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Charlie & Ben Harmony,
Bobbin Records (1959) |
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The Harmony Brothers band, Jerome,
IL (1958)
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Ben & Charlie Harmony (1955) |
In the fall of 2006, UIS student Chris Reynolds began an
oral history project to tell the story of one of Springfield's
first Rock-n-Roll bands: The Harmony Brothers.
Ben and Charlie Harmony (yes actually brothers, and yes,
actually named Harmony!) are the youngest (#7 and #8, respectively)
of eight children born in Springfield, Illinois.
One of the family's youngest daughters taught the two boys
to sing and before long they were performing their Everly
Brothers style music in local drug stores, talent contests
and on the occassional radio or TV show.
In the mid 50's the music of Elvis, Carl Perkins, Bill Haley,
Roy Orbison and others hit the record stores of central Illinois.
Ben and Charlie Harmony, now in their teens, formed the Harmony
Boys band (later The Harmony Brothers band) to play the popular
songs along with their own originals. The group of five or
six musicians played at area teen clubs, dance events, parties,
weddings, and eventually landed a recording deal with Bobbin
Records in St. Louis.
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The Harmony Boys band (1958)
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The Harmony Boys band (1958) |
The Harmony Boys, Teenland, Springfield,
IL (1958)
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Frank Trompeter is primarily a jazz saxaphonist and frequently performs with
either his duo, The End Times Trio, or the Frank Trompeter
Quartet. Frank was formerly in a jazz/rock fusion band called
Elevator Shoe.
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Tom Irwin plays a roots/folk/rock mix. He
regularly can be found at Springfield taverns and events playing
with his Hired Hands band or The Irwinites.
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Bill Laymon has had a varied
career playing Rock-n-Roll in the Springfield area, California
and nationally. He currently is in Springfield and playing
often with Tom Irwin. |
Frank Trompeter
Frank Trompeter Quartet:
Chris Reyman (piano), Frank T. (sax, vocal),
Steve Adleman (drums), Bill Schlipf (bass)
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Tom Irwin
Tom Irwin & The Hired Hands - "Live
at Brewhaus" album
Tom Irwin & The Hired Hands at
Bill Laymon benefit
(Bill is on the green bass)
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Bassist Bill Laymon
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