Rick's Continentals Rock & Roll Band - Meridian, MS.
Music Biography Story Update- Rick's Continentals Band
from Meridian, MS
After
more than 2 years of work in rediscovering Rick’s
Continentals Band, their music and reconnecting with the original band
members, this publication is about the progress, new discoveries and music of
the band originally known as The
Continentals, and later as Rick's
Continentals. Due to the extensive amount of material that has been
discovered, generated and posted online in various formats and websites, this
publication has been prepared in an expanded format for all who
have an
interest in following this '60s rock and roll band from Meridian, Mississippi, and particularly those
who have contributed, supported and worked
with the revival of Rick's
Continentals Band and their music.
This expanded Music News Magazine format is a biographical outline of
the history of the band, their accomplishments, and the renewed interest in the
band, their music and the many new discoveries of unpublished pictures and
music they recorded as a band in the '60s. It also covers the band's recording
and performance affiliations with greats like Paul Davis, George Soule and
Jimmy Elledge and expands the bands era from The Continentals through Rick's
Continentals, The Flower Generation
and their performances with Wanda McGee, a talented vocalist from Jackson,
MS. In their own words, this publication
will take you through their lives after the band years and how they come back
together, reunited in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
This is
the complete version, yet it covers less that half of the total content that is
published on the web. It provides a
broader, single reference source on the band,
their music and the band members today.
This biography publication also covers the band's connections to other
well known music artists like Paul
Davis, George Soule and Jimmy Elledge.
This is the history publication and another publicatin will follow this
one title "The Continentals",
which will tell the whole and previously unheard story of the band and their
real life experiences with a very personal perspective.
This work
is dedicated to the all the band members and especially to Rip Coard, the
band's producer and manager who inspired and steered this group to become more
than they thought possible. It is also honors the lost Continentals, Rick
Spence and Darrell Ross. Their families
can take pride in their individual contributions to the band we know as Rick’s
Continentals. I hope you will enjoy and appreciate the content of this
publication.
To date,
the four original hit recordings were found, converted from 45 rpm to digital
MP3 format and re-mastered to CD format.
Two of these recordings were the original studio soundtracks from RAP
Records Studio. In addition, an original album length reel to reel tape was found
near New Orleans recorded in 1966 at RAP Records studio in Meridian, MS. This
reel to reel recording has also been digitized and remastered producing a new
and first album for the group titled "Back
To The Beginning". And, in May 2011, Tom Davis took another newly
found reel to reel recording to Branson, Missouri to be digitized. This is an
original (and the first recording by The
Continentals) recorded at WOKK radio station in February 1965. Four songs
have been digitized so far from this tape.
The tape broke in the process and must undergo a restoration before
continuing to digitize the remaining sound tracks. We are all hopeful that the
remaining
sound
tracks can be saved.
An Official Myspace.com webpage was
established and the remastered hits are there for everyone to hear. Videos were
produced with original Rick's Continentals
band photos from the 60s and posted on Myspace, Youtube, Metacafe, AOL
Video, Google Video as well as other internet video hosting sites. The goal was to get Rick’s Continentals music out on
the world wide web and to facilitate contact with lost band members and to find
band memorabilia.
A Wikipedia.org page was established for
Rick’s Continentals Band. Wikipedia.org recognized Rick's Continentals on it's
Wikigaragebands page and Rick's Continentals has since been recognized on the
Wikipedia.org's Mississippi Music Hall
of Fame for Rock bands.
All band members found
Darrell Ross was found and contact established through his daughter,
Rebecca. Ann Spence found Rick’s Continentals videos on Metacafe.com, contacted
us, and we sadly discovered the recent
death of Rick Spence. Eric Coard found us through Metacafe, Youtube and the
Rick’s Continentals Myspace site and contact was reestablished with the Coard
family. Eric Coard was able find Bob Miennis. This completed the reconnection
with all band members. Eric Coard
established an official website for the band at
rickscontinentals.com. Eric re-mastered the converted sound tracks.
