.” I wonder if these songs exist on acetate or tape.

The Grudge Records label has an address of 470 Springwood in San Antonio, Texas. I don’t know why the group had their single released with an obscure Texas label. The article has no mention of Texas. That San Antonio address led to some confusion. Doug Hanners and Dave Shutt listed the band in the 2nd edition of Journey to Tyme, and the Eva label included “Quit Your Belly Achin’ Baby” on Texas Punk From The Sixties (vol. 2), released in 1985.

Venetian Blinds Grudge 45 Quit Your Belly Achin' BabyRic Jansen wrote both songs, with arrangement help by Mike Nolen on “Just Knowin’ You Love Me”. Neither name shows up on other records in either Atlanta or San Antonio, to my knowledge, nor have I found another release with “A Ric Jansen Production” credit.

The publisher, Margie Music was associated with Atlanta Sound Recording Studios and the Gaye label, like the Mondels, Red Beard & the Pirates, etc. Furthermore, though this may have been a Rite account, the deadwax includes NRC for the National Recording Corporation, an Atlanta pressing plant.

The article mentions the Venetian Blinds appeared on a local TV show, and that Merv Griffin showed interest in featuring the band on his show.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Dexter and the Derbies

Dexter and the Derbies photo Limestone Democrat, January 23, 1968
Dexter and the Derbies, January 1968, from left: Dexter Greenhaw, Dennis Brooks, Danny Ausley and Mark Gamble

Dexter and the Derbies Derby 45 Time

Dexter and the Derbies came from Athens, Alabama, a small city about 95 miles north of Birmingham, and 99 miles south of Nashville, TN.

The Limestone Democrat newspaper featured this photo of Dexter and the Derbies on the front page of the January 23, 1968 issue. The band was part of the International Rodeo Association convention in Nashville. The members were:

Dexter Greenhaw – lead guitar
Dennis Brooks – drums
David (Danny) Ausley – rhythm guitar
Mark Gamble – bass guitar

Dexter and the Derbies cut only one single, released in August 1967 according to Teen Beat Mayhem. The band members would have been about 12 years old when recording the songs.

The top side is the intense “Time”, written by J. Greenhaw who seems to be Dexter’s brother Johnny Greenhaw. I can’t make out all the lyrics but one verse goes “Everybody wants to be loved and romanced, but nobody, I mean nobody will give a second chance”.

Rochelle Frazier and Buck Peddy wrote “They Wouldn’t Dare”, registering the song on December 9, 1965, almost two years before Dexter & the Derbies recorded it. The lyrics tred similar ground to the Barbarians’ “Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl” from earlier that year.
Dexter and the Derbies Derby 45 They Wouldn't Dare

The girls wear pants now and also shirts,
Pretty soon the boys will be wearing skirts.
Now don’t tell me that they wouldn’t dare,
If you don’t think they would take a look at their hair.

Now you don’t touch when you dance these days,
In fact your partner moves far away.
How can you hold anybody tight,
When they twist and turn right out of your sight.

You ask your neighbor if that’s his girl,
She looks so pretty with her long blonde curls.
That’s when you feel when like you ought to run,
When he says “that’s not my daughter, it’s my teenage son!”

Now don’t tell me that they wouldn’t dare,
If you don’t think they would take a look at their hair.

Buck Peddy wrote songs with Mel Tillis among others. He seems to have produced this single, and his Peddy Music published both songs. Released on Derby Records 1313 out of Nashville, Tennessee, the labels show Sound of Nashville master numbers SoN 48941/2.

Dexter Greenhaw graduated high school in 1973, then studied music at the University of North Alabama. He directed the band at Clements High School, and also had a band called Denim. Dexter passed away in March, 2007 of ALS at the young age of 52.

Source: info on Dexter Greenhaw from a News Courier article in March, 2007.

The Vandals’ “Your Love Will Die”

The Vandals D 45 Your Love Will DieThe Vandals are possibly from Georgia but I haven’t seen any definite info on the band.

“Your Love Will Die” is a speedy, chaotic and excellent punk song, with ringing guitar, busy drumming, and shouted vocals not quite in unison. One guitarist plays both rhythm and lead. “Mary” is a fine ballad, there’s a clip on youtube but it has a skip in it at the end of the guitar solo.

