Legion Hall dances

Does anyone here remember those great dances at the American Legion Hall featuring the soulful sounds of Jim Burgett's Band?I think they began in the early Sixties and I know their last year was 1967.
My family had a house at Marla Bay and as a teenagers we found the Legion Hall dances were one of the hilights of our summers.
Anyone have any memories to share?

Yes, I remember! He had an Indian guitar player and a knockout young blonde singer named Brooke that had a large key that she wore on a chain around her waist! Does anyone know what happened to them?

i went to school with jim's sister and talk with her sometimes,i here jim is doing fine.

in the sixties they had some great bands at the american legion hall,like steppenwolf etc. the roof came crashing down in the 70;s i believe.i used to search behind the place, outside for hidden drugs and was succsessfull.one time a container full of joints,which we smoked.another time a cucrets tin full of red's and yellow jacket's which got consumed.but so.lake tahoe was so wonderfully simple in the 60's,it's all gone now.the good old days of tahoe,and Jim Burgett's name go hand in hand,the sanctuary,the fun house where santana etc.played,all but a memory.

I played bass for the Jim Burgett Band back in 72-73. I never played at the old Legion Hall; it was before my time with the band. But I did play with the indian guitarist, we called "Chief". His name was actually Bob Hoyapodabee.(Spelling is questionable, but sounds as spelled.)Bob died more than 10 years ago. I believe his family may still live in Tahoe. Also there was Fred Gallant on drums, Tim Strandberg on keys and sax, Mike Coulter comedian, vocals, sax. We hired a female vocalist, Marlene Ricci (AKA Marlene Alucci)while playing a gig in Detroit. She and Jim were more than friends, and eventually they went to Las Vegas and Jim managed Marlene, but I believe he retired from performing, himself, at about that time.(1974) I last saw Jim here in Tahoe aprox 1979. I was setting up for a wedding at Lakeland Village, and to my surprise it was one of his daughters'. Other than that encounter with JB, I still see Tim Strandberg occasionally. Tim lives in El Cerritos CA. Another band member I see up here in Tahoe is the notorious Bob Carhart, AKA RJ Purple, of Cosmic Freeway fame. I have lived in Tahoe since 1967, and am still a full time bassist with The Steve Walker Band, here in South Lake Tahoe. We are the house band on The Tahoe Queen. I'm in the book!

Charlie Schofield wrote:

Also there was Fred Gallant on drums, Tim Strandberg on keys and sax,..., I still see Tim Strandberg occasionally. Tim lives in El Cerritos CA.

Did Tim have blond hair & play flute as well? Did you know a guitarist named Gary? Did you once play at the Ramada Inn in Hapeville, GA near the ATL airport?

Yes, Tim Strandberg had blond hair and played the flute, sax, and keys. Gary Grubb was in the band when I first joined, but quit soon after. I remember that Gary came back later for a gig in Detroit for about a week. He swiped Jim's van, leaving it at the Detroit Airport, and flew home with some money he hit Jim up for. Jim was a little pissed to say the least. Funny, I hadn't thought of that since it happened in '73!
The Jim Burgett Band did play in Atlanta, but it was before I started. I remember a couple of gals from Atlanta visiting us while we were on the road in some other city. It was the only time I met them myself, but they seemed to be friends of the band. Our band often worked the Ramada Inn circuit because Jim booked most of his work through an agency called Musart.( Bob Vincent was our agent.) This was all after the closing of the Legion Hall, and the Fun House.(AKA The Sanctuary)

I don't know why, but my previous comments show me listed as living in Sacramento on one of them, and Rosevill, CA on the other.??? I live in South Lake Tahoe and can be reached at charlietahoe2namon@hotmail.com if anyone wants to contact me.

Jerry Kramer says hi! I knew Bob Carhart. For the most part, he tended to be reclusive, but his love for music was stronger than his shyness. I used to see him perform at Rojo's. I went to the Legion Hall starting around 1965. I remember when the Greatful Dead played there in 1967. They played to nearly 3 A.M.!

