Doug Morrison,
Cliff Waits,
John Bauer, Carl Wilson and Pat Primiano
1966-67 at the
Crystal Ballroom
in Portland, Oregon
The
Redcoats
Oregon
1965
~ 1968
Members
John
Bauer ~ Saxophone
Jim
Dunlap ~ Vocals
Chuck
Jamison ~ Guitar, Vocals
Dave
Maitland ~ Guitar
Doug
Morrison ~ Organ
Gary
Puckett ~ Guitar, Vocals
Pat
Primiano ~ Drums
Larry
Roberts ~ Bass, Vocals
Clif
Waits ~ Saxophone, Vocals
Carl
Wilson ~ Guitar
Management
Lou
Van Broekhuizen
In
Memory of
Pat
Primiano
Larry Roberts, Chuck
Jamison,
Pat Primiano, Jim Dunlap, and Doug Morrison
I used
to
go see Mr. Lucky and the Gamblers and The Redcoats at various venues in
SW Portland. At some point, near the end of the existence of both
bands,
The Gamblers and The Redcoats exchanged singers and guitarists.
Jim
Dunlop and Dave Maitland became Gamblers and Allan Gunter (I think) and
Carl Wilson became Redcoats.
I also remember
the
Grudge match between the two, although I didn't attend it.
I remember seeing The Redcoats not long afterwards.
These were both
hot
bands at the time: The Gamblers looked immensely cool in their matching
morning suits and had a very tough English-style attitude. The Redcoats
had a great organist in Doug Morrison; Larry Roberts was a very
personable
bass player and Jim Dunlop was Gentleman Jim, so what more could you
say
about him. When Dave Maitland joined them I became a fan forever. He
was
great! So was Carl Wilson. They were arguably the best guitarists
in Portland at the time.
The last time I
saw
The Gamblers was at the Crystal Ball in downtown Portland in 1968 (I
think)
or perhaps late 1967. They opened for The Buffalo Springfield and
for the only time in my memory, did not wear their morning suits; no
doubt
to appear cool to the Springfield or something. The Springfield
were
great but I thought The Gamblers equally as good and still think so to
this day.
It's a shame
their
recording history is so slim because they were among the best of the NW
bands of that era. They deserved better documentation than they
got
and so did The Redcoats.
Brian
Trainer, October 2005
As a
founding
member of both bands, I am writing to add my recollections to your
files
regarding the history of Gentleman Jim and the Horsemen and The
Redcoats.
During my
freshman
year in high school, I played several off-nights with a trio at the
Headless
Horseman, a teen night club, on Park Avenue, in Portland Oregon. During
my sophomore year in high school, Chuck Jamison (guitar) and Ross
Alamang
(bass) left Paul Revere and the Raiders to form a house band at the
Headless
Horseman. Both of them were competent musicians and they invited me to
audition for their new band. I still remember walking into the Headless
Horseman lobby, lugging my Wurlitzer electric piano and Kay amplifier,
and hearing Jim Dunlap singing inside the club. He had a terrific
R&B
voice and since Chuck had a beautiful voice and Ross also sang, this
would
be my first direct experience with three part harmonies on stage. Herb
Hamilton was an exceptional musician (saxophone) and Bob Edwards
(drums)
rounded out the group. After the audition, I became the youngest band
member.
The band was
initially
managed by Al Dardis, who’s father Joe was the Portland, American
Federation
of Musicians President, and both of them were principles in the
operation
of the Headless Horseman teen club. Early on, Al realized the need for
recording as a primary means of establishing a band’s reputation and he
made it happen for us however, he was a student at the University of
Oregon
and ultimately quit to finish college and pursue a career. From the
music
side, Herb left first for the military, Ross left next, due to
scheduling
conflicts with his full time job, and was replaced by Larry Roberts, an
exceptional high school musician who also played bass in the Portland
Junior
Symphony Orchestra. Chuck left next and was replaced by another Paul
Revere
veteran, Steve West (guitar) recorded who Louie Louie with the Raiders
but elected to finish high school rather than tour with that band. Don
Gallucci (keyboards) was a good friend of mine and he occasionally
substituted
for me on stage but to the best of my knowledge, he was never a full
time
member of the Horsemen either before or after I left the band.
After
graduating
from high school, I left for the University of Oregon and Steve
continued
to book a band under the name Gentleman Jim and the Horsemen using
different
players. During my sophomore year at U of O, Chuck Jamison, Larry
Roberts,
Jim Dunlap and I reunited initially with Bob Bailey (drums) followed by
Pat Primiano (drums), and, at Chuck’s suggestion, we adopted the name
RedCoats.
This band booked primarily through a Seattle agency and went through
many
personnel changes over the next two years playing a variety of NW clubs
and teen venues, finally disbanding in early 1968.
Dr. Douglas
Morrison,
Yucca Valley, CA, January 2012
The top photo is from the middle
period
of the band (1966-67), taken at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland,
Oregon.
The initial RedCoat band members were: Doug Morrison, Chuck
Jamison
and Jim Dunlap (all original members of Gentleman Jim and the Horsemen)
plus Larry Roberts and Bob Bailey (drums). Jamison (guitar) was
replaced
first by Dave Maitland, then by Carl Wilson and finally by Teddy
Thompson.
Dr. Douglas Morrison, January 2012
