Gordy, Eddie, Pete, Rich
The Authentics
Toledo, Washington
1959 ~ 1962

Members
 

Rich Brown ~ Saxophone
Eddie Cruise ~ Guitar
Pete Helland ~ Guitar
Gordy Thomas ~ Drums
 

This group was from the Toledo, Washington area, and was the first group for all the members of the band.  They played in union halls in Longview, Mr. McGoo's Teen age night club in Centralia, the Rollerdrome in Centralia, The Civic Auditorium in Chehalis, high school and college dances, (Lower Columbia College in Longview, Centralia College in Centralia) and several times at the Seaside Roller Rink.  All members went on to play in other groups in the great Northwest.  Rich went on to play in a Longview, Washington based group called The Furys, and recorded for Pat Mason (a leading booking agent of the era) on Lavender label out of Springfield, OR.  We put out several fairly decent songs for the time, including MerryAnn, Beachin', Parchman Farm, Florence of Arabia, Sand Flea, among others.

The Furys turned into the Wilde Knights around 1965 and we wrote and recorded the original "Just Like Me", that Paul Revere and the Raiders had a huge hit with.  Pat Benetar did a cover of "Just Like Me" as well.  In that same recording session in Los Angeles in 1965, we recorded "Beaver Patrol"  which was a little before it's time when it comes to being politically incorrect.  "Beaver Patrol" was covered by a British group called "Pop Will Eat Itself". The Furys / Wilde Knights played many venues on the West coast including many night clubs in Los Angeles and San Francisco area.  In 1965  we opened for the Rolling Stones and the Byrds in San Jose, CA., and appeared with several other notables including The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, Sonny and Cher, Bobby Bare (All American Boy), and Paul Revere and the Raiders.  A good history was written and appeared on an album of much of our music released on Voxx in 1984 called "The Wilde Knights"....Diamonds in The Rough... A History of Garage Band Music.

Rich Brown, November 2001