Then, through Eric’s efforts, new reel-to-reel sound tracks were found of two
original Rick’s Continentals recordings; these were re-mastered by Eric Coard,
shared and posted to the Rick’s Continentals Websites.
Informational Note: Pages 9-30 of this publication represent
content as published on various websites relating Rick's Continentals Band
history. This book recognizes these different World Web internet sources and
references their published versions of the band's history, which will include
some repetition with variations in the content, from these web resources.
Mike Dugo's '60s
Garagebands.com
'60s Garagebands.com conducted an interview with Ray Vaughn for
Rick’s Continentals Band and added a band WebPage on his 60s Garagebands.com
website (Rick's Continentals on 60s
garagebands.com).
The Radio.com
The Radio.com recognized the band’s "Live It Up" ,
granting a Gold Status to their hit on the
60’s Radio Gold Channel and today "Live It Up" is playing all over the world on the 60s Radio
Gold Channel. There are a lot of good
groups who had hits in the '60s & '70s but their songs are mostly
forgotten. This is a significant accomplishment the band can be proud of.
Reunion A reunion was
organized and took place in April 2009 in the band's home town (Meridian, MS)
hosted by Stan and Patty Suire. Since then, two additional band reunions have
been held in in Meridian (April 2010 and in March 2011), both hosted by Stan
and Patty Suire. Rediscovering Rick’s Continentals Band has brought each of the
members together allowing them to share
their lives and families with each other. In addition, there are many new
friends and supporters who are following the band and their music not to
mention contacts established with old friends who haven’t been seen in many
years. The power of the web is amazing. So, as this work to rediscover and
reconnect the band continues, a new Rick’s Continentals Album has been produced
and sent to all members which included the original 4 hit songs along with the
newly discovered (lost tracks) music from Ann Spence. A special thanks to
everyone for their support and help in making this all happen and a special thanks to Ann Spence for
finding and providing the recently discovered Rick’s Continental’s sound tracks
tape that have made the production of the new album possible.
Eric Coard
A special thanks to Eric Coard for his
continued work with Rick’s Continentals Band music and websites. Eric has
personally produced and made new recordings of the Rick’s Continentals' songs
with a contemporary take, and these have been shared with all members of the band
at the first reunion. These new songs may be released and distributed by Eric
Coard in the future, so keep an eye open for this new sound by Eric Coard.
Above Photo Rick's Continentals Reunion 2010
L-R Bob
Minnis, Ray Vaughn, Stan Suire,
Darrell Ross
Rick's Continentals 1967 Promotional Photo
Front
L-R
Darrell Ross, Rick Spence, Stan Suire
Upper
L-R
Ray Vaughn, Bob Minnis
Rick Spence-Lead Singer
Rick Spence 1967 Rick's Continentals Photo
Rick
Spence - Lead Vocalist
Rick
Spence was from New York and his father owned a network of broadcast radio
stations in the Northeast. Rick had worked in the music business for his father
before joining the Navy. Rick performed early in his music career with the
Kingsmen (pre-Lovin' Spoonful). He came to Meridian, MS. in the Navy, where he
met The Continentals through their
manager, Rick Coard. Rick Coard heard
Rick Spence perform at an event and invited him to audition with the band. The power of his voice was what the
Continentals needed in their lineup. He became a member of The Continentals who
later became Rick's Continentals Band. His four year term in the U.S. Navy
ended in 1969. Spence longed to get Rick’s Continentals back together when his
term was over, but the other band members had each gone in different directions
with their own careers. After leaving the military, Spence attended junior
college in Meridian, Mississippi. He
performed in plays with rave reviews and accepted jobs as a disc jockey for
local radio stations. He used the disc jockey position to play the band hits on broadcast radio for
years after the band broke up. The
band's songs were also played in his father's radio network in the Northeast.
After graduating college, he landed a position with Xerox Corporation where he
remained for a number of years. In 1976, he met his wife to be, Ann. He
requested a transfer to New Orleans which was granted by Xerox in May 1978. He
resided in Metairie, Louisiana, about 15 miles west of New Orleans. Ann finally
relocated to Louisiana in October 1980 and married Spence in January 1981.