The only member’s name I have is Steve Randall, who wrote both sides for Boldlad Music, BMI but I can’t find a copyright notice for these songs.

The Vandals D 45 Mary

The Atlanta Vibrations

The Atlanta Vibrations
The Atlanta Vibrations

Atlanta Vibrations Sim-Cor 45 If You Let Me Love YouThe Atlanta Vibrations have the first single on the short-lived Sim-Cor label out of Atlanta, Georgia. “If You Let Me Love You” / “My Hometown”.

Members included:

Woody Turner – lead vocals, guitar
Spencer Kirkpatrick – guitar
Bob Giannoni – bass
Charles Lunsford – guitar
Ricky Wafford – drums, replaced by Tom Sims

Both songs of their 45 are good but I find “If You Let Me Love You” the most catchy and well done. Woody Turner wrote both songs, published, as all on Sim-Cor by Bold Lad Music, BMI.

Atlanta Vibrations Sim-Cor 45 My HometownI haven’t found out much about the band yet, except that they had a spot opening for the Beatles during their 1965 tour. The band continued with a different lineup into the late ’60s.

After leaving the Atlanta Vibrations, Woody Turner joined the Apolloes for a period, but I don’t believe he’s singing on their singles. Spencer Kirkpatrick would later join Hydra, who had two LPs on Capricorn and one on Polydor in the ’70s.

Photos and much of the info on the Atlanta Vibrations came from the Atlanta Bands Facebook page.

Sim-Cor discography (any help with this would be appreciated)

Sim-Cor 101 – The Atlanta Vibrations – “If You Let Me Love You” / “My Hometown” (NRC #385, April 1966)
Sim-Cor 45-102 – Robby – “People Ain’t Going Nowhere” / “I Don’t Want to Leave” (both by Robby Barnes for Bold Ladd, BMI, NRC #405, 1966)
Sim-Cor 492 – Ann & Anne – “I Met a Man” (Ann Ford) / “Beyond the Sea” (NRC #492, 1966)
Sim-Cor 45-003 – Imposters – When You Say (Kenneth Gowan) / Please Please (NRC #543, 1967)

The NRC numbers at the top of each label indicate Sim-Cor was one of the many Georgia labels that pressed at the National Recording Corporation’s pressing plant.

The Atlanta Vibrations
The Atlanta Vibrations, notice Sounds Incorporated drum head in the background

The Atlanta Vibrations

Buddy’s Buddies “Tell Me What I See” on Macon Records

Buddys Buddies color photo

Buddy's Buddies Macon 45 Tell Me What I SeeBuddy’s Buddies came from Macon, Georgia, home to Otis Redding and Little Richard, but a town that had relatively little ’60s band action. The Malibus who cut “I Want You to Know” / “I’ve Gotta Go” on PJ came from nearby Fort Valley, GA but that’s about it.

Buddy’s Buddies included:

Buddy Greene – lead vocals
David Gory – lead guitar
Phillip Parker – rhythm guitar
Andy Waits – bass guitar
Steve Kent – drums

Early version of Buddy's Buddies with Starlight Swingsters drumhead
Early version of the group with Starlight Swingsters drumhead
The Flying Beatles?! An early version of Buddy's Buddies, from left: Buddy, Steve Kent, Andy Waits and Phillip Parker
The Flying Beatles?! An early version of Buddy’s Buddies, from left: Buddy, Steve Kent, Andy Waits and Phillip Parker

Phillip Parker kindly sent in the photos seen here and wrote to me about the group:

Buddy and I began to play ukes together around 1962 or ’63. I remember Buddy calling me one Saturday morning and telling me to come listen to a record his older sister had brought home. We must have played the grooves off Meet the Beatles trying to learn the songs. We began by playing at a local drugstore off Riverside Dr. in Macon.

We then got Steve to play bongos. Andy was a friend of mine who had a guitar so joined and brought with him David Gory who played lead. He had a great sunburst Gibson. Andy wound up playing bass and I played rhythm guitar.

