The Three Battles
The following contains previous Posts relating to three epic Denver “Battle of the Bands” – Those being the KIMN 1965 Teen Music and Dance Festival at the Auditorium arena; The KIMN and Southeast Denver Jaycees “Battle of the Bands ’67” at the Colorado National Guard Armory on Logan Street and KBTR’s 1967 Battle of the Bands
KIMN Teen Music and Dance Festival 1965
Having posted recently on this KIMN 1965 event – which included a massive “Battle of the Bands” with over a bunch groups from around Colorado participating – it now is pretty clear that this was a one-time blow out which drew many of the ‘big boys’ from the recording industry’s major labels. KIMN’s other premier event came in 1967 and was covered here recently as well.
Following is a November 20th, 1965 article promoting the event – and then a series of photos which appeared post-Battle in the Christmas Day 1965 issue of Billboard.
Johnny Rivers was the headline act for the Festival and Colorado’s Astronauts, Frankie Rino & the Squires, the Soul Survivors and the Moonrakers were the premier acts.
Record Industry Executives In Attendance & Event Organizers
Not pictured were executives from Smash, Liberty, Vee Jay and Philips record labels. KIMN’s program director – Ted Atkins was a major force organizing the event on behalf of the Denver Tiger.
Three More A&R Biggies – Billy James (Columbia), Steve Douglas (Capitol) , and Al Schmitt (RCA Victor)
James “Jimmy” Bowen Represented Warner Bros. and Reprise Records
KIMN’s 1967 Battle of the Bands
Following are the participants and some program pages for the Colorado Jaycees KIMN’s Battle of the Bands which was held in the Villa Italia shopping center (a mere shell of it’s former self these days): If anyone knows any of these guys or something about these groups send the information my way to share with all.
The Blue Angels
Alameda High School’s Blue Angels won the Battle!
L-R: Randy DeAlba, Mike Brianza, Bruce Lee Buazier, Jeff Wayne, Rick Rivero and Eddie Ulbarri
The Action Brass (Wheat Ridge)
Back Row L-R: Jim Johnson, Larry Greene, Doug Winegar, Marc Greene, John Gary Front: Gene Brown
The Cavemen (Pueblo)
L-R: Chuck Corsentino, Al Volpe, Greg McCaulley Front: Rick Bratina
The Congress of Soul (Monte Vista)
L-R: Doug Sharp, Mark Green, Bill Cannon, Ken Widger and Eddy Miller
Dawn & The Twilights (Boulder)
L-R: Melvin Grant, Jerry Miller, David Wilson, Gerald Morris, Mike Morris
The Echoes (Limon)
L-R: Bill Green, Tommy Thomas, Jim Grabow, Rick Weidner, Willie Clark, Martin Haines
The Geneva Convention (Fort Morgan)
L-R: Dick Walker, Gary Sagel, Mike Williams, Jon Wacker, George Sears
The Kicques (Northglenn)
L-R: Ron Suzuki, Max Watkins, Charlie Lyons, John Scifurt and Steve Suzuki
The Misirlou’s (Aurora)
L-R: John Libundgut, Jamey Philips, Skip Knittle, Dave Brainard and Jack Purdie
Phalanx Mass (Fort Collins)
Standing L-R: Jim Dyekman, Buz Dicks, Ken Williams, Scott Johnson Sitting: Randy Tiler
The Precious Few (Greeley)
L-R: Lee Kendrick, Bill Hokenson, Mike Jones Kneeling: Gene Savard
The Ravens (Littleton)
L-R: Gil Cordosa, Rick Ortega, Claude Garcia and Paul Garcia
The Restless Ones (Lafayette)
L-R: Don Rice, Randy Bukey, Don Marvin and Doug Husa
The Runnaways (Westminster)
Formed in 1965 the group performed at The Acosatic in Estes Park, The Tiki in Boulder and appeared at KIMN Radio events. Most members were from Ranum High School
L-R: Lee Sutherland, Rick Chalmers, Rick Willet and Jeff Olivas
The Sands of Tyme (Glenwood Springs)
L-R: Tony Kavaric, Paul Bilansky, Jim Smedley and Wayne Eastland
Tyler & The Bandits (Lakewood)
L-R: Jim Stallings, Mike Ziskin, Sitting L-R: Tyler Plotzke, Steve Adler, Wayne Brown
The U.S. Male (Englewood)
Standing: Rene Ulibarri Sitting L-R: Tim Stephenson, Kent Borucki and Mark Fisher
The Young Savages (Commerce City)
Bottom L-R: Mike Gallegos, Larry Lavato and Lonny Lovato Top: L-R: Dick Martinez, Ralph Garcia and Tom Archuleta
KBTR’s High School Dance & Music Festival 1965
Colorado rocker Marc Gonzales (3.2 Blues To Go – and many more) was very kind to take time to not only locate some vintage Colorado classic garage-era programs, photos and articles, but got them scanned and sent them our way! In my previous post I highlighted the KBTR event in November of 1965 – which pitted more than 40 Colorado bands in competition to win a spot on the Rolling Stones’ 1965 Denver concert!
Marc Gonzales with “3.2 Blues To Go”
A couple of garage bands who are mentioned in the Denver Post article include “The Raindrops”, “The Driving Dynamics” – both new for me.
The Champs – The Bluetones
The winners were the Bluetones followed by
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#2 – The Contrasts
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#3 – Lothar & the Hand People
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#4 – The Boenzee Cryque
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#5 – The Galaxies
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#6 – The Pussycats
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#7 – The Intrigues
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#8 – Tyler & The Bandits
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#9 – The Marauders
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#10 – The Daleks
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#11 – The Time Travelers
