DHARMA BUMS: Jeremy Wilson (vocals, guitar), Eric Lovre (guitar, vocals), John Moen (drums, vocals) and Jimmy Talstra (bass) formed the Dharma Bums in their hometown of Silverton in 1986. They soon made their base in Portland and went on to release 3 albums and play over 200 dates a year during their 6 year run in the US and Europe. The band helped lead the way for the alternative rock explosion in Portland in the ‘90s. All 4 have continued playing music and in 2010 they did a reunion show to a full house at the Crystal Ballroom and released an album of unreleased material.
JEFFREY FREDERICK AND THE CLAMTONES: Jeffrey Frederick started the Clamtones in the late ‘60s in Vermont but soon morphed the band into Automatic Slim & the Fat Boys. In 1975, at the urging of Robin Remaily of the Holy Modal Rounders, Jeffrey moved to Portland and started a new version of the Clamtones. The Clamtones included Dave Reisch (vocals, bass), Robin Remaily (guitar and mandolin, Teddy Deane (horns & woodwinds), Richard Tyler (piano) and Roger North (drums). The band morphed into Les Clams and later included Turtle Vandermarr, Kevin “Bingo” Richey, Lex Browning and Jim Boyer. The band developed a reputation for being “one of the best bar bands in the country”. In 1997, Jeffrey passed on but left a legacy of music that is still being released.
SEQUEL: Sequel was one of the most popular bands in Oregon in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Sequel’s harder rock sound combined with great vocal harmony and songwriting led them to become one of the top-drawing bands in the state, playing back-to-back clubs every week. The band consisted of Greg Georgeson (guitar, vocals), Todd Jensen (bass, vocals), Dave Wall (guitar, vocals) and Grant Roholt (drums). Their 1982 debut album was a staple on KGON. In 1983 they recorded the follow-up. Elektra Records asked them to shelve the album, as they were interested in signing the band and releasing it. While waiting for all the Elektra decision makers to give the green light, the band ended up breaking up. In the last decade the band has reunited to do a few shows, including a packed house at the Roseland and opening for Loverboy.
NORMAN SYLVESTER: Norman Sylvester has been has been playing the blues a long time. His band has been together since 1985, delivering good-time original blues music around the NW at both clubs and festivals. Norman, known also as the Boogie Cat, has been featured on over a dozen records, including on his own Boogie Cat Productions label and the Rose City Blues Festival album. Norman has also been a great supporter of community projects and events, where he and his band help spread goodwill through their music. He’s also a winner of several Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards, including the Back What You Believe In award.
WHEATFIELD: Wheatfield began as a folk-duo in 1971 with Pete Wolfe and Will Hobbs. Within the year they added a bass player, lead guitarist and drummer and went on to be one of the most popular bands in the state, as well as playing the entire NW and British Columbia. Their style branched out to include influences of rock, folk, bluegrass, country, rock and even jazz. In 1980 they released their first full-length album, produced by longtime Steve Miller harmonica player Norton Buffalo. That year KOIN TV ran a prime time TV special on the band that was shown all over the state. In 1982, the band broke up, although they still kept doing occasional reunions. They are now back as an active band and released a new album in 2010.
SIDE PLAYERS
PHIL BAKER: Phil Baker has played with some of the best. He toured with Diana Ross for 9 years. He has played with Eddie Harris, Joe Henderson, Diane Schuur, Les McCann, Tom Scott, and Ernie Watts among others. He even took the stage with Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Linda Ronstadt years ago during the prestigious “Motown 25” special. For the last 6 years, he has been the bass player for Pink Martini. Over the years, Phil has taught hundreds of students and put on dozens of clinics. He also writes a monthly column for Bass Musician magazine.
SAM HENRY: Sam Henry has been drumming in bands in Portland for 4 decades. He has played in The Wipers, The Rats, Napalm Beach, Poison Idea, Snow Bud & The Flower People and Morgan Grace, among others. His bands were a staple at Portland’s legendary Satyricon. Though some may think of Sam as Portland’s quintessential punk drummer, he has also played funk with Shock, 1930s swing jazz with the Stolen Sweets and even country roots music with Michael Dean Damron, as well as most every other genre of music. Sam is also a music instructor giving drum lessons to many up-and-coming musicians.
INDUSTRY
BOB ANCHETA: After building his own radio station as a teen in the attic of his parents’ house, while still a senior in high school, Bob began his real radio career in 1970 on Portland’s legendary underground music station KVAN-AM. This was followed by a stint at KQIV-FM, Portland’s only ever quadraphonic radio station. In 1977 Bob joined KGON-FM, spending 18 years on air at his powerhouse station. One of his great attributes was knowledge of the music and artists he played. His on air talking was as exciting as the music he turned people on to. He went on to Earth 105. Today you still hear Bob every Sunday with his Blues show on KINK-FM. You may also hear his voice work on many stations from his company Internet Jock. Bob was also the stage manager for the Paramount Theater in the ‘70s and manager of the band Sequel.
GEORGE TOUHOULIOTIS: To quote George Touhouliotis, “I had an interest in the culture of music. Not the music, per se, but what the bands represented. That was the beauty of the punks: they were real.” George gave Portland a club called Satyricon. George opened up Satyricon to bands that, in many cases, could not get gigs in the other rooms in town because they were playing music out on the fringe. George and the Satyricon became the second home for both the musicians who played there as well as the fans. Portland bands like the Wipers, Dead Moon, The Dharma Bums, The Crazy 8s, The Jackals, Napalm Beach and Poison Idea played there. National acts like Nirvana, Foo Fighters and Flaming Lips also played gigs there.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
ESPERANZA SPALDING: Esperanza Spalding taught herself violin and within a year was good enough to earn a spot in the Chamber Music Society of Oregon. At age 15, she became concertmaster. After switching to bass and attending Darrell Grant’s music program at Portland State, she enrolled at Berklee College of Music. In 2005, at age 20, she became the youngest instructor in the school’s history. She has released 3 albums, with her second release, “Esperanza”, being on the jazz charts for 70 weeks. Her 2010 release, “Chamber Music Society” became a hit with both fans and critics and landed her an appearance on the Grammy Awards as well as a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.