Bernie
Manion, David Higginbotham, Rod Kahut, Jay Averill, Bill Coleman
Johnie
Fair & The Soul Searchers
Woodburn,
Oregon
1965
-1966
Members
Founding
members
Jay
(Sandy) Averill ~ Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Bill
Coleman ~ Vocals
David
Higginbotham ~ Lead Guitar, Vocals
Rodney
Kahut ~ Drums
Bernie
Manion ~ Bass, Vocals
Neal
White ~ Piano, Organ
Later
Members
Jerry
Woelke ~ Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Mac
Sessums ~ Vocals
In
Memory of
Bernie
Manion
Jerry
Woelke
Bernie
Manion, David Higginbotham, Bill Coleman, Jay Averill, Rod Kahut
Based in
Woodburn, Oregon, Johnie Fair & The Soul Searchers joined the
musicians
union and began working for EJD Enterprises in a series of shows at the
Salem Armory. These shows included opening for both The Shindogs
and The Liverpool Five. Additionally, the band worked local sock
hops and dances throughout the Willamette Valley. Although short-lived,
the band is remembered by many of the kids from Woodburn, North Marion,
Salem, Mt. Angel, Gervais and Silverton who attended those shows.
Highlights
also include dances at Oregon College of Education, The Folksinger Cafe
in Portland Oregon, and Gigs at 'Action West' in Salem. The bands final
incarnation appeared in August of 1966 at the Payless Drugstore
sponsored
Battle of The Bands.
Neal White left
the
band early and joined the Civil Air Patrol. Jay Averill's family
relocated to Watsonville, California and he was replaced by Jerry
Woelke.
Bill Coleman left and was replaced by Mac Sessums shortly before the
group
disbanded at the end of the Summer of 1966. Two members, David
Higginbotham
and Jerry Woelke soldiered on until the Spring of 1967 with a new band
called ' Passion Flower Hotel' that benefited from the connections and
equipment produced by Johnie Fair & The Soul Searchers.
David
Higginbotham,
April 2002
1965
- FIRST GIG Silverton High School
Bernie
Manion, Dave Higginbotham, Jay Averill, Bill Coleman, Neal White
1966
- LAST GASP Mt. Angel (J.F.K.) High School
Rod
Kahut, Dave Higginbotham, Jerry Woelke, Bernie Manion
