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Friday, September 4, 2015

EASTSIDE BANDS - THE ALDERMEN


EDITORS NOTE:

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALDERMAN'S DRUMMER LEE MARKS FOR SUPPLYING THE MISSING NAMES OF THE BAND MEMBERS!!

BAND MEMBERS:

L-R (Front Row):

Bruce Gilbert (Keyboards)
Tad (Lead Guitar)
Joe Chapman (Bass Player), later Greg Kricheff
Lee Marks (Drummer)

Seated In The Middle:

Jesse Acuna (Lead Vocals)

Standing:

Russ (Rhythm Guitar)


Keyboard player Bruce Gilbert met a band called The Aldermen at the 1965 Teen Fair at the Hollywood Palladium. They played mostly surf music  but soon became very versatile playing in the style of the East LA bands which was a mix of R&B and doo wop rock with a Latin flare.

The band played private parties, dances in East LA, schools and teen clubs. They also played El Monte Legion Stadium, the 1966 Teen Fair, the Salesian Rock & Roll Show and East LA City College.

 They would soon be on the same bill with bands such as Thee Midniters and Cannibal & The Headhunters.

Singer-songwriter Chick Carlton (see my post EASTSIDE BANDS- CHICK CARLTON & THE MAJESTICS) heard the band and became their quasi-manager.

In 1967, the band recorded two Chick Carlton penned tunes "House Of Wax" and "In My Upper Room" released on the Sir Graham label.

"House Of Wax' is a fuzz and Farfisa organ-fueled swinger with great soulful vocals.




You May Listen To The Aldermen "House Of Wax" Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UncrF79XCI

"In My Upper Room" features a neat bassline and has a brief but cool keyboard break to finish.












Lee Marks went on to play in a number of bands that can be found on line. BETTY, GOOD DOG BANNED, FOX and currently THIEVES. His son Christopher born in northern California moved to Los Angeles in his 20's to help form & still plays drums for Hoobastank.


NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!!! SOLY FOR HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND FOR LISTENING PLEASURE.