The Holy Ghost Reception Committee #9 – Know They’re You
(The Torchbearers, 1968)
To alleviate the boredom of weekly Mass, students from Regis Jesuit High School in New York City started writing and performing their own songs. They ended up with a recording contract with the Church of the Apostle of St. Paul.
Hazel Manley – Soon Ah Will Be Done
(It’s So Good Just To Know Him, 1970)
Micki Collins – Dreams That Die (Don’t You Know, 1972)
Following in the footsteps of her comedian father and baton-twirling mother, Micki’s journey as a professional entertainer began 45 years ago in Seattle, Washington. She traveled throughout the northwest for years before recording an album of songs written by her husband, Dennis Collins.
Gary Schneider – Green Tambourine
(Just For Fun, Just For Friends, 1969)
Gary Schneider – Breeze & I
Debra Dejean – Time Of The Season (1981)
Exceptional Citizens Band – Evil Ways (1972)
Made up of students from three New York schools for the mentally challenged, the Exceptional Citizens Band was the brainchild of Dr. Robert Ianacone, who assembled the group in 1972 to record an album and perform at the Special Olympics in Los Angeles. Dr. Ianacone had spent many years analyzing the relationship between intellectual handicaps and musical aptitude, and he firmly believed that mental handicaps could be circumvented when dealing with musically talented children. His exact method is outlined in the book 7 Ways To Sidestep Cerebral Shortcomings Symphonically.
The project was the first of its kind and it proceeded brilliantly. In the span of just four weeks the students rehearsed all the material, recorded the album, performed three concerts, and took a field trip to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The accolades poured in. The Gainesville Sun declared “The capacity of the retarded to express themselves through music is truly amazing! It’s hard to believe that it was performed by people so handicapped.” New York Senator Jacob Javits said the record was an excellent example of the ability for the mentally challenged to reach their fullest potential when given the right opportunity. “Hopefully the Democrats in the Senate can draw inspiration from this.” he added with a wink.
Joe Bravo – Please Call Me Baby (1970)
Known as “El Playboy”, Joe Bravo was a legendary old-school Tejano musician who is credited as one of Tejano music’s pioneers. He started out playing dances at the Key City Sportorium on E. Hwy 80 in Abilene, Texas and he reached his pinnacle performing at the inaugural ball of Governor Ann Richards in 1991. Oh, and he would very much like for you to call him baby.
O’Lyn Callahan -2001 Space Odyssey
In 1974 the Yamaha Corporation produced an album to showcase its remarkable new instrument, the Yamaha Electone E5AR. The organ featured several unusual design innovations, including an invisible third keyboard, a sliding expression pedal, and a cup holder.
After careful consideration the company chose rising talent O’Lyn Callahan as the organist for the recording. Miss Callahan had just been named West Coast Champion in the Yamaha Organ Festival.
All the songs on O’Lyn At The Yamaha E5AR were recorded in real time using only the organ, with no tricks or gimmicks. In “2001 Space Odyssey” the use of the wah-wah creates the rocket blast-off at the beginning, and the astro sound on the portamento is used on the first three melody notes to create a space effect.
O’Lyn Callahan – Quiet Village (1974)
In “Quiet Village” O’Lyn created various tropical bird effects by using the Portamento, one of the most interesting features on the new organ.
Nun-Plus – Los Angeles (Ljubimo, 1970)
One Sunday afternoon in 1970, Sister Marianne Misetech invited two accomplished musicians — Cookie Routtu and Jeannie Rey Routtu — to listen to Marianne and her fellow sisters perform her quirky compositions. Cookie and Jeannie Rey had been performing professionally as The Rey Sisters throughout the Pacific Northwest and Europe. They were masters of the piano, marimba, guitar, mandolin, string bass, and drums. When they heard the nuns perform that afternoon they found “a very modern approach to the celebration of life” and they wanted to help them get their songs recorded. At that moment the five nuns and the Rey Sisters became The Nun-Plus. The Croatian titled Ljubimo (“Let Us Love”) was released in 1970 on Amato Records, featuring lyrics and music by Marianne Misetech with arrangements by Jeannie Rey Routtu.
Whirlwind – Don’t Let Him Get The Best Of You (1975)