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 […]
Featured Bands & Musicians

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, […]

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 […]

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) […]

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 […]

Lon Guitarski
The Lon Guitarski Group was a popular jazz fusion band of that era! Active Years: Late 1970s – Genre: Original instrumental jazz fusion Home Base: Eugene, Oregon Members Don Latarski – Guitarist & Co-principal Songwriter Tom Grote – Drums Mark Schneider -Bass Jack Buddeke – Keyboards & Co-principal Songwriter Jeff Kirsch – Woodwinds & Percussion Jeff Homan – Saxophones Lynn […]

Elmac Spyder
Elmac Spyder (1969 – 1971) Genre: Eclectic with a mix of rock and blues with some jazz influences courtesy of Spencer Barton (a student of the late, great Gary Beck). The band was noted for its arrangements of cover tunes, sometimes in a quite different style. Base Location: Eugene, Oregon Members: Gordon Scott (lead vocals, harp) […]

Mithrandir
Mithrandir was a popular folk band based in Eugene Oregon. Active Years: 1970-1982 The three sisters Kathy Burleson, Janie Smith and Kriss Crowley moved to Eugene from L.A. in the ’70s. Burleson describes Mithrandir’s music as “island rock, a cross between Latin and soul.” The group officially disbanded in 1982. – Source, Eugene Weekly – […]
