Over the
years there have been many players come and go in the Cruisers and
several
spin-off bands. From this band's beginning the driving force and
leader has always been Sam Chapman. As his brother and former
band
member I would like to thank all the players who performed with Sam and
me over the years. Many thanks to all the fans who enjoyed our
Muzak
and show. Most of all, thank you Sam for being my brother and
mentor.
Rich "Carl
Cadillac"
Chapman, October 2002
What a great
memory!
I joined the band at age 19. Getting in bars at 19, free beer,
groupies,
after-hours parties, travel.... WOW... just like "Almost Famous".
Big
Daddy and the Cruisers evolved from Wizzard
after Rick Best left the band to join a popular Greaser band called Cheeseburger
Deluxe. I replaced Rick on drums. Shortly after I joined the
band, we decided to form a show band that had four totally different
sets
with different themes, costumes and characters. Giving birth to
Rod
Valve and the Lifters (surf music), and Big Daddy and the
Cruisers.
We kept the name Wizzard for the cover rock sets. People thought
we where three totally different bands. After a time the band
dropped
the surf and cover acts to play exclusively 50s.
Steve Brath
left
the band in the summer of 74 to join Rick Best playing bass for
Cheeseburger
Deluxe. Later Stan Knoblich would leave the band to join "Loose
Larry and the Bean Barry Delights. Steve was replaced by Greg
"Smoky Tire" Nowak, Stan was replaced by Sam "Big Daddy" who went from
Standup front-man to Font-man / guitarist (Sam is a great lead
guitarist).
The band added sax man Phil Kline (a friend from college) and later
added
Gary "Kid Chrysler" McKinney on keyboards. The band divided in
late
1975 where Gary, Phil and Greg formed Kid
Chrysler
and the Cruisers, Mark joined Stan with The Bean Barry Delights,
and
Sam went on the road for a while and then reformed Big Daddy and the
Cruisers
with brother Rick and other great musicians.
Mark Hotton,
June
2003
