Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

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Paul Revere and the Raiders

by Tommy Towery

Class of '64

There's not many acts that I can say that I have seen perform in concerts in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. But This group is one of the ones that I can claim. I first saw Paul Revere and the Raiders on the TV show "Where the Action Is" and in the beginning thought their costumes were a little far fetched and comedic. It took me a little while to realize that they were supposed to be exactly that. In the beginning I, like everyone else I assume, thought that Mark Lindsay was Paul Revere, since most bands were lead by the lead singer. Nope, Paul played the organ I later found out.

My first time to see them live was in the 60's in Memphis at the Colesium and I have to admit they put on a great show - not only with the music but just a great act overall.

I saw them next in Sacramento, California at the California State Fair. In the 70's I had front row seats to the show at Six Flags Over Texas. That was after Mark had gone solo, but they had another new member who filled in for him on all the songs.

In the mid 80's I went to Las Vegas and they were performing in one of the little bar band areas. It cost to go to the concert, but cost nothing to sit outside the cloth curtin that covered the door. I sat an played the nickle slot machine and listened to two concerts a night for two nights free of charge.

Sue and I went to the Mid-South Fair here in Memphis in the 90's and had a great time listening to the old music and seeing the band cut up as it always has.

I still love their music and their dance steps, and I will still go see them even in the 2000's when they perform somewhere near enough to go to. As a matter of fact, while researching this, I found that they are performing at Dick Clark's American Bandstand in Branson, Missouri on a regular schedule this year. If any of you want to drive over and see them, then just plan your trip through Memphis and we'll join you.

Paul Revere and the Raiders: History of the Band from the official web site located at: http://www.paulrevereraiders.com/main.html

Paul Revere organized the Raiders in 1958 in Idaho. A few of the highlights of Paul Revere's outstanding career are:

Paul Revere and the Raiders were the first rock group to be signed with Columbia Records.

In 1965-1966 Paul Revere and the Raiders were featured on the ABC TV five-day-a-week network show "Where the Action Is" produced by Dick Clark.

Paul Revere and the Raiders appeared on 520 "Where the Action Is" network shows on ABC.

In 1968 & 1969 Paul Revere co-hosted a weekly ABC series, "Happening".

Paul Revere also co-hosted a five-day-a-week summer show, "It's Happening".

In summer of 1971 the Raiders' recording of "Indian Reservation" sold nearly 4 million singles, making it the biggest selling record for Columbia Records in 10 years.

The group has performed thousands of concerts in North America, Europe and Asia as well as being seen on major TV shows.

Paul Revere and the Raiders had 25 consecutive hit singles. Some of which include:

Like Long Hair

Great Airplane Strike

Louie, Louie

Good Thing

Steppin' Out

Ups and Downs

Just Like Me

Him or Me

Kicks

Indian Reservation

Hungry

Birds of a Feather

Perhaps most remarkable of all is that in spite of not having a hit in decades Paul and his band have managed to maintain an unbelievably successful show whether performing in the most intimate cabaret setting or in Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado to 87,000 rockin' fans. Always aware of where he is and to whom he is playing, Paul tailors the show to fit the occasion, making every show a personal experience for that audience.

Many groups have had hits but there are very few acts that can entertain an audience with such high musical skill, high energy and high level of comedy, prompting people to come back time and time again to see what madman Paul and his Raiders will do next.

The chemistry of Revere's fun loving personality has been a major force in maintaining the Raiders popularity. Over the past 40+ years, he has created a highly polished act built on warmth and spontaneity. Revere uses his madcap comedy to bring back the pre-Beatle days when being carefree and having fun was where it was at. Revere has no plans to stop his rigorous touring schedule. As Paul has said many times "I started this band over 40 years ago for the fun of it and I'm not going to quit till I stop having fun". To quote columnist Tim Woodward, "The hit records are gone but he is still at it, still in demand".

"There are NO holes in this show, thank you very much. Sure the Raiders' hits are all there, and hey no one could accuse the band in its 60's prime of pioneering contemporary music. And believe me, as one who heard the original band live several times in its salad days they NEVER sounded this good." ...Alan Kellogg, The Edmonton Journal

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Joan Graybill Lucas, Class of '64 - I just took the time to look at the mystery photo enlarged, and realized Vern and I were in it! I recognized my dress :) I believe it was in l984 for our twenty year reunion at a Sheraton hotel somewhere in Huntsville. Vernon and I had just moved back to Marietta, Georgia after living three years in Australia. I believe that is the reunion in which Vernon and Rainard got caught up with one another. Ohhh, to be able to fit into that dress again! Sigh. Oh well, I'm still alive and kicking!

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J.R. Brooks, Class of '64 - If not 1990, it had to be 1984 at the Von Braun Center.

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Gale Thompson, Class of ‘64 - This was made at the VBCC and what year I am not sure. We had a real good turn out, and if you will look at the picture it has many people that do not come to the reunions now, and there are some that are not with us anymore

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Kathy Harris Jones, Class of '66 - The Class picture is of the class of '64 at MY 15 year reunion at the Von Braun Civic Center. I'm just not sure if it was in '80 or '81. That was the first year that we had all three classes together.

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George Vail, Class of '66 - I know the place, but I'm not sure of the date. I attended a reunion in 1980 or '81 at the West Hall of the VBCC(as it was known then). The photo was taken in that hall, but it could have been another year, maybe the mid or late 80's.The afore mentioned reunion was the first combined '64,'65,'66 reunion. I recall seeing my old friend and first bassist, Fred Sanders, Gary Foss, and Judy Fedowich. Some others there, but my memories are too hazy. Thanks again, Tommy for this great outlet!

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Tommy Towery, Class of '64 - It was at the VBCC, and since I was in England and missed the reunion in 1984/85 I think it was the '79/'80 reunion. I don't know which year we started centering the reunions on the Class of '65, but perhaps it was '80?

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Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly, Class of '64 - I'm pretty sure we were at the Von Braun Civic Center for this reunion. I'm guessing it was 1980, but it could have been 1985. (Could have been last week -- I'm getting up there, ya know!) While we're at it, how about asking for people to list ALL reunions, locations, and dates they remember. I'd like to write them down before any more brain cells die. I'm sorry . . . what was your question?

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Subject:Concerts

Linda Beal Walker

Class of '66

Do you remember when they had the Calvacade of Stars in B'ham? I had seen Elvis in concert but this was my first time to see so many of my favorites at one time. The one and only time I went to the Calvacade I saw -

Tony Orlando and Dawn

The Carpenters

Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (before Kenny was only Kenny)

The Grass Roots

Mike Smith and the First National Bank (Mike was one of the Monkeys) and it ended with Iron Butterfly

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Subject:Burning Diesel

Gary Hatcher

Class of '66

I also remember the smell of burning diesel in the mornings while in Vietnam. As an airtraffic controller at DaNang, we did not have a papason to burn our two-holer out house. We would do it every morning ourselves at sun-up. By adding 5 gallons of diesel to each half of a 50 gallon drum full of we would burn the past days catch. It would create a large billow of black smoke. It was a homing beacon for the returning night recon flights. After sitting in the cold, dark, radar trailor all night, we would actually fight over who got to go out and burn the out-house. By the way, the out-house had a cut out of Snoopy in flying gear on it, another sign that our airmen (Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army, and VNAF) were home. Some memories we will never forget.

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