14687-Tribeca61.pdf

* Then again, they didn’t play anyone else’s prom. Staples High School’s Class of 1967’s still remains the greatest junior prom ever. --- Dan Woog is a Westport-based writer and blogger. As a junior high student, he attended all those famous Staples High School concerts. – many of whom were in town for the Class of ’67 reunion – asked questions and shared memories. One of the best came from Randy Ringer. “I ran against you for class president,” he told Sandhaus. “Boy, am I glad I lost!” Sandhaus no longer promotes rock concerts. (He did, however, have a career producing laser shows.) Gambaccini stayed in the music business. For decades, he’s been one of England’s most noted radio and television “presenters,” and a well-known author. Back in the day, Sandhaus and Gambaccini entertained thousands of young Westporters. They also inspired at least three to make a career in music. A few hours after the “The School That Rocked!” showing, Westport’s Levitt Pavilion rocked to the sounds of the Reunion Band. The group – made up of eight Staples Class of ’71 grads – included Charlie Karp, who left school at 16 to play with Buddy Miles, and also backed Jimi Hendrix; Brian Keane, an Emmy-winning producer who worked with the likes of Van Morrison, Elvis Costello and the Chieftains; and Mike Mugrage, who toured with Orleans. The Class of ’71 did not have a free prom. The Blues Project did not play there. NO ONE BELIEVES US WHENWE TELL THEM THE DOORS, YARDBIRDS, ANIMALS, RASCALS, AND OTHER TOP BANDS OF THE ‘60S AND ‘70S PERFORMED AT STAPLES HIGH SCHOOL, AND LOCAL VENUES. THEY LOOKAT US AS THOUGHWE ARE INSANE, ON DRUGS, OR FANTASTIC LIARS! WESTPORTERS RECOUNT THE HISTORY OF THEIR ROCK EXPERIENCES AND PUBLISH PROOF OF THATMAGICAL TIME WHENWEWERE SWEPT INTO THE GOLDEN AGE OF ELECTRIC MUSIC, WHEN CONCERTS WERE CALLED ‘HAPPENINGS,’ ENCORESWERE UNLIMITED, AND SHOWTICKETSWERE $3.50 OR LESS. – Mark Smollin, Author

Ebook available at smollin.com/staples/ rockbook Copyright © 2014 Mark Smollin John Densmore

Cover Photograph by Lynn RDick 1967

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