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Lane County Music History Project

Explore Our Rich Music History

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Featured Bands & Musicians

Party Kings

Bill Rhoades and The Party Kings

Active Years: 1975 – 1985 in Eugene, Oregon Genre: Blues The band was originally formed in the mid-70’s in Eugene, Oregon as Bill Rhoades Blues Band then later became the Party Kings. Bill moved to Portland in the mid-80’s and continued the band in a different configuration. The Party Kings played a mixture of Blues music styles […]

Los Xplorers

Los Xplorers

Active Years: 1980-1982 Genre: Blues-Rock Base Location: Eugene, Oregon Original Members 1980-1981: John Barley – Guitar (also played in Nads) Henry Cooper – Guitar Louis Samora – Drums (also played in Foamlords, The Flapjacks, The Jackals, and The Rats with Oregon legends Fred and Toody Cole) Fred Kellogg – Bass Members 1981-1982: John Barley – […]

Moguls

Moguls

Moguls (1964-1967) aka: Music Prism Genre: Garage Rock Base Location: Eugene, Oregon Members: Skip Biggs – Drums (also played in The Chevelles) Jeff Blomquist – Bass “Round Randy” Bryson – Organ, Vocals Denny Johnson – Drums (also played in The Twilighters) John Moore – Drums Greg Nance – Bass (also played in The Chevelles) John […]

Western Valley Boys at the Melody Ranch

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 […]

Genetics

Genetics

The Genetics (1965-1969) Genre: Music that Swings – Rock and Roll Base Location: Eugene, Oregon The Genetics were young…it’s reported that they were only 13 when they started in 1965. Group consisted of Vic Bearden (Guitar), Doug Gustafson (Guitar), and Phil Jessen (Drums). Members from 1967-1968 Vic Beardon – Guitar Jay Bonzer – Guitar Mike Chapman – Drums […]

sixth-dimension_1966

Sixth Dimension

The group was form by a group of teens attending South Eugene High School. Active Years: 1966 – 1969 Base Location: Eugene, Oregon Genre: Rock / Garage Rock Members David C. Olson (sax) Tom Fox Mike Grant Gary Gibson Music History The Great Ballroom (March 1968) – Register Guard article, March 1968 Monroe Stomp Sugar Shack (Springfield)

Clark Lynch of Little John and the Monks

Little John and the Monks

Active Years (1965-1967) AKA: The Nomads Genre: Garage Rock Base Location: Blue River, Oregon Winners of the Northwest Battle of The Bands at the Lane County Fair in July of 66′. Members: Tom Davis – Vocals Clark Lynch – Drums & Vocals Bob DiMartino – Keyboards (also played in Hot Spice from Spokane) Larry Harding – Lead […]

Vern Minkler

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) […]

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