PUSH
Seattle, Washington
1974 ~ 1979

Members
 

Lance Burton ~ Saxophone
Bob Davis ~ Drums
Tom Erak ~ Bass
Joe Erickson ~ Vocals
Russ Kammerer ~ Drums
Sam Pannunzio ~ Keyboards, Valve Trombone
Jeff Santerre ~ Saxophone
Bobby Speer ~ Trumpet
Rick Swan ~ Drums
Marty Tuttle ~ Drums
Ken Wilson ~ Saxophone
Harry Wilson ~ Guitar
 

In Memory of

Joe Erickson
Rick Swan

PUSH

Some words about PUSH
slightly tweaked liner notes from the CD released in Japan in 2011



Every generation feels the same way about their music, but in the 1970s, before the genre became theatrical and was nearly destroyed by the likes of MTV, music was music.  That was when PUSH was born.  PUSH began as a funky 4-piece copy band that played nightclubs in the greater Seattle area.But after several personnel changes in a short amount of time, it blossomed into one of the great groups of the era.

PUSH added horns and a lead vocalist named Big Joe Ericksen and became a band to remember. When Big Joe started to write original songs for the band it took off like a rocket.  The group was playing its own music and had a following that ensured the clubs were packed every night they played.They began to travel; from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta to Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii and all points in between. The guys played their own brand of soul, funk and disco/jazz and dressed in 3 piece suits and ties.  With Big Joe fronting the band and doing the bump on stage with Tom and then leading the entire audience around the club to Love Train, people in attendance got their moneys worth and club owners were lining up to sign the band.  Those were heady days when people dressed up to go down to the nightclub.

The group was blessed to have some of the best musicians of the day.  When other bands were struggling to stay afloat, */PUSH/* was working every week of the year.They were tight and they were respected.

Today, almost four decades later, people still remember PUSH.  Listen to the sound clip of You Turn Me On, one of the original songs PUSH created.  Now you can remember how it was and sit back and listen to one of the finest bands of the era play their own music.  Please welcome up to the bandstand, once again, the one and only PUSH.  
 

Click on These Links to Listen to PUSH

You Turn Me On

Celebration

The Jealous Type

I'm a Dreamer

Ain't Never Been This Funky


Push - Photo Courtesy of Bobby Speer

"Tom Erak played bass in Push during most of their popularity.
He was one "Thumb-Slappin-Fool"...  A great funk bassist!"  Bill Majkut, Smokin' Gun


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Last Update:  24 January 2013
Credits: Darryl Riffero, Tom Whiting, Kenny Coulter, Steve Swanson, Bill Majkut, Marty Tuttle, Steve "Bumper" Morgan, Tom Erak, Bob Speer, Denise Schroeder, Don Weaver, Harry Wilson

Band # 0034