The Redcoats at the Crystal Ballroom - Portland - Courtesy of Dough Morrision
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

The above picture was taken by the Boise Idaho newspaper during the summer of 1966 as part of an article/promo on the band.  The Redcoats were hired as the closing act on the stage show at the week long Western Idaho State Fair.  That early gig is particularly memorable for me as I met my wife of 45 years at that Fair.

Doug Morrision, January 2012


Poster courtesy of Larry Kulai
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



Primiano, Roberts, Morrison, Dunlap, Maitland
I attended the 'Grudge Match'  battle of the bands between the Redcoats and Mr. Lucky & the Gamblers at the Wooden Shoe (about 1966).   There was a huge turnout because the losers were to have their heads shaved.  There was also a near riot when it was announced the voting was a tie (obviously rigged) and both bands went home with full heads of hair.

Greg Hodes, August 2007


Gentleman Jim and the Horsemen and The Redcoats


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


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Last Update:  17 January 2012
Credits: Don Rogers, Robert Van den Akker, Mark Presley, Denny Randall, Dave Lutjen, John Duval, John Bauer, Larry Kulai, Brian Trainer, Carl Wilson, Larry Roberts, Greg Hodes, Roy Van Broekhuizen, Maria T. Waits, Douglas Morrison
Band # 0020