We played at the Macon Auditorium with Herman’s Hermits, the Beau Brummels, Freddie and the Dreamers and the McCoys. We were young, about 10-13 years old.

The article about getting a traffic ticket with Cassius Clay came from the Macon Telegraph. We were on our way to play at the Big Ape radio show in Jacksonville.
My family moved to SC in 1966 and I did not return till 1967. I’m not sure how long they played together after I left.

Of course Buddy went on to be a great musician and song writer and I did hear somewhere that Steve played drums. He was a great drummer.

Phillip Parker
May 2017

Buddy Greene wrote both sides of their only single. I really like “Tell Me What I See” with its solid back beat and bass line, repetitive piano and Buddy’s shouts of “mercy me!” The flip “I Love My Baby” is a ballad, with a plaintive vocal from Buddy.

Buddy's Buddies October 1965 photoBuddy's Buddies October 1965 photo

Buddy's Buddies October 1965 photoBuddy's Buddies October 1965 photo

The Macon label released Buddy’s Buddies single in July, 1965, published by Macon Music BMI. The only other release on Macon that I know of is Phil Gandy singing “Hula Baby” / “Rainbows End” both by Phil Skelton for Cedarwood Music BMI from circa 1964.

Buddy Greene went on to a long career in music. See his website, www.buddygreene.com for extensive information about his career, including additional photos of Buddy’s Buddies.

Thank you to Phillip Parker for the information and photos on the group. I’m sorry it took me over two years to add these to the post.

Harley Bowers time out…. column had this amazing story:

Buddy's Buddies meet Cassius Clay news clipping

What A Way To Meet Clay

A group of Maconites, nine to be exact, have something in common with Cassius Clay. They were all stopped by the same Florida highway patrolman at the same time and place last Saturday, and for the same reason – speeding.

It all started as the Maconites, traveling in two cars, were en route to Jacksonville. Five of those riding in the two automobiles were youngsteres 11 to 13 who make up the local singing group known as “Buddy’s Buddies. They were being driven to Jacksonville by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Parker (in one car) and Mr. and Mrs. Junior Waits (in the other car) for a radio appearance.

The young singers included Steve Kent, Buddy Greene, David Gory, Andy Waits and Phillip Parker. As they crossed into Florida, this side of Jasper, the two cars passed a pair of Cadillacs stopped along the side of I-75.

One of hte boys, Any Waits, called out to his father, who was driving the car in which he was riding, that he was sure he had recognized Cassius Clay among the four people standing around the Cadillacs. The elder Waits dismissed the idea and drove on.

A few minutes later the two Cadillacs came flying by the Maconites and young Andy again declared that one of the occupants was the heavyweight champion. Upon the urging of the boy the father set out to catch the speeding Cadillacs just to satisfy everyone’s curiousity as to who was inside.

Patrolman Nabs ‘Em All

Waits flew past the Parker auto and Parker, not knowing what was going on, took out after him. They eventually caught up with the Cadillacs, pulled alongside, and sure enough, there was Clay. About the same time Waits noted in his rear view mirror that a highway patrolman was chasing the whole group.

The patrolman flashed ahead of all four autos, then flagged them down one at a time. He told each driver he could either pay a $25 fine, Waits said, or come back to court. Ali preferred to pay but as Waits started to hand the patrolman his money he made the remark that he was going to have to blame his son for wanting to catch up with Cassius.

Clay, overhearing this, was so impressed he paid half the fines of the Maconites. Then he signed autographs for everybody while one of the men accompanying him took a series of pictures. “I assumed it was one of his press agents,” Waits explained.

Cassius reported to the patrolman that he was en route to Miami to begin training for the Floyd Patterson fight and thank the officer for being so nice. “He was real proud of those Cadillacs,” Waits said.

“In fact, he explained to us that they were the same type of automobiles that President Johnson drives and cost $16,000 each. They were even equipped with telephones. We found Cassius to be real nice and there was none of this loud bragging that you read so much about and see so much of on television.”

