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
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
Nighthawks
aka: Crayhawks, Double Trouble Active Years: 1974-1977 Genre: Blues Base Location: Eugene, Oregon “When Steve Mosher left Three Fingered Jack, he was replaced by a bassist named Harold. The group was re-named Harold and the Nighthawks. When Harold was replaced by Richard Cousins and Robert Cray became a member, the group became The Nighthawks. When Robert […]
Soft
The Soft was a three piece band that played at many of the junior & high schools and parks and recreation dances, the Springfield Broiler Festival, Valley River Center, private parties, the Eugene Armory, and various clubs around Lane County. The three members were in junior high school with they started the band. Active Years: Early 1970’s Genre: Rock Base […]
Chevelles
The Chevelles started in 1962, in Eugene, Oregon and dissolved in 1964. Genre: Garage Rock Members: Skip Biggs (drums) also played in The Moguls Greg Nance (guitar) also played in The Moguls