Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

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Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

by Tommy Towery

Class of '64

I think I remember seeing this video on "Where The Action Is" one afternoon and thought about how they, like Paul Revere and the Raiders, used military uniforms as their gimmick. I always enjoyed the harmony of that group, but wonder today if they would avoid arrest as child preditors with a song and video like "Young Girl". Think about it.

Unlike other groups, I did not see them in concert very often, but a few years ago I went to one of those reunion concerts where Gary Puckett was doing a solo act on a bill that included The Turtles, The Outsiders, and a few other groups. I was extremely disapported to see that Gary had become a lounge lizard and was wearing gold chains, blossumed shirt, and slick, tight pants (picture Tom Jones), and hammed up his own songs so much that he sounded like the guy next door at a Karoake bar. I thought then that he needs to get back to the basics and do the songs the way we came to hear him do them.

From the web we find the following:

Gary Puckett started playing and singing with friends at hops and local talent shows while he was still in high school, in Twin Falls, Idaho. Eventually, he enrolled as a pysch major at San Diego City College, where he studied for about a year before quiting to hang out with local musicians. At one point, Gary put together an R&B group called "The Outcasts", but they didn't last.

Next, he formed "Gary and the Remarkables, a band which while good, had nothing that was truly remarkable. Gary realized that he needed a gimmick, something that would attract attention and make his group really distinctive. After considering a number of ideas, he decided on a military motif, costuming each member in a blue and gold civil war uniform. As lead singer, lead guitarist and "General", Gary would command "Sargeant" Dwight Bement on bass, "Corporal" Kerry Chater on rhythm guitar , "Private" Gary Withem on keyboards and "Private" Paul Wheatbread on drums. Adapting the name from historic Union Gap, Washington, his new ensemble became, "The Union Gap, featuring Gary Puckett".

In January 1967, the band quickly began to draw some attention in the San Diego area. "We were very business like" says Gary. "We made up a brochure with pictures, clippings, song lyrics and a demo record which was actually my voice with another group because we couldn't afford to make a Union Gap demo". Gary took this promotional kit around to various record companies in L.A. and was turned down by all of them. Finally, just before leaving town, he visited Columbia Records and was directed to producer Jerry Fuller. Jerry chuckled at the photos but listened to the demo and agreed to come out and see the Gap on the second night of their regular weekend gig.

The Union Gap signed contracts on June 21, 1967 and on August 17, cut what was to be their first single, "Woman Woman". Released one month later, it broke in Cleveland in November, rising to number four on the national charts.

"As far as what inspired "Young Girl", that's another story" says Jerry."I was on the road a lot as an artist, fronting various groups for many years. I guess every entertainer goes through a time when fourteen-year-olds look like twenty-year-olds. That's somewhat of an inspiration...not from my own experience, but just knowing that it happens".

"Young Girl" took off in early March 1968 and by the next month was one of America's best selling singles." Even today," says Gary Puckett," people come up to me and say 'We fell in love while listening to that song.'"

All of the Union Gaps records had a warm romantic feel, and the hit streak continued with "Lady Willpower", "Over You", "Don't Give In To Him", and "This Girl Is A Woman Now".

"When you listen to those records today", says Jerry, "they sound fairly simple. We didn't try to get contrived, because we didn't know how. We always tried to make the music say what the lyrics did. We let the songs dictate our arrangements."

That philosophy must have worked, because in 1968, the Union Gap managed to outsell rock's number one group, the Beatles.

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap's Biggest Selling Records according to Cash Box magazine:

1 (#3) Woman, Woman - 1967

2 (#1) Young Girl - 1968

3 (#1) Lady Willpower - 1968

4 (#5) Over You - 1969

5 (#12) Don't Give In To Him - 1969

6 (#5) This Girl Is A Woman Now - 1969

7 (#38) Let's Give Adam and Eve Another Chance - 1970

8 (#44) I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - 1970

9 (#50) Keep The Customer Satisfied - 1971

As the face of pop music evolved, the hits stopped coming and eventually the members of the group began to develop other interests and eventually disbanded in 1971.

