Left to right: Lynn McIntyre, Dennis Finn, Stanley Stenner, James (Timmy) Schaefer, and JT Archer.
The Grass came out of the Las Cruces, New Mexico scene that included bands like the Keymen, the Four Dimensions, the Morfomen and the Outer Limits.
In August 1966 they released their only 45. recorded at Emmit Brooks’ Goldust Recording Studio, “I’m Getting Tired” (written by Dennis Finn and Lynn McIntyre) backed with “Y’Love”.
In the lyrics of “I’m Getting Tired” the singer is having trouble finding a girl worthy of his continued attention:
There’s just one reason why the girls never hit me with a put down,
I’m cool enough to know just when to put my foot down.
They offer me their love – what can I do then but take it?
Offer me their heart – what can I do then but break it?
JT (Tim) Archer sent in the photo at top, adding “here is a pic of Stanley and the Grass before the Goldust recordings with The Grass w/ Larry Lucero. Notice two of the guys are wearing ‘belt-straps’ instead of regular guitar straps. Except me, I left mine at home.”
JT wrote more about the band in comments below:
I was the lead guitar player for The Grass. The band included myself and Lynn McIntyre (formerly of the Checkmates and The Hustlers), Dennis Finn, and Tim (James) Schaefer. We first formed with Stanley Stenner as our lead singer and thus Stanley and The Grass was born circa 1965-1966. When Stanley left, we added Larry Lucero and he was the lead singer on our Gold Dust sessions.
I played a Fender Jazzmaster; Tim Schaefer played a Strat; Lynn played a Precision Bass. We refinished them all white and used belt straps instead of regular guitar straps… How cool is that?
I grew up on the Ventures and even during The Grass days we played a few instrumentals including “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue”. The band broke up and I went to Hollywood and tried to make it with Stanley, Lynn, Dennis and other friends from LC. Great experience -tough business! After Hollywood, I still pursued music and toured in lounge bands and even worked with Link Wray in Tucson.
I recorded two solo albums: Canyon (Gold Dust 1974) and Who’s Watching (my label – see CD Baby). I am now into Jazz and R&B. I hope to someday release another album under my jazz persona – Joey Primo. I have quite a guitar collection including a Mosrite which Semi Mosely custom made for me. It’s a keeper!
I have a picture of Stanley and The Grass at a Las Cruces High Dance. I also have a few pictures of me in the Shandels at Skylanes Bowing alley in El Paso when I filled in for Bob Allinder when he was on vacation one summer. I also have a picture of The Hustlers that pre-dates the Grass.
Stanley Stenner had a 45 on the Dynasty label from the early ’60s, “Teri” b/w “Angel of Mine”, written by Stenner, Charles and Richards for Borgelin-Melissa Music, BMI, orchestra conducted by Gene Garf. It’s a pop vocal style record.
Dennis Finn added:
Stan was one of the elves [Curly, one of the Lost Boys] in Peter Pan. He was from Hollywood. His dad was the great grampa on the Munsters. He also performed in Vegas with Sammy Davis, Jr., a great singer. He went back to Hollywood, and we got Larry Lucero to be the lead singer. I wrote “Y’Love”, and Lynn and I wrote “I’m Getting Tired”. We recorded them at Emmit Smith’s Gold Dust records.
Later, Pete Hecker and John Leduc (from the Outer Limits) and Dennis Lucero (from the Shandells) and Tim Archer and me (Dennis) went to Hollywood, and played at Ciro’s for 16 weeks in the summer of ’69. It was wild and crazy, and we had long hair, but were mainly hicks from New Mexico. In 1970 we came back to New Mexico, either to go back to college, or whatever.
Goldust is still in business: for more information see their website www.goldustudios.com
If anyone has photos of other Las Cruces groups of the time, please contact me.
Grass was the reformation of the original CheckMates (Not the midwest touring band, but the Las Cruces New Mexico CheckMates) They were originally comprised of Lynn McIntyre (Lead guitar), Bruce McIntyre (Bass), Dennis Finn (rhythm guitar — not sure on this) and originally Gary Tillman on drums. (Later Mike Mirmanian subbed or took Gary’s place — not sure on this) Also, I think Carl Greenleaf was the bassist for Grass until his untimely death a few years later.
The flip side of their “I’m Getting Tired” was “Thinking of You.” “Y’Love” was recorded by the Outer Limits according to the Gold Dust Record Story.
