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) […]
Featured Bands & Musicians
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, […]
Eugene City Brass Band
Eugene’s first documented organized band. Active years as a band: 1859 – 1872 Active years as an association: 1872 – 1940s? On March 5, 1859 the Eugene City Brass Band (a 14-piece band) gave a concert at the courthouse. A news item in the People’s Press had this to say about the concert: “…Notwithstanding the rain […]
Caliente
Eugene’s premiere Salsa band! Active Years: 1987 – 2007 “The 11-piece group has gone through many phases since its formation in 1987 by band leader and lead singer Fernell Lopez and former Lane Community College music students Enrique Rios, Alejandro Gonzalez and David Bender. They began as a Latin-jazz combination band, but around 1993, pianist […]
Leon Smith and the Basics
Leon Smith and the Basics (1960-1966) Genre: Rockabilly Base Location: Eugene, Oregon Best known for the top 40’s hit song, “Little 40 Ford”. The song, written by Wayne Marshall, was recorded in early 1959 in a Eugene basement studio with an earlier version of the band, The Orbit Rockers. It was released on a local […]
Femmes
The Femmes were an all female rock band based in Eugene Oregon in the 1970’s. Genre: Rock Active Years: Home Base: Eugene, Oregon Members: Serena Wright – piano/keyboards Sonja Crockett (from Australia) – bass Patricia Claggett French – drums
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 – […]
Ten Commanders
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