The Sahara Club was a popular music venue in downtown Eugene Oregon from March 1956 through March 1962. This location housed a wide varity of clubs over the years. Location: 157 E Broadway Building History For more than 20 years this building was a night club spot with a revolving roster of names and addresses: Aug 19, 1948 Ad: Ernie Piluso’s Cafe – Completely … [Read more...]
Factory (Edison’s Bar)
Location: 4740 Main St, Springfield Oregon Active Years: 1980s Building History Whiskey River Ranch 2011 (closed 2014) Country Side 2008 Foxfire - 2002 Factory Restaurant and Edison's Bar 1980s Music History 1984 Nov 2-3 - Ducat - funk from Portland Nov 9 - Robert Cray, with opening band, Tino and the Cruisers Nov 10 - … [Read more...]
George McMurphey and the Kollege Knights
George McMurphey (1902-1979) was a the band leader of several orchestras based in Eugene, Oregon. 1926 Article in RG indicated that George became the manager of a local musical booking agency. 1926 - 1928 George McMurphey and the "Kollege Knights was the nation's 10 best dance and show bands. The jazz band was made up of University of Oregon students, many from … [Read more...]
Bill Rhoades Blues Band
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 Party Kings in a different configuration. Members: Bill Rhoades – harmonica & vocals Rod Kesey - guitar Bob Beisser … [Read more...]
Bill Rhoades
Blues singer and harmonica wiz Bill Rhoades was born in Eugene, Oregon While in high school in the early 1970's, Bill formed his first band, The Rhythm Kings. Mid 1970's - Bill Rhoades Blues Band, which later became the Party Kings. This band had a two year stretch as the house band at Taylors in Eugene. Also during this time the "Kings" had the honor to back up Albert … [Read more...]
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 Julio Jauregui turned … [Read more...]
Dan Siegel
Genre: Jazz/New Age Active Years: 1970's - 1980's Background Dan Siegel is a pianist, composer and record producer. His earlier music has been described as new age, while his more recent work has been called contemporary jazz. Siegel was born in Seattle, Washington and raised in Eugene, Oregon. He began piano lessons at the age of eight, and started performing … [Read more...]
Mason Williams
Genre: Guitarist, Composer and Recording Artist Active Years: 1960s - today Mason Williams, Grammy Award-winning composer of the instrumental hit “Classical Gas” and Emmy Award-winning writer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” has been a dynamic force in music and television circle since the 1960s. Born in Abilene, Texas in 1938, Williams spent his youth divided … [Read more...]
Stick Against Stone
Genre: post-punk sound that merged art-rock, funk, reggae, Afrobeat, agitprop and group improv into a bubbling hot stew of abandon Active Years in Eugene: 1984 - 1985 Members: Sari Morninghawk - Lead Singer/Percussionist Daniel Ramirez - Guitar Richard Vitale - Drums David Soule - Bass Robert “Xeres” Shepard - Sax William Kreth - … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]