The Ten Commanders were a popular big band based in Eugene, Oregon in the 1930’s. Music Events Jan 12, 1935 – Willamette Park June 1, 1935 – Willamette Park
Featured Bands & Musicians

Oscar R Page
Oscar R Page was a logger / musician from Wendling, Oregon. He was known for his Port Townsend-built Symphony Harp Guitar. About Wendling – from Wikipedia: Wendling is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, located northeast of Marcola. Wendling’s post office operated from 1899 to 1952. It was named for George X. Wendling, a local lumberman. A […]

Archie Parrott (1914-1972)
Archie Parrott and his orchestra played for many dances up and down the Willamette Valley and often traveled with many instruments. In the photo to the right, they are playing in a musical bandstand built of lattice work with a stylish decorative backdrop in Eugene’s Willamette Park in 1936. (Oct 17, 1936 RG article) Archie (standing) […]

Uncle Charlie’s Boogie Band
Active Years: 1972-? Base Location: Eugene, Oregon Genre: Originals and Classic Rock The band incorporated guitar, bass, drums, synthesizer, sax, and flute and Gary’s strong vocals and Barry’s Flute/Sax combo allowed them to pull off tunes by popular artists of the day that other bands could not pull off. They covered tunes by Jethro Tull, […]

Hammond Typewriter
Hammond Typewriter (1967-1971) The original name was “The Number Two Hammond Typewriter” Genre: Rock Base Location: Eugene, Oregon Members: Wane Fuday – Lead Guitar Jay (John) Wilson – Vocals Ben Hall – Drums Cliff Hunter – Bass Debbie Gordon – Keyboards, Vocals Ken Biggs – Keyboards, Drums Randy Crawford – Rhythm Guitar Clel Gibson – Rhythm […]

Turkey Run
Genre: bluegrass/country-rock Base Location: Eugene, OR Members: Robert Adler – Drums, Standup Bass Tony Dal Molin – Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals Paul Friedlander – Bass, Banjo, Vocals Gary Robinson – Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals TURKEY RUN – started out as bluegrass/country-rock band initially. In fact, Robert played stand up bass and there was no drummer. Turkey Run, […]

Jackdaw
Genre: Folk Active Years: Early 1970’s Home Base: Eugene, Oregon Members: Wayne Drury – lead guitar, vocals Rob Anderson – lead guitar, vocals Randall Crawford – bass, banjo, vocals Comments From the Band: We worked together in the Eugene area in coffeehouses and misc. venues; mostly playing the brilliant songs Wayne wrote (see Wayne Drury […]

Cole McElroy
Cole McElroy (1888 – 1947) J. Cole McElroy, also known as “Pop” McElroy was a popular Jazz musician and widely known dance hall manager from Oregon. “Born in Corvallis to E.B. McElroy, he moved to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon in the late 1800’s. He graduated from UO in 1900. In 1910, after nine years managing his father’s […]