Rhythm guitarist, Kerry Chater wrote songs for other popular acts, including Bobby Darin and Cass Elliot. Gary Puckett tried acting for a while. He also recorded as a solo act and with his brother David, but has never been able to match his earlier success.

Gary continued as a solo artist and enjoyed continued success playing festivals, theaters, and arenas throughout the world. He was part of the highly successful 1984 version of the Happy Together Tour, which also featured The Turtles, The Mamas & Papas, and Spanky & Our Gang. His casual, mild-mannered demeanour on and off the stage, gives no indication of the powerful singing voice he possesses that has not diminished over the years, and if anything, has gotten stronger.

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This vehicle was a simple rear-engine Dodg'em car, powered by a 16 hp two-cylinder Briggs and Stratton engine. This was connected to the rear wheels through a rudimentary centrifugal clutch and chain arrangement. With a bulbous fiberglass body, the whole car weighed less than 600 lbs. Liefeld christened it the "Iron Monster," though officially, it was called the "Bobbi-Kar" after the designer's son.

After a failerd venture in California, on July 8, 1947, the Dixie Motor Car Corporation was founded to take over the assets of Bobbi-Kar for $30,000 in cash and a promise to pay back the $38,500 received for customer deposits on never-delivered Bobbi-Kars. Most of the corporate officers of the two companies were the same, but the dealers had been neatly cut off. They rented space from the Huntsville Arsenal after the war to build the cars in Huntsville, but the whole scheme turned out to raise money but not produce cars. Although they had taken in nearly $2-million in dealer franchise fees, the company went under with little more than $10,000 in the coffers. Thus ended Huntsille's attempt to become a major car manufacturing cit.

The photo above is from the Redstone Automobile Display website. With today's gas prices, can you imagine how many cars you could sell today if you could power them with a 16hp Briggs and Stratton engine? My lawnmower has a 9.6hp engine!

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Subject:My Classmates

Joan Kephart Dunbar

Class of '65

Just been going through old newsletters for the last couple of hours---great job,Tommy! And to all else who have helped. It is good to see that all these many memories are being preserved (or at least attempting to stir our brains to think about them for the first time in many years!) I would love to hear from classmates who remember my brother, Dwight, who died in 1996. Dwight was a great brother and a wonderful person. Many of my memories of high school relate to the fact that I wasn't known by many, other than as Dwight's sister- -except in my little circle of friends. But in my memory everyone knew him and I always thought of him as quite popular. So, I was just wondering if any of you have any special memories of him or funny stories or anything? Again, thanks for the great job in keeping up with the many things covered in the newsletter.

From: Memphis, Tn

Email: wayneandjoan@bellsouth.net

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Subject:Website

Wayne Miller

(Would have been class of '64 had we not moved)

I just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for your work on the Traveller web site. As I told you in a previous email, I didn't graduate from Lee as we moved and I transferred to Butler, however I did have many friends at Lee and married a Lee Alum, Dianne Gurley "67. I have spent some time going over your web site and it has brought back a lot of good memories. Dianne and I did not know about the site until a few weeks ago when I received an email contact from Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly through classmates.com. Barbara and I were elementary school classmates and had not heard from one another since then!!! You have done an excellent job with the web site. Thanks again and keep up the great work!!!

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Subject:Checking in

Jeff Fussell

Class of '66

Tommy,

You’ve baffled me 3 weeks running with mystery photos, so I figured I’d at least let you know that I’m still out here.

On a more serious note: Like most of us, I am horrified by the abject acts of violence at Virginia Tech. Although I don’t personally know anyone whose family members attend VT, my prayers and hopes for comfort to them are foremost. God help us.

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Subject:1964

Sandra W. Perry

Guest

I am from the class of '64, Knoxville. What slang word was used for the loop on the yoke of a shirt in the 60's. Kids would jerk these off the backs of the shirts as you were walking down the halls in school. Remember?