Buddy's Buddies Macon 45 I Love My Baby

Jerry Ashley & the Dynamics Unlimited

Dynamics Unlimited Rose 45 The Tide RisesDynamics Unlimited Rose 45 Baby Let's Wait

Jerry Ashley & the Dynamics Unlimited Rose 45 Don't Tell Me WhyI’ve tried to find some information about Jerry Ashley and the Dynamics Unlimited, but have turned up empty so far. They recorded for two related Atlanta, Georgia labels, Rose and Gaye.

The Dynamics Unlimited released one 45 of their own on the Rose Records label, the melancholy “The Tide Rises” b/w “Baby Let’s Wait” on Rose 2890. The labels do not list composer credits, but publishing is through Margie Music, BMI. The RCA custom press # U4KM-4910/1 points to a 1967 date.

The band then backed Jerry Ashley for his single on Rose 2091, “Don’t Tell Me Why” / “Come to Me”, two originals by Ashley also published by Margie Music. I’ve yet to hear either song.

Jerry Ashley Gaye 45 Come OnJerry Ashley had another single on Gaye Records 3044 from late ’67 or 1968, an upbeat party record with sing-along vocals, shouts and screams called “Come On”, backed with an instrumental version of the same song. This too was a Jerry Ashley composition for Margie Music and though the PO Box on the label is slightly different, there’s a striking similarity to the Rose label design.

I’d appreciate any additional info about the Dynamics Unlimited, Jerry Ashley or the Rose or Gaye Records labels.

Thank you to Mark Taylor for the scans of the Jerry Ashley 45s on Rose and Gaye.

The Mondels

There’s no denying the power of the Mondells 45 on Gaye, “I Got a Feeling” / “You’ll Never Come Back to Stay”. Both songs have thick distortion on the guitar, nice organ swirls, pounding drums, and good lead and backing vocals.

The code U4KM-5024 denotes an RCA custom pressing from the first half of 1967. The scan I originally posted showed no song writing credits on the label, but as Mike Markesich pointed out in his comment below, that scan was doctored to keep the writer’s name secret until the band could be found. From the scans I now have, Roy Farmer Jr. wrote “I Got a Feeling” and Benny Thomas wrote “You’ll Never Come Back to Stay”. Both sides are published by Margie Music, BMI, and listed as A Gaye Talent Production.

The group itself is still something of a mystery to me. I did find out that the Mondels, like Red Beard & the Pirates, came from the rural hills between Blue Ridge, Georgia (Morganton, Mineral Bluff, Epworth) and Copperhill, Tennessee / McCaysville, GA, about two hours drive north of the studio in Decatur, GA, just east of Atlanta. From the same area came The Blazers, who had a self-produced LP On Fire.

An old auction listing gives a couple names for Red Beard & the Pirates: Randy Queen and “Sea Dog”. The seller also mentioned two members of the Mondels: “Billy Suites (died from auto accident) and Lamar Harper (died a couple of years ago from cancer). Actually the name ‘Tootie’ written on the record is my sister-in-law and she dated Lamar.” I contacted the seller for more info, but I can’t confirm if these names are accurate.

The Mondels is one of the rarest and best 45s on the Gaye label.

Mike Dugo interviewed a member of the Penetrations who have a record on Gaye, “A Different Kind of Man” / “I Got A Girl” but they were from Belton, South Carolina, to the north east of Atlanta.

Thank you to Mike Markesich for the scans and info on the band. Transfers from Teenage Shutdown vol. 13.

Gaye Record Productions discography

Gaye Records Atlanta Sound Recording Studios Lowery Music Billboard July 8. 1967
Billboard July 8. 1967

Johnny Brooks owned the Gaye label, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and named it after his wife. The label started with pop releases, then added soul 45s and consistently strong garage singles by Little Phil & the Night Shadows, the Mondels, the Blades, the Penetrations and Red Beard & the Pirates. Some numbers have a prefix, usually ASR, which refers to Atlanta Sound Recording Studios, also owned by Brooks.

Troy Shondell recorded the Chips Moman song “This Time” for Goldcrest in 1961, released nationally by Liberty. I don’t know who Troy Shundell is, but his version on Gaye (#2010 from circa 1965) is a different recording than the Goldcrest/Liberty issue, and is likely a different singer altogether.

