NEO Music and More

James Gang – Drummer Jim Fox first played with the Cleveland-area band The Outsiders but left them in 1965 to attend college at Kent State University. He formed his own band and teamed up with schoolmate Ronnie Silverman (guitar), bassist Tom Kriss and keyboardist Phil Giallombardo in 1966. In 1968 Joe Walsh (from a Kent area band called The Measles), asked to be given a tryout after guitarist Glenn Schwartz decided to leave the band and move to California to start the band Pacific Gas & Electric.

In March 1969 the band, now consisting of Fox, Kriss and Walsh and produced by Bill Szymczyk, released its debut LP, Yer’ Album. In November 1969 Kriss was replaced by Dale Peters.

In July 1970 the band released its second album, James Gang Rides Again, which included the popular single “Funk #49”, which peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their next album, Thirds, included the song Walk Away which reached #51 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Walsh would go on to form the band Barnstorm with Canton, OH native Joe Vitale and Kenny Passarelli and then, as you know, joined the Eagles after that.

Joe Walsh, Jimmy Fox, and Dale Peters from The James Gang, along with Joe Vitale, playing Funk #49. Opening for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Quicken Loans Arena. June 11, 2017. (Cavs in the middle NBA Finals -v- Golden State).

Glass Harp A rock band formed in Youngstown, Ohio in 1968 consisting of Phil Keaggy, drummer John Sferra and bassist Daniel Pecchio who would later be a founding member of the Michael Stanley Band.

On November 21, 1971, the band played an opening spot for The Kinks at New York City’s prestigious Carnegie Hall, receiving a thunderous ovation at the end of their hour-long set. This performance was released as the Live At Carnegie Hall album in 1997.

Cleveland rock band the Damnation of Adam Blessing (named after a crime novel by Vin Packer/Marijane Maeker of the same name) was formed in 1968. Led by frontman Adam Blessing (Bill Constable), the group also included guitarists Jim Quinn (Parma, OH) and Bob Kalamasz, bassist Ray Benich, and drummer Bill Schwark.  After months of relentless local gigging — often as the opener for hometown heroes the James Gang — the Damnation of Adam Blessing signed to United Artists and issued their self-titled debut LP in 1969, followed by a tour in support of the Faces. Second Damnation followed a year later, generating the minor hit “Back to the River”.

The Damnation of Adam Blessing interview with Jim Quinn. – November 19, 2011.

The “real” story about the Damnation of Adam Blessing by Ray Benich.

Charles Edwin Hatcher, known by his stage name Edwin Starr, was an American singer and songwriter. He is best remembered for his Norman Whitfield-produced Motown singles of the 1970s, most notably the number-one hit “War“. It sold over three million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.

Born in Nashville and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Edwin attended East Technical High School. His first group was the FutureTones that consisted of Edwin, John Berry, Parnell Burks, Richard Isom and Roosevelt Harris. They became ground breakers on the Cleveland scene as they soon became the first local outfit to be fully self-contained, having their own instrumentalists as members.

The song that launched his career was “Agent Double-O-Soul” (1965), a reference to the James Bond films, already popular at the time. At Motown he recorded a string of singles before enjoying international success with “Twenty-Five Miles“, which he co-wrote with producers Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua (The Moonglows). It peaked at number 6 in both the Hot 100 and R&B Charts in 1969.

The biggest hit of Starr’s career, which cemented his reputation, was the Vietnam War protest song “War” (1970). Originally recorded by The Temptations, but not released by them as they felt it didn’t fit their style.

Climax was formed in 1970 in Los Angeles, California, most noted for their 1971-1972 hit song “Precious and Few“, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and No. 1 on Cashbox magazine’s Top 100 singles chart. This disc sold over one million copies and was certified gold by the RIAA on February 21, 1972.

Climax descended from the 1960s hit band The Outsiders. Former Outsiders members Geraci, Nims, and D’Amico, along with new member Guttman recorded and released one single under the Outsiders name (“Changes”/”Lost in My World”) and another issued as a solo single by Geraci (“Lovin’ You”/”Think I’m Fallin’”). When Geraci and King decided to go their separate ways from The Outsiders they both continued performing under the name The Outsiders. Tom King felt he had the rights to the name and threatened legal action. So Geraci decided his group would record and perform under the name Climax, which released Precious and Few.