Nick Gefroh ~ Timbales
Dave Grafe ~ Bass
Larry Haggin ~ Guitar, Lead
Vocals
Bobby Johnson ~ Guitar
Chris Kern ~ Steel Drums
Lewis Livermore ~ Trumpet
Danny Schauffler ~ Saxophone
John Smith ~ Keyboards
Tim Tubb ~ Trombone
Scotty Wardinski ~ Congas,
Timbales
The progenitor band for Crazy 8s, and Nu Shooz was (and is) a group called Felicidades founded in 1976. This Rock-Reggae/Latin group consisted of Danny Schauffler, John Smith, Dave Grafe, and Lewis Livermore. They evolved into NU SHOOZ (1979) who went on to chart on Billboard Pop Charts at #3 with "I Can't Wait." Dave Grafe dates further back to the early 70s with bands like Foothill Diesel, and Skyriver, and later Joni Harms.The Crazy 8s formed on the U of O Campus in about 1983. The 8s were selected, as a “novelty act” for Star Search, and scored 4 stars rivaling their opponents, Sawyer Brown. Danny Schauffler quit the NU SHOOZ, after recording “I Can’t Wait.” While the SHOOZ single was climbing the charts, the Crazy 8’s college hit “Johnny Q. Public” was getting broad rotation at college stations in New York, many states in between. Getting gigs on campuses all over the U.S and Canada was no problem for the next decade. Quarterflash had put Portland on the map, in 1982, with “Harden My Heart.”
Marv and Rindi, would hire the horn sections from both the Crazy 8s, and NU SHOOZ for big events, like Neighbor Fair (in front of 300,000, fans, or the end of the Elton John tour at the Paramount. Lewis Livermore (of Nu Shooz) played trumpet on most the Crazy 8s albums. He now plays with Pepe and the Bottle Blonds. This horn section Lewis, Danny, and Tim Tubb is still together on reunion gigs, such as Felicidades summer show at the 2007 Oregon Country Fair, and Crazy 8s 20th anniversary. The Felicidades 30 year reunion was a milestone in Oregon Rock History. Now with 14 alumni, Felicidades comprised John Smith, Lewis Livermore, Dave Graf, of NUSHOOZ, and Tim Tubb and Danny Schauffler of Crazy 8s, Bobby Johnson of Foothill Diesel and Skyriver, Bridge,+ and The Sinners. The musicians that make Felicidades click, Chris Kern on Steel Drums, Scotty Wardinski (professor at UCLA) on Congas, and Timbales, and Larry Haggin, lead vocals and guitar. Their “Garth Huddson” was Nick Gefroh, who played in the Portland Rock-Latin Jazz scene back into the 1960s. He taught them how to put the right Latin rhythm patters together.
Last Update: 22 March 2008
Credits: Danny Schauffler