Shea
Seattle, Washington
1972 - 1973
This seven piece horn band formed in February 1972 and disbanded April 1973. They briefly toured the NW circuit which included Portland nightclubs.Members
Larry Abella ~ Bass
Bill Dieffenbach ~ Drums, Vocals
Dave George ~ Trumpet, Fluegelhorn, Backing Vocals
Larry Greenleaf ~ Bass, Backing Vocals
Rod Mamon ~ Guitar, Backing Vocals
Tony Mamon ~ Organ, Lead Vocals
Carnell Robinson ~ Bass
Bradd "Hub" Schwartzmiller ~ Organ, Vocals
Squeak Schwartzmiller ~ Saxophone
Gordon Taylor ~ Trombone, Backing Vocals
Jim Thompson ~ Saxophone, Vocals
Rod Mamon
Bradd "Hub" Schwartzmiller (d: 12 November 2012)
Shea was the featured band at the Aquarius Tavern, (aka Parker's) also having opened for Canned Heat. The band played gigs at The Warehouse Tavern (now, the Lake Union Bar & Grille), The Hatchcover in Bellevue. The band played one night at Lake Hill's Roller Rink, and slayed everybody leaving the rink announcer to simply state, "Who are these guys and where have they been?"
Shea was a dark horse band, having exposed to greater audiences covers of Earth, Wind & Fire when EWF was beginning its rise (Fan The Fire) to prowess and social change for additional musical genre's began to become more open to general audiences in local Seattle clubs. The band also covered Tower of Power, Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Lighthouse, Cold Blood, the Jazz Crusaders, Mandrille, Sly & the Family Stone, et al.
Tony Mamon toured nationally with Delaney, Bonnie & Friends in 1971, played with NW band Seth from latter '71 to 72 before co-establishing Shea with his brother, Rod and organist Hub Schwartzmiller (see Seth) from Snohomish. Rod Mamon played with George Griffin, Gordon DeWitty, (Delaney Bonnie & Friends, Bill Withers) et al, at Mr. P's in Ballard, formerly located at 24th Ave NW and NW 85th St, next to a Taco Time fast food take out. Tony Mamon and Jim Thompson (see Easy Chair) wrote original songs as well.
Tony Mamon, October 2006