The Checkmates and the Outer Limits were competing bands during the 1962- 1966 time frame.
Dennis finn was the drummer of the grass.I know because i had to listen to him practice for years .They eventully went to Hollywood and played there. they broke up a few years later . The band in hollywood had a slightly different makeup. It’s an interesting story .
His Brother Darrell
the original band was lynn mcintyre (bass), tim archer (guitar), tim (james) schaefer (rhythm), and stanley stenner (he had been drafted, and we met him at a talent contest). the name of the band was stanley and the grass. stan was one of the elves in peter pan. he was from hollywood. his dad was the great grampa on the munsters. he also performed in vegas with sammy davis, jr. a great singer.
he went back to hollywood, and we got larry lucero to be the lead singer. i wrote y’love, and lynn and i wrote i’m getting tired. we recorded them at emmit smith’s gold dust records. we played around las cruces. later, pete hecker and john leduc (from the outer limits) and dennis lucero (from the shandells) and tim archer and me (dennis) went to hollywood, and played at ciro’s for 16 weeks in the summer of ’69. it was wild and crazy, and we had long hair, but were mainly hicks from new mexico. in 1970 we came back to new mexico, either to go back to college, or whatever.
I was the lead guitar player for The Grass. The band included myself and Lynn McIntyre (formerly of the Checkmates and The Hustlers), Dennis Finn, and Tim (James) Schaefer. We first formed with Stanley Stenner as our lead singer and thus Stanley and The Grass was born circa 1965-1966. When Stanley left, we added Larry Lucero and he was the lead singer on our Gold Dust sessions. I played a Fender Jazzmaster; Tim Schaefer played a Strat; Lynn played a Precision Bass. We refinished them all white and used belt straps instead of regular guitar straps… How cool is that?
I grew up on the Ventures and even during The Grass days we played a few instrumentals including Slaughter on Tenth Avenue. The band broke up and I went to Hollywood and tried to make it with Stanley, Lynn, Dennis and other friends from LC. Great experience -tough business! After Hollywood, I still pursued music and toured in lounge bands and even worked with Link Wray in Tucson.
I recorded two solo albums: Canyon (Gold Dust 1974) and Who’s Watching (my label – See CD Baby). I am now into Jazz and R&B. I hope to someday release another album under my jazz persona – Joey Primo. I have quite a guitar collection including a Mosrite which Semi Mosely custom made for me. It’s a keeper!
Play on!
JT (Tim) Archer AKA Joey Primo
I grew up in Deming NM. There were several bands out of Las Cruces that played here during the late 60’s and early 70’s. I was wondering if you remembered the Shandells? Bob Allinder was lead, Dennis Lucero was rhythm and lead vocal. Allinder was killed in a car accident in Las Cruces in think in 1969. The Shandells pretty much fell apart at that point. John Leduc, formerly from the Outer Limits joined up with Dennis and the remaining members of the Shandells and were amazingly matched. Leduc, in his earlier group or maybe after the Outer Limits, was in a group called the Male Box, I believe its spelt right, and played in Deming and were hosted by an AM radio station in Cruces. My memory fails me, but the station was off of Pichaco near the river. Guys in red blazers, I suppose the DJ’s, would intro the Male Box at several of their gigs. A former music store owned by a gentleman by the name of Johnson in the old Loretto de Las Cruces Mall backed the Shandells. Do you have any info on the Shandells and or the Male Box? Thanks, Asa
According to the _Las Cruces Sun-News_, Bob Allinder was killed in a car crash on Christmas Eve 1967. A car driven by Augustine Vazquez crashed into Allinder’s car after a high speed chase and cut it in two. If you email me, I’ll send you a pdf of the article.
Appreciate the offer but actually have the article of the accident. Still looking for a picture of group if possible. Thanks again, Asa
Anyone have a photo of the Grass? or the Shandels?
I have a picture of Stanley and The Grass at a Las Cruces High Dance. I also have a few pictures of me in the Shandels at Skylanes Bowing alley in El Paso when I filled in for Bob Allinder when he was on vacation one summer. I also have a picture of The Hustlers that pre-dates the Grass.
Is there a chance you could scan all your pictures you have of the Shandels and forward them to me? Any of Bob as well. Shandells played numerous times in Deming and after the dance, Bob would take a little time a show our group a few chords. Thanks