Any help with this discography would be appreciated

114 – Ken Springer – “You’re Faithful Anna” / “Lovely Love” (with picture sleeve)
210 – J.T. Ratcliffe With Shirley & The Swamp Bugs – “The Beatle Bug” / “Bill’s Friend”
212 – George Hughley – “Do The Beatle” / “My Love Is True”
2002 – Bobby & The Belmonts – “Drum Dog” / “He’s Home From College” (1964)
2004 – Beverly Taylor – “Sweeter Than Sugar” / “I Need Someone Like You”
2009 – Ken Springer – “Like A Child” / “Maybe”
2010 – Troy Shundell – “This Time” / “I Catch Myself Crying”
2018 – Frankie And The Play Boys featuring Arnold Sanford – “Two To One” / “Crying Towel”
3019 – The Blades – “I’ll Shead No Tear” (sic) / “Again”
3020 – Joe Dickey – “April In Atlanta” / “Walk With Me (Into Paradise)”
3027 – The Penetrations – “A Different Kind of Man” / “I Got A Girl”
3031 – Little Phil & the Night Shadows – “Sixty Second Swinger” / “In the Air”
3031 – Milford Fagg with the Penetrations – “Do You Still Remember Me” / “Mr. Ivory”
3032 – The Mondels – “You’ll Never Come Back To Stay” / “I Got A Feeling”
3033 – Joe Brown – “It’s All Over” / “Promise Me”
3034 – Ted Ford – “You Don’t Love Me” / “Hold On To the Key”
3041 – C. J. DeLong – “Goodbye Dreams” / “I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Anymore”
3043 – Red Beard & the Pirates – “Go On Leave” / “Don’t Be A Loser”
3044 – Jerry Ashley – “Come On” / “Come On” (instrumental backing track)
3045 – The Blades – “Moving Out” / “I Need You”
3047 – Sheppard Brothers – “Hold Me Closer” / “Mess Up My Mind”
5001 – Johnny Jenkins – “Soul Boo-Ga-Loo” / “Ring-O-Ling”
5002 – Lee Mays & the Zonics – “Writing This Letter” / “Nothing Means Nothing To You”
5005 – Ernie Wheelwright – Begging You Back / “In Your Arms”
5006 – Automations – “World of Make Believe” / “Going Out of My Mind”
6001 – Betty Logan – “A Lot To Learn” / The Logan Sisters – “Flop Mop”

Gaye discography compiled from Georgia Soul with additions and corrections from Mike Markesich, Bob of Dead Wax, Drunken Hobo, George, and Chas Kit.

368 – Paula Grimes – “Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart” / “Fancy Love Words” (George pointed out this is an unrelated NY label)

Lamar Collins and the Chashers

Lamar Collins at home with his mother’s piano All photos are courtesy Jeanette Bleckley, except where noted.

James and Lamar at the high school prom
Sam Camp writes this tribute to Lamar Collins, bassist and vocalist with the Chashers and the Avalons:

The first time I met Lamar Collins was in 1963 at Bell’s Drive Inn in Toccoa, Georgia. I was a curb hop there at the time and just happened to walk to his car to take his order. Lamar asked was I the guy that played saxophone and I shyly replied, ‘yes’. I was barely 14 years old and Lamar was in his very early 20s. We started a conversation about music and the rest is history.

Lamar was already jamming with several musicians from Hartwell, Georgia – David Conway, Calvin Coker, Larry Mayo, and a saxophone player whose name I do not recall. Little did I know at the time, I would soon replace the nameless saxophone player. We began to practice at the house where Lamar and his wife Shirley were living on Prather Bridge Road. Occasionally, we would travel to Hartwell to practice. After joining the band, I recall playing at Lake Rabun Georgia for a party and making near nothing and then driving the car back to Toccoa. This band, the name which I do not recall, played a couple more meaningless gigs and soon fizzled out.

