Wheatfield (1971-2006) Genre: Americana/Folk/Bluegrass/Country/Rock Base Location: Eugene, OR Wheatfield formed in October, 1971, as a folk duo by Pete Wolfe and Will Hobbs, who met in the Odyssey Coffee House in Eugene, Oregon. Their first impromptu rendition of “Helplessly Hoping” met with immediate applause, and the two decided they had something special and worth pursuing. Within […]
Featured Bands & Musicians
Harold Bradford Trio
Harold Bradford Trio (1973-1974) Genre: Blues, Rock Base Location: Eugene, Oregon Members: Harold Bradford – Piano Harry Lassegard – Drums – also played in the Searchin’ Soul blues band (Passed 1979) Keith Doug Skelton – Bass – also played in the Searchin’ Soul Blues Band and Palace Meat Market Celeste Rauchert – Vocals Reid Smeltzer – […]
Vern Minkler (1916-1984)
Vern Minkler was an baseball player, musician and music venue owner in Lane County. Background: 1916 – Born in Oklahoma 1932 – Name in RG Vaughn News Notes – attending a social 1937 – Worked at the Vaughn Store 1939 – Lived in Oakridge, Oregon 1938 – Baseball player for the Public Market (center fielder for local team) […]
Eugene’s Firemen Band
Eugene’s Firemen Band was based in Eugene Oregon in the early 1900’s. Members wearing uniforms with brass buttons and tall hats with tassels, pose with their horns and drums. Genre: Brass Band for Marching Active Years: 1910
Searchin’ Soul blues band
The Searchin’ Soul blues band was a popular Eugene-based blues band between 1966 and 1972, and was fronted by guitarist/vocalist, Dave Acker. The band played Blues covers by B.B. King, Willie Dixon, Paul Butterfield, and Little Walter plus their own originals. They had a unique Northwest Blues sound that helped establish the Blues movement in Eugene, Oregon and […]
Highwaymen
Genre: Folk Active Years: 1963 – 1964 Home Base: Eugene, Oregon Members Rob Anderson – guitar, banjo, bass, vocals Marc Ellington – guitar, vocals Bill Ayres – bass, banjo, vocals “I played with Marc Ellington (2 years my senior) while a junior at North Eugene for about a year (1963/4). We called ourselves The Highwaymen. Marc […]
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 […]
Leon Smith
Location: West Eugene, Oregon With roots in the early rock ‘n roll scene, now known as Rockabilly music, Leon Smith can be found in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Leon Smith’s 1959 hit single, Little 40 Ford, quickly rose to the top of the charts on the West Coast and allowed him to make his mark […]