The Wailers (rock band)
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- For the reggae group see The Wailers (reggae).
The Wailers were an American rock band from Tacoma, Washington, often considered the first garage rock group. Five 45s (four released in 1959 and one in 1960) and an LP release, The Fabulous Wailers (released December 1959 on Golden Crest Records) put the Wailers on the national scene. Their 1961 cover of "Louie Louie" inspired other groups from the Seattle area, most notably the Kingsmen of Portland, Oregon, to record the same song, and the band's influence established the area as a center for musical innovation and the home of a long string of regional favorites playing a kind of raunchy, amateur, yet passionate, form of rock and roll.
[edit] Members
- Ron Gardner, Vocals. Keyboards, Tenor Sax : Late 1960.
- Richard Dangel, Original Guitarist. Late Aug. 1958
- Neil Anderson, Guitar, now a member of the Gypsy Jazz group Pearl Django
- John Hanford, Guitar
- Mike Burk, Original Drummer. Late Aug., 1958
- John Greek, Original Founder, Leader, Rhythm Guitar, Fender Bass, Cornet,Trumpet,Flugelhorn Late Aug., 1958.
- Mark Marush, Original Tenor Sax. Late Aug., 1958.
- Kent Morrill, Original Piano, Vocal. Late Aug., 1958.
- Dave Roland, Drums
- Denny Weaver, Guitar.
- Gary Favier, Vocal-Oct. '58- June '59
- Gail (Gayle) Harris, Vocal- Hired early Aug. 1959.
- Rockin' Robbin Roberts, Vocal- Hired Mid- Aug 1959.
- John "Buck" Ormsby, Fender Bass. Late April, 1960.