Yes! And Greatful Dead played there well past 2am. I remember the Legion Hall during the Jim Burgette era-so many fights. Didn't the Sanctuary and Fun House have the exact same location? The bands that frequented the Sanctuary were Santana, The Elvin Bishop Band, and Boz Scaggs & Band. Boz Scaggs has been to the Tahoe area many times!

From the mid sixties to the late seventies was a truly unique time to be in Tahoe. In the 70's I would have probably wished I was fortuitous enough to have thought of checking out the Legion hall emmediatelly after the fire!

Yes, the good old days of tahoe.Do you remember the band called "AUM" I used to get snuk in the fun house when i was under age cause i knew people who worked there.If anybody reads this that used to go there alot, do you remember that young chick that kept getting up and dancing on the amps.they kept pulling her down.then she ran up the steps and did a belly flop off the stage and landed about 2 feet from me.freaked me out cause i was frying.I had to get the hell out of there....I'm a lead guitarist in a band in the sacramento area.in the past half a year i've got to jam with the guitarist from "It's a beautiful day"[He's in Ukiah]Barry melton [yolo county]from "country joe and the fish" the original bass player from "sons of chaplin"[ukiah]and i did a gig [for free] with bonnie raitt's brother.So,do you remember "AUM"?if you know me or want to get ahold of me for whatever reason my address is eddieloebs@yahoo.com

does anybody remember a band call weathermaker? probably not.But the guitarist in that band was and still is a good friend of mine.Robert or Tony Roberge is his name.Thats all.

The lead guitarist for Weathermacher was Bob Carhart, AKA RJ Purple.(I was the bass player in that band before The Jim Burgett Band.)Also in Weathermacher was Jeanette Willoby vocals.(I don't remember her maiden name.)Doug Barclay was on rhythm guitar, and Mike Blastone on drums, and Ray Downey on sax.
Out of the six of us Carhart and I ended up with Jim Burgett. Ray Downey now lives in Washington. He played with a well known band from the 70s, The New Deal Rhythm Band Featuring the now famous Cheryl Bentine.(Manhattan Transfer currently)Ray is now a music teacher in WA. Mike Blastone ,now called Mike Stone is living in Nashville TN and has been a successful touring, and recording drummer. I am still playing bass here in Tahoe with The Steve Walker Band.(see stevewalkermusic.com ) Doug Barclay still lives in Tahoe, but doesn't play guitar anymore. Jeanette recently moved to Camaron Park, CA with her kids. She isn't performing anymore, but would like to eventually. Bob Carhart started a band some years after Weathermacher, and Jim Burgett. His band was Cosmic Freeway. Three of those band members are living in Reno NV. Joe Grassino, Joe Atkins, and Fletch. Carhart is living near me here in South Lake Tahoe. He plays, and writes mostly at home, although I've jammed with him a couple times in the past few years, while playing with Unkle Funkle.(A spin-off band from Cosmic Freeway.) Carhart should have been a huge star. He really was that good! Unfortunately there were some issues I won't mention here, that held him back from his dreams. All these years later I still regaurd him as my "brother from a different mother".I know this is a lot to follow. But, if you know some of us it might be fun.
I saw the posts from Eddie Lobes. I remember the name Steve Lobes. I think he played congas, and wrote some lyrics. I believe he knew Carhart. It's been a very long time, and you know what they say about the 60s, and 70s;"if you can remember them, you weren't there!"

Yeah! I remember Blastone and Steve Walker too! Walker arrived onto the Tahoe scene sometime around the early seventies with a band calle Amazing Grace. They played in the casino lounge at Sahara Tahoe (I can't remember the name of that lounge) I want to say Pine Cone Lounge, but I think that was a bar/lounge that was at north end of the casino. So many years ago. I can totally relate to your comments re Bob Carhart. I remember the first day I saw him play at his house. Impressive. Hindsight is always so much clearer, as I reflect back, I can see the reason(s) that may have held Carhart back from fulfilling his potential. We were blessed to have grown up in such a very unique environment that Tahoe offered during the sixties and seventies.

Well,I thought tony roberge was in weathermaker,at least he told me he was.But like you say,the 60's aren't to clear.Steve Loebs is my oldest brother,we do gigs together once in a while.I believe he played a little bit with