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Subject:'64 Student

Paula Kephart

Class of '65

Went to get my taxes done, my CPA was a member of the class of '64. Her name is Carolyn Sherrill Quillin. She runs Quillin Financial Svs in Huntsville. She lost her older son this past year. Just thought you might like to know.

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Comments on Concerts

Subject:Your memory is amazing

Linda Beal Walker

Class of '66

I thoroughly enjoyed the video. I rarely missed "Where the Action Is" . I tried very hard to get mother to make me a dress with fringe on it, but she would not.

You always have some of the most "fun" things to remember. Keep up the good work.

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Subject:Paul Revere and the Raiders

Eddie Burton

Class of '66

Tommy, I like you, saw The Raiders in the 1960's. But I saw them in Huntsville. Being a local rock n roll band member I sneaked myself back stage and there was this long hall way that ran from the dressing rooms to the stage at the coliseum. As I was walking back to the dressing room area, I looked up and Mark Lindsey was coming towards me. With those high-heeled boots and that 3 cornered hat he looked about 7 feet tall. That was the first time I got to meet Mark. Later in the 60's, two original band members quit and were replaced by Freddie Weller and Keith Allison. In the early 80's I wrote a song that Mark Lindsey recorded as a solo artist when he was running a record label in L.A. Then in the 90's I did a tour out through Wyoming with Freddie Weller and Keith Allison and man did I hear some stories about that band. The main thing they told me was what a great band leader Paul was. He was always the boss, even though Mark got all the press and became the 'voice' of the band. Paul was always in charge and they talked about how smoothly things ran in the band. He had certain 'band rules' and if you broke one you got fined. I spent about 5 days with those two and of course when Mark recorded my song I got to meet him in Nashville and between the 3 of them I learned quite a lot about the Raiders. Yeah they were camp and a bit over the top and they are not in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame yet but I'm not so sure they shouldn't be. They made some pretty good records during those years and they were part of our lives.

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Subject:Concerts

Dink Hollingsworth

Class of '66

Thanks for the link to Paul Revere and The Raiders. It reminded me of seeing them in one of the several concerts Marty and I attended in Birmingham. How many remember “The Mighty 690, WVOK” in Birmingham? They sponsored a couple of concerts each summer at Boutwell Auditorium called “The Shower of Star’s”. As she and I would cruise between Shoney’s and Jerry’s, we would listen to “VOK” when we could pickup the AM signal.

We attended a couple of these with Mike and Paula Garrison. There would be two programs which is unheard of today and each would be have big name headliners. Over the years, in addition to The Raiders, we saw:

The Beach Boys (several times)

Jan and Dean

Ronnie and the Daytona’s (Little GTO)

Herman’s Hermit’s

The Monkey’s

The Chartbusters

The Buckingham’s

Jerry Lee Lewis

Little Richard

And more I know I have forgotten.

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Subject:Concerts

Eddie Sykes

Class of 66

Your article on concerts jarred some memories loose. WVOK radio station sponsored concerts in Birmingham four times a year. They called them Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall “Shower of Stars”. I was able to only attend one. I think it was spring 1965, but it may have been 1966. Paul Revere and the Raiders was the featured act. I can only remember that Jan & Dean, and Lou Christie were also there along with about 6 or 8 other great performers.

It was my one and only high school rode trip. Lamar Robinson drove his Huntsville High School girlfriend’s car and Sandra Parks and I doubled and went with them to the concert in Birmingham. It was the best concert that I ever attended. WVOK was called the “Mighty 690” and located on the Bessemer Super Highway. We went by the station. You could write down your name on a card and they would read it on the air and thank you for dropped by. They also signed off the air each evening with Dixie! I am including a link that has information about many of the concerts that they sponsored. The concert that I attended was not included on the page but maybe some of you can see the advertisements from one that you may have attended.

The URL is http://wvok-memories.tripod.com/index.html

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