There were no children
Rick Spence 1980's DJ Photo
According to Ann, Spence kept an album of memorabilia including band photos, newspaper articles and other documents from his days with Rick’s Continentals, his performances in theatre and from his time as a local radio Disc Jockey. Ann and Rick moved to Slidell, Louisiana about 25 miles east of New Orleans where Ann still resides today. Around 1986, Spence left Xerox to find work within the music industry which was his real passion. Unfortunately, that did not prove lucrative for Spence. So, he settled down with the Veterans Administration in 2003 which turned out to be a job he actually enjoyed for the remainder of his life. Rick Spence passed away in June of 2008. Having served his country honorably, he was buried on July 1, 2008 in the VA Cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi where four servicemen in full Military dress saluted him and folded the flag which was presented to the family while taps was played.
* Information
content resource; Rick’s Continentals.com
Rick's Continentals 1967 Photo
Stanley
Suire - Lead Guitar Stanley Suire was born in New Orleans in 1950. He played
drums for the school band in Rhode Island and again at Northeast Junior High
when Suire’s father retired from the Navy in 1962 and his family moved to
Meridian, Mississippi. But, Suire’s real dream was to play in a Rock ‘n’ Roll
band.
And, in
1963, Suire’s uncle helped turn this dream into reality by buying him a bright
red Gibson electric guitar for Christmas. Suire began to teach himself to play
through a small homemade amplifier. He was influenced primarily by the Beatles
and longed to play their music Determined to form this new band with classmates
and friends Bob Minnis and Darrell Ross, Suire taught Minnis to play bass and
soon invited Ray Vaughn to join the group to complete this four piece ensemble.
Ross already played drums. When the time was right, the band purchased
amplifiers and a PA system directly from Hartley Peavey out of his one man
store located in the attic of his father’s Peavey Melody Music Store in
Meridian, Mississippi. Hartley Peavey’s company would grow into one of the
largest musical equipment suppliers in the world, Peavey Electronics
Corporation. The four man band mutually agreed on the name “The Continentals”
and began performing in “Battle of the Bands” competitions and night clubs on
and off the local naval air station base. It was there where they would meet a
man by the name of Richard “Rip” Coard. Rip offered to become the band’s
manager and the group collectively accepted. Rip was instrumental in increasing
the band's exposure throughout the southeastern United States and introduced
the band to vocalist, Rick Spence.
Stan Suire today with his vintage Martin D18 Guitar: Today Stan lives in Meridian, MS.
Stan Suire
- Lead Guitar
When it
was discovered “The Continentals” title had already been taken, the group
changed their name to “Rick’s
Continentals.” Under Rip
Coard’s leadership, the band grew in popularity and recorded four singles at
RAP Records recording studios. One of these singles charted throughout the
South, and to some extent, nationwide. The band enjoyed a degree of success
achieved by very few groups during the rock era. But, all good things always
come to an end and Suire remembers that end all too well. The final gig. Bob
Minnis had moved away, Darrell Ross had also moved on and was replaced by Al
Mayo on drums, Rick Spence, the lead singer, was locked up in the brig on base
and a local piano player sat in for the gig.
The
remaining members of the band decided it was time to pack it in. Suire
graduated from High School in 1968 and attended Meridian Community College
where he studied accounting. He moved to Alabama for a while to play in another
band called “The Park” which performed throughout Mississippi and Alabama. The
band’s keyboard player went on to join “Wet Willie.” He married his first wife
in 1972, but eventually came to the realization that music and marriage are
like oil and water. His son, Daniel, was born in 1976. Suire worked as an
accountant for Hospital Corporation of America and later for one of the largest
mall developers in the United States until 1979, but, ultimately decided to go
into business for himself. He started a furniture restoration business which
has served customers from Houston, Texas to Ashville, North Carolina and
everywhere in between. He married Patty in 1985 and continues to share his life
with her today on their farm where they enjoy raising and riding horses
(including one iron horse by the name of Harley). Son, Daniel, started working
with him in his furniture restoration business in 1995.
* Information content resource; Rick’s
Continentals.com
