The
sax player, Denny Randall, has been living in Hawaii for the past 16 years.
When he is not busy with his day job (telecommunications engineer), he
is traveling the world with his wife and composing/recording music (soft
rock and jazz) in his home studio. His first CD "Good Times Ahead" is soon
to be followed up by a second project.
Denny
Randall, 7 September 2001
The
band originated in Newport, Oregon as "The Blazers". In 1964, the bass
player and
business leader, Bud Garrison, persuaded Mike Parker to endorse a name
change to "Mr. Lucky and the Gamblers" (Mr. Lucky was a popular TV character
at the time). They performed in the Portland area and in various towns
along the Oregon coast. Before long, they attracted the attention of Tom
Mix, a local dee-jay, and Hal Bronson, the manager of a popular teen club
called "The Chase". Mix and Branson formed their own record company to
promote the act. The first result was a recording of New Orleans, which
became a local hit in the Portland area.
In
late 1965, Garrison and Parker changed the line-up by merging with a Portland
group called The Rogues, consisting primarily of Graziano, Gunter and Maitland.
By now, the band had perfected a harsh garage / punk sound and evolved
as one of the major dance circuit attractions in the Northwest. On New
Years Day, 1966, they shared a concert bill with Don and The Goodtimes
at Portland's Oriental Theatre. Don Galluci and the lads were so impressed
with Mr. Lucky and The Gamblers that they helped seal a record deal for
them with Jerry Dennon's Panorama label. Two regional hits resulted: Take
A Look At Me (a really catchy punker tune, written and produced by Bob
Holden and Don Galluci (of Don and The Goodtimes)), and Alice Designs (LSD
Signs), which was produced by Bob Holden and written by Tandyn Almer of
Along Comes Mary fame. Alice Designs, is an upbeat, California style commercial
pop tune, complete with background harmony. On the flip side of the 45,
is You Don't Need Me, a Union Gap style brass-pop tune written by Bob Holden.
Early
in 1967 Mike Parker left the band and was replaced by Greg Perry on keyboards.
Jim Dunlap (formerly of Gentleman Jim and The Horsemen) came in on vocals.
In July 1967, after the band split, Dunlop, Graziano, Maitland and Perry
formed The Sound Vendor. Mike Parker joined a local blues band, Carl Wilson
joined Merrillee Rush and the Turnabouts and Jeff Hawks became a member
of Don and The Goodtimes. In the late eighties Norm Smith became the State
Representative from Tigard, Oregon and Greg Perry later played for Johnny
and The Distractions.
Current
Status:
It
should be obvious from the reunion photo above that Mr Lucky and The Gamblers
are gathering again for music and fun. I'm sure they will fill us
in as time goes by.
Recent
Releases:
The
superb Take A Look At Me has resurfaced on the CDs:
Boulders,
Vol. Highs In The Mid-Sixties, Vol. 7.
Teenage
Shutdown - Jump Jive & Harmonize (1995) (made in Germany)
The
60's British style tune I Told You Once Before (written by group member
Alan Gunter) is included in the CDs:
Battle
of The Bands, Vol. 1
History
of Northwest Rock, Vol. 4.
Credits:
Vernon Joynson, Max Waller, Denny Randall
as
re-edited by Denny Randall, 28 March 2001
Recording
Releases (45s):
New
Orleans / Searching United International - 1001
(1965)
New
Orleans / Searching Kasino - 1001 (1965)
I
Told You Once Before / Koko Joe United International - 4404
(1966)
Take
A Look At Me / I Told You Once Before Jerden - 799 (1966)
Take
A Look At Me / l Told You Once Before Panorama - 37 (1966)
Take
A Look At Me / I Told You Once Before Dot - 16930 (1966)
Alice
Designs / You Don't Need Me Panorama - 52 (1967)
