The Turfits

The Turfits

The Turfits
Robert “Whitey” Gwinup was guitarist in a group from Fremont, Ohio called the Vandaliers whose members included Wayne Van Doren on drums and Harry Kerr. The Vandaliers had been playing together since 1962, and recorded a demo, If “It’s Love You Want” on September 2, 1965 at Cleveland Recording.

Meanwhile in Findlay, Ohio was the American Way, with members Roger Hilty drums, Gary Reddick organ, Kenny Turner bass and Bob Peeler lead guitar. Whitey Gwinup left the Vandaliers on July 9, 1966 and took Bob Peeler’s place on lead guitar. This new lineup changed their name to the Other Ones, and later changed it again to the Turfits.

They based themselves in Xenia, at a nightclub the band half-owned called The Castaways. They also played often at a club called the Capitol in nearby Dayton.

Gwinup brought “If It’s Love You Want” with him when he joined the Turfits, who recorded their own version at Cleveland Recording in 1967. Although the original version was written by Gwinup and Harry Kerr of the Vandaliers, writing credits on the label list all the members of the Turfits.

Gwinup also wrote “Losin’ One”, but as with “If It’s Love You Want”, all the Turfits’ names were listed on the songwriting credits (with Gwinup’s name misspelled as Gwinep).

Capitol Records had done very well with the Cleveland band the Outsiders and Youngstown’s the Human Beinz, so Capitol were willing to take a chance on other local Ohio acts. The Turfits didn’t reach the charts like those other groups, but “Losin’ One” has a classic garage sound – mumbled self-pitying lyrics and a high-pitched organ behind a restrained garage solo.

Production was by Don King – not, as I originally thought, the future boxing promoter (though that Don King was producing soul and gospel records in Cleveland at the same time as an investor in Way Out Records), but the brother of Tom King, singer for the Ohio group the Outsiders, who hit big with “Time Won’t Let Me” and cut the garage classic “I’m Not Trying to Hurt You”.

Thanks to BuckeyeBeat for some of the background information about the Turfits. Be sure to check out BuckeyeBeat’s site dedicated to Ohio garage. Additions and corrections were made from contact with Jaremy Hilty, son of Turfits drummer Roger Hilty, and by Wayne Van Doren and Whitey Gwinup.

9 thoughts on “The Turfits”

  1. Wow, what’s the deal with the photo of the Turfits wearing skirts and knee-high boots? I’ve never, ever come across a 60s band photo quite like that. Does anybody have the story behind the skirts? I’m assuming it was a gimmick, like the Music Machine’s black gloves…

  2. In answer to your question about the Turfit skirts. I had lunch with Whitey on June 16 and he had this to say. “They were only wanting not to look like other bands”. They didn’t wear them all the time.However,they did wear them on the Phil Donahue Show in Cincinnati.Guy Lombardo and his big band were on the same show and Phil was comparing present day rock bands with yesterdays big bands.
    Whitey said his plaid skirt in the photo was made from a dress that belonged to his wife. The other guys had theirs special made.
    Whitey thought it was the Robin Hood look.

    1. Hey, Could you put me in touch with one of the Turfits? I live just north of Xenia, Ohio, in Yellow Springs. I would like to interview anyone from the band. Email is MrChrisTill@yahoo.com. Phone number is 937-767-2326. Thanks, Chris Till

  3. Great 45 but ya, I’d pay good money to see the look of the Turfits’ parents faces when they saw tham all in skirts hahaha.

    1. Hello Rocky? Are you one of the Turfits? If so, I’d like to interview you. I live in Yellow Springs, just north of Xenia, if you’re still in the area. Email is MrChrisTill@yahoo.com. Phone number is 937-767-2326. Thanks, Chris Till

  4. Hello! Are any of the Turfits still in Ohio? I live in Yellow Springs, Ohio, a few miles north of Xenia. If anyone knows if any of the band members are still near here, I would like to interview anyone from the band. Email is MrChrisTill@yahoo.com. Phone number is 937-767-2326. Thanks! Chris

  5. This is my dad, Roger Hilty. We have lived in Covington Georgia since 1976. He passed away last week, Oct. 29th, 2020, from cancer at age of 76. My heart is broken and he is gone way to fast and soon. I love listening to his records and him playing the drums. I will hold this and many other photos and songs in my heart. Until I see you again daddy. Go sing and play for Jesus. I love you.

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