Evelyn Bowden-Spencer, Jeanette Bleckley, Lamar Collins & R.J. Spencer at Jeanette’s home. “We often played and sang together.”
Calvin Coker continued to drive to Toccoa to keep the enthusiasm going, but something was obviously missing. Two weekends later, Lamar brought in another musician named Jimmy Sipes. I could tell right away that Sipes was a seasoned musician and that he and Lamar had a lot in common. When the four of us practiced I could sense that there was a little competition between Coker and Sipes and, soon after, Coker did not return to any more practices. Sipes was to play keyboard, “Wurlitzer piano”, and Lamar quickly bought a bass guitar and we continued to practice. The group was not complete without a drummer and guitar player. Somehow Ronnie Crunkleton (drums) and Roy Thompson (guitar) made their way into the band.

After several months of rehearsing, we started sounding like a real rock and roll band. We called ourselves “The Avalons”. We were ready to gig. I recall our first gig at the ELKS Club in Toccoa, Georgia where we had to stretch 33 songs into 4 sets, but all went well. They wanted us to come back!

Lamar and Jeanette Bleckley at the J-S Prom;
We began playing regularly in Northeast Georgia and South Carolina. Lamar Collins and Jimmy Sipes could give The Righteous Brothers a run for their money singing, “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”. We were popular for this quality of vocal harmony and on occasion we were labeled as the Righteous Brothers of Georgia.

Lamar was very popular among the ladies with his blond hair, blues eyes, and strong tenor voice. He was endowed with a gift that enabled him to sing straight to your heart and make you remember that feeling the next day. Without question, Lamar was the driving force of the band and well respected among his fellow musicians.

Lamar Collins at the Chicken Shack Photo courtesy Sam Camp
The Avalons gained much popularity as the house band at a local teen club called “The Chicken Shack” located in Seneca, South Carolina. It was not uncommon to pack a thousand fans in on Saturday night where our records and pictures were sold.

I remember our opening song, an instrumental of “You Can’t Sit Down”, by The Dovells on which I played the sax. As its title suggests, it’s an amazing dance number that would heat up any dance floor. This was our signature song and always got the crowd going. They would start to scream the minute we began to play.

During the band’s popularity, we opened for several national acts including such names as The Swinging Medallions, Billy Joe Royal, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Keith, and The Impressions.

Lamar was the lead singer of the band and you can see him in the picture inside the Chicken Shack playing his red Gibson bass guitar. Lamar loved to perform. Folks that came to The Chicken Shack in the late sixties will certainly remember this setting.

The Avalons’s “Come Back Little Girl” was No 1 at WHYZ radio station in Greenville South Carolina. The group brushed closely to fame, but due to conflicts of interest, they sadly chose to split in 1968.

After a period of time, everyone went their separate ways. Soon after, Lamar and Roy Thompson collaborated and put their heart and soul into two songs “The Wind” and “Without My Girl”.

Lamar was a “star” that shined from Toccoa, Georgia. He was loved and respected by many for his musical abilities, but those who knew him closely could tell you what a kind and gentle heart he possessed as well. It was this that shone through in his character. Lamar was responsible for getting me started in my music career and I still play today. During the years I knew him, the man ate, slept and lived for his music. He inspired a surprising number of us to continue in the gift of music God had placed in each of our souls, and for that I will always be grateful.

Lamar Collins gave birth to The Avalons. Essentially, Lamar Collins was The Avalons.

Lamar passed away in 1982 of a brain tumor. To say that I miss him would be an understatement. I think of him often and can testify of many others who do the same.

This is written in tribute to my dear friend, Lamar Collins.

Sam Camp

A special thank you to Jeanette Bleckley for the additional photos of Lamar.

Lamar, with Mike Stephens on guitar

“Lamar & his niece at my old home place”

Lamar & R.J. Spencer


Lamar Collins, photo courtesy Sam Camp

The Satellites of Georgia
The Satellites: Mike Stephens (guitar), Trig Dalrymple (drums), Horace Baker (trumpet), Ray Deaton (trombone), Gary Huth (clarinet), Lamar Collins (piano). Photo courtesy of Mary Stephenson.
Mike Stephens and Lamar Collins
Lamar Collins and Mike Stephens. Photo courtesy of Mary Stephenson.

Mary writes, “My brother, the late Mike Stephens and Lamar started a band around 1958-1959, and it was called the Sattelites. They mainly played for school dances.”