Biography
NOTE: As of 5-31-2011, the "RETRO ROOTER 1972-1876" CD is NOW available for sale on Amazon.com! Mention LAST.FM for special bonus with your order.
Late 1972 the band was formed and made their initial mark as a street band playing Christmas carols for unsuspecting shoppers at Century City, Los Angeles. Reformed in spring 1973 the band returned to the streets with a full repertoire of diverse tunes all arranged for 4 trombones and 3 saxes. Venues included Century City, the L.A County Museum of Art, the La Brea Tar Pits, and the L.A. Music Center. Chrirstmas, 1974, the RRGTCB shared the stage with THE MYSTIC KNIGHTS OF THE OINGO BOINGO at the Hollywood Palladium..s "KPFK Merrie Christmas Faire". The RRGTCB made appearances at the Ash Grove, the Troubadour, Busch Gardens, Knott's Berry Farm, The China Trader and the Ice House, where we became somewhat of a fixture playing there well into 1976. Most disastrous gig was The Aladdin in Las Vegas. Boy, were THEY surprised! We lasted 1 1/2 sets before we were advised "not to play anymore". In 1974 we submitted our tape of "Laurel and Hardy" to Dr. Demento which he premiered on his radio show. He continued to feature our music regularly. "Discovered" by Tom Hensley at the Pasadena Rose Bowl Swap Meet, the band was signed by Vanguard and made their only "official" LP. At this time we recorded various short pieces for Dr. Demento in exchange for him writing the back liner notes on the LP. A special version of "Pico and Sepulveda" was adapted and became the Dr. Demento theme that he uses to this day! Barry has been our most valued ally in our quest to "set music back 1000 years". We were Demento's first "discovery", even before Weird Al. The band was invited to Expo '74 in Spokane, WA, for an impressive 7 week gig as the headline attraction. In 1975, just at the departure of Sgt. Charts from the band, Roto taped a Tv show for KOCE Public TV. Clips can be viewed NOW at YouTube (see link on this page). By early 1976 we became simply "ROTO" (the "wonder band") and went on the road throughout the North West. By spring, 1977, Mabuse left the group, and the focus turned primarily to original songs written by Walle and Baxter. ROTO appeared (and lost) on The GONG SHOW. 1977. A 2nd LP was proposed and the band recorded 20 new selections that continued in the trend of the first record. These "demos" are the basis for the 1997 self-produced CD "RETRO ROOTER: 1972-1976". 6 of these tunes are represented here for you dining and dancing pleasure. The CD is available if you are daring. Contact me for details. Nowadays all have gone on to greater "glory" - educator, corporate VP, insurance sales, independent music production, entrepreneur, retired Tv sound engineer, and dilatant. On occasion 5 of the original members get together to jam be-bop.
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