Welcome to the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association

My favorite memories are when I played with The Flashback Band and we were the band for my child music heroes: Bobby Vee, Tommy Roe, Del Shannon, The Shirelles, Johny Tillotson and Danny and the Juniors. I would like to find out if The Flashback Band is in the hall of fame. Rod Jerke was our leader and has had several bands in his career. I don't know the name of his current band but I hear his son is in it too. Thank you for your help. Also, I have several pics of The Flashback Band. I'll try to scan them and send them to you. We played together in 1984 & 1985.

Randy W (Hot Rod Chevy Kevy and the Flashback Band)

Recording with the Shadows in 1961 at Soma Records in Minneapolis.
Attending your First Induction Ceremony was a great experience...you all did a first class job and it was a real thrill to connect with Bobby Vee and Myron and Hank Bouker again.

Dave J from Scottsdale, AZ (The Shadows/Country Gentlemen/The Jordanairs)

The ARKOTA BALLROOM! What a place to play. Those where the GREAT DAYS. Shorty's Club. All the great BALLROOMS all over the MIDWEST. I played with alot of great musicians from back there.

Malcolmo (Nick) - Drummer for the Wally Shoop and The Blue Devil's

Back in the 60's they had teen dances every Thursday night at the Japanese Gardens (Flandreau Park Ballroom).All of the bands played there and the ballroom was always full of people from Mn.,Iowa and eastern SD.There was always as many people outside listening as there were people inside dancing. What a great time we all had for a couple of bucks.

Don D

Jamming with myron lee. jamming with sherwin linton. jamming with the jadesman. playing shorty's. the coral,the twin,seven oaks,the gaslight, the Mc comba, the hollyhock. and recording at Bill Vanduizen studio on minnesota Ave. It go's so far back, the memories. are so great !!!! crusin -----
Phillips & Main and listening to KIHO. and then hanging out atBob's drive-in. and the Barrel drive-in I loved everything about your inducties they are all great. !!!!!!!!!. Congratulatios to all of them. they deffinity deserve the honors. I love them ALL. KEEP IT GOING.

Sam T

I'M A DRUMMER, SEE WWW.GARYSTMARTIN.COM AND WWW.BLACKHILLSLEGEND.COM I ARRIVED IN RAPID CITY IN 1966, AFTER PLAYING WITH THE VELAIRES FROM SIOUX CITY IOWA FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, THEN WITH GREG SCOTT AND THE EMBERS, BOTH IN IOWA ROCK N' ROLL HALL OF FAME I WAS A MEMBER OF WEST RIVER MUSICIAN'S ASSOCIATION LOCAL 686 . I PLAYED WITH GARY MULEDEER, WILLIAMS AND REE, KENNY MILLER SINGLJIM FREDRICKSON, AND JUST ABOUT ALL THE GREAT PLAYERS IN THE SPEARFISH, DEADWOOD, RAPID CITY AREA OF THE BLACK HILLS. I'M PRESENTLY PLAYING WITH BARRY DALE , A CANADIAN JAZZ VOCALIST, WWW.BARRYDALESHOW.COM I'M GETTING READY TO RETURN TO RAPID CITY HOPING TO PLAY WITH KENNY AND SINGLEJIM ETC AGAIN SOON ... I DO THE BLACK HILLS LEGEN SITE, I'LL PUT A LINK TO YOUR SITE IF IT'S OKAY... THANKS, GARY ST. MARTIN

Gary St. Martin, Bainbridge Island
KENNY MILLER DEAWWOD BAND 1976 '77, SINGLEJIM FREDRICKSON ZUKARIAN JAZZ GROUP

Traveling with Jimmy Soul, and playing bass with Ronnie and the Daytonas when (Little GTO) was on the charts.

Tom H (The Talismen)

I would like to thank those involved with this project. I moved to Sioux Falls about 1985 and was amazed (and still am) by the talent that existed right here in South Dakota. It's great to see that those who pioneered live rock and roll music in this area are getting some recognition. My congratulations to all those being inducted and my thanks to all of them for the years of joy they brought to the masses. Their induction is long over due and well deserved!

Monte B

My favorite memory was touring with the everly bro. as a back up band in the sixties. Also playing the macomba club and the roof gardens and numerous others.

Ken B (The Pulsating Pilgrams)

Dancing with Peggy Sue when she was touring with The Crickets in the early 60's & and later working with Glen D. Hardin (song writer, producer and keyboard man for Elvis and also had played keyboard for Ray Charles.
Pat O, Spearfish SD (The Talismen with Marlys Roe)

Rockers - first paid gig at the Nevins Roller Rink in Onawa, IA and our 2003 induction to the IRRMA HOF.
Jadesmen - the entire experience of playing with a band in college and the now life-time friendships from this band. We're still playing and of course and most recently, the 2009 induction to the SDRRMA HOF.
Pilgrims - out drawing the Strawberry Alarm Clock, we both giged the same night in the same town. And we stayed in the same hotel and rasing them at the hotel after our gigs
Reuben, Panora IA (Fabulous Jadesmen)

There were an extraordinary number of exceptional musicians in South Dakota during the late fifties and mid sixties, and it was a very special time in the lives ofthe musicians and all those who were able to see them perform. It was also a very special time in the history of rock and roll, when the stars were accessable, personable and approachable, and their music laid the foundation upon which the rock and roll music business would later be built.What a priviledge to have been a part of it!
Steve B, Minnetrista MN (Mystics drummer)

In the spring of '67 I graduated HS and took off in my Mercury and for the next two weeks I went to a different ballroom every night to hear bands play; it was glorious! There was so many great bands at the time, surf, show bands, the Stillroven from Minn. Steve Ellis, the Flippers and all those bands from SF like Those of Us, the Apostles, etc. My band in High School was called the Trees. we played folk rock music, Byrd songs, psychedelic stuff WAAY beyond audience comprehension at the time. I joined up with Rushmore in '68 with Mark Craney and then left to play in the Young Raiders out of Lawrence, Kansas. Later on I played with Zero Ted in Vermillion.
Long Live SD Music ~ Jeff

My family ran the Groveland Park Ballroom from the 1940's to 1975. My grandfather was the first to hire Myron Lee and the Caddies, he and my father brought many local and national acts to South Dakota. From about 1966 to 1975 I saw all of the greats, the Kansas horn bands, Nebraska greats The Smoke Ring, The Happenings from Indianapolis. My dad told Linda Rondstat and the Stone Ponys that $2500.00 a night was way out of line etc. etc.
Barry

Great to see this being set up, we have one here in MN also. The Marauders were inducted 2-3 years ago. Neither band (Marauders/Pilgrims) was from SD, but close by, just across the border in Pipestone and Canby/Marshall. We played SD many times though. If interested, here's a little private site I did for the old Marauder band members and families back at the induction... http://www.geise.com/marauders/
Good luck with the Hall!!!!
Randy G

It is a good time to start recognition. Myron Lee and the Caddies certainly shine as the original rockers of the State. Myron led the way for the ones who followed. Many were the nights in those early days, of dirty dance halls, working for peanuts, and god, all that driving. But Myron and the guys endured and set the path. I am so pleased to have spent good times with the original guys. All future inductees are to look up and to honor him and the band for all they did for Sioux Falls and South Dakota and the surrounding states. Good luck on the Music Association.
From Rudy R, Palm Springs CA

In 1967 we came to the Teen Town Battle of the Bands. We were stationed in front of JC Penney's. That was quite a thrill to see all the people come down the street and listen to us. It was a bigger thrill to win the battle. Our band from Tyndall came in first place. After that, we were invited to an audition at the Macomba Club. That also was exciting. When we went in there, they turned on the different lights and I thought I was in the Copacabana or something like that. It was really cool. I had never been in a place like that. After the audition, we were offered a weeklong contract to play there. Great times.
From Don H, Sioux Falls SD

My family was very musical. While I was not in a band, my brothers Steve and Larry Sandness were: they played in the Lancers, and Steve went on to play lead guitar in the Caddies.
I, the kid sister, babysat for Myron Lee's children. Steve is a successfull musician in California. We have good memories of "the Battle of the Bands" and still have photo's from the Argus Leader.
This is a good thing - Dianne from Springfield VA

Sioux falls was a great town for music in the 60s. There were lots of gigs for local bands all over the SE part of the state and though Minnesota and Iowa. Ken Mills was t he booking agent in Sioux falls who was the most successful. I booked the X-Men until they morphed in Those of Us and later Kid Sparrow. And of course, the Arkota and the Sioux Falls Coliseum were great places to play and see music, and the Christ the King Church hall which hosted lots of local bands as well. Local bands playing locally seems to be a lost part of our culture. I miss it!
From Ted in Capitola CA

WOW…April 24, 2010, the 2nd Annual Induction/Concert Spectacular…what a rockin’ great time!!! A sold out crowd at the Ramkota Exhibit Hall got a chance to pay tribute to several well deserving inductees who contributed in some way to the music history of rock & roll in South Dakota.

Rocking And Rolling Through Time
by Doug Lund

It was my privilege to emcee the 2nd annual Rock and Roll Music Association Hall of Fame induction ceremony and concert again this year.

It was a magical night as the Ramkota Exhibit Hall was filled to capacity with fans of this special era of rock and roll music.

The Cavaliers set the stage..one of seven inductee bands to perform

Those of us who had bands of our own in the sixties also had regional bands that we idolized and dreamed of being like. For me, it was Myron Lee and the Caddies, The Talismen, the Red Dogs and the Fabulous Flippers.
I made it a point to see and hear them whenever they were in the area. Their music and stage presence were thrilling. But after all this time, I figured that would have to remain just a treasured memory…until that special Saturday night!

Somehow the stage at the Exhibit Hall became a time machine.
One by one, icons of Rock and Roll sat down to the drums and keyboards, strapped on their guitars, grabbed their horns and stepped up to the microphone. At the very first note after my introduction I turned around and every extra pound and gray hair from them and me had disappeared. I was back forty years and my memory of how great these entertainers were then was absolutely correct!

Me introducing The Fabulous Apostles

Marlys Roe still looks and sings like an angel. I could understand why The Talismen, The Castaways, Larry Bell and the Continentals, The Cavaliers and The Fabulous Apostles were so popular because they were and still are so very good!.

It’s more than the music itself, these bands have always had a respect for..and connection to..the audience; a lost art. From the dance steps to the horn players swaying and raising their instruments in union..it was just was an honor to see and hear that again!

The Roarin' Red Dogs commented later, "It was the most memorable show ever."

As for the Red Dogs and Flippers..well, I hope they had fun..because they were certainly a JOY to all of us.
Sadly, when I looked into the mirror Sunday morning, my gray hair, and double chin had returned.
I was 64 again.
The space/time continuum was back in alignment. But wow..sixteen hundred of us sure loved the all too brief journey Saturday night!

Click to Play
[Thank you Willie for the video!!]

Welcome to the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association. We are very excited about this project, which became official in October 2008. We had some great input to help us get started, thanks to many different individuals.

Our goal is to promote and recognize those folks from South Dakota and surrounding areas that have made the music scene in our state what it is. There are a number of musical artists, dance halls, recording studios, DJ’s and others from this area that have made a local contribution to the music scene and some who have gone on, nationally to continue their careers.

We encourage you to check our website as it grows. We have included a message board that allows you to share comments, and memories - click here

If you have memorabilia that you would like to donate, make a financial donation, or would like more information about our Music Association - click here

Thank you,
The South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association Board of Directors

We have received a lot of very nice comments from people who played in bands around our area.

If you are a fan or played in a band around the South Dakota area we want to hear from you! - Click Here

Now Available......

The SDRRMA 2010 Induction/Concert DVD set on sale for $25, click here to order

Feature of the Month
THE CONTINENTAL CO-ETS

...........by Don Fritz

Written on 7.13.10

This is the thirteenth edition of the Feature of the Month for the South Dakota Rock & Roll Music Association. We are rock and roll fans, and looking to write a feature each month, that will not only bring back wonderful memories, but will also remind us all of the history that was made in our great state of South Dakota. We are hoping to write a feature each month selecting one of the many talented Bands, DJ's, Radio Stations, and Dance Halls throughout SD.

They were from Minnesota, they were talented, and they were all females. In the mid sixties four teenage girls, juniors at Fulda High School, made history by becoming the first all-girl band in the state of Minnesota, and possibly the entire upper Midwest. Their names were Nancy Hofmann(bass), Carolyn Behr(rhythm guitar), Carol Goins(lead guitar), and Vicki Steinman(drums). A chorus teacher at the school was instrumental in helping the girls form a group. He was a guitar player himself who enjoyed the Ventures and offered a lot of encouragement. Their first public appearance was at a movie theater in Marshall,MN. All the tunes the group performed were instrumentals, as they did not have a vocalist. The Vultures, another local group, saw them and invited the girls to participate in a "Battle of the Sexes"
with them. They played at the Valhalla and the outing was a success.

This opened a lot of doors and soon the group was playing all over the area, including Iowa, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin. It wasn't long before Jimmy Thomas noticed them and started booking the band. This led to some gigs in Canada and expanded their territory. It was north of the border where the gals built up a solid fan base and an incredible following. By this time Carol and Nancy were both doing vocals.

Their quick success led to a recording session in 1965 at IGL Studios in Milford, IA. It was there they recorded an original song, "I Don't Love You No More", sung by Carol. Soon their record could be heard on radio stations all across central Canada. The girls soon added Nancy's sister, 14 year old Mary Jo Hofmann on keyboards. While on tour, one of the parents always accompanied the teenagers. With cities sometimes many miles apart and in climate weather to deal with, Canadian tours did have their challenges.

The Continental Co-ets had a very successful two year run but in 1967 some of the members left to attend college, one got married, and the rest is "history" but this group of ladies left their mark. They will not be remembered as the first all girl band but as an all girl band with a lot of talent.

We are fortunate that the Washington Pavilion in down town Sioux Falls has offered us some space to display our Hall of Fame memorabilia.

Click on photos to enlarge

On August 2nd, 2009 the South Dakota Public Broadcasting televised the Induction Ceremony that was previously taped on May 24th. » Click here to visit the SDPB website

South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association 2010
The South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association has no affiliation with The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
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