Alaska
~ Guitar, Vocals
Earl
Benson ~ Kazoo, Lead Vocals
Steve
Bradley ~ Guitar, Vocals
Bob
Broadhead ~ Drums
Rich
Englund ~ Bass
Jon
Koonce ~ Drums, Vocals
Tom
Miller ~ Bass, Vocals
Bill
Piland ~ Bass, Vocals
Don
Weiss ~ Bass
Bill
Wyatt ~ Guitar, Vocals
From 1971 to 1974, this was an unplugged-type folk rock group. From 1975 to 1981, they were a full rock band.
Earl
Benson (1939 - 2007)
Tom
Miller
Bill
Piland (d:
19 October
2012)
Bill Piland Obituary
Piland, Bill 61 Aug. 03, 1951 Oct. 19, 2012 William "Bill" Dale Piland died Oct. 19, 2012, of heart disease at his home in Portland. Born in Portland on Aug. 3, 1951, he lived all his life in SE Portland. He attended Glencoe and Creston grade schools and graduated from Franklin High School, where he was an all-city lineman in the Portland Interscholastic Football League and a wrestler. He attended Linfield College on a football scholarship. Bill's career was in retail sales of major appliances, but music was his great love. He had a prominent role in the Portland music scene. He sang and played bass guitar for several bands, including Sleazy Pieces, Hard Day's Knights, Seymour, Sludge Brothers and Beadhead, and was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. He was a nationally-ranked backgammon player.
Bill's mellow and sweet personality and good sense of humor endeared him to scores of friends and relatives who are stunned at his unexpected death. His departure leaves an empty place in many lives, but with an appreciation for the kind and gracious presence that he was. Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Faith Lince Kelly; and stepfather, Howard Kelly. He is survived by longtime girlfriend, Heather Hughes; roommate, John Hughes; and by siblings, Dick Piland, Mary Jo Harper, Jim Kelly, Kathy Kelly and Gloria Kempton.
A memorial ceremony and celebration of life will be Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, SW 18th and Jefferson, Portland. Remembrances may be sent to The Oregon Humane Society, P.O. Box 11364, Portland, 97211; Cat Adoption Team, 14175 SW Galbreath Road, Sherwood, 97140; or Goose Hollow Homeless Family Shelter, c/o First United Methodist Church, 1838 SW Jefferson St., Portland, 97201.
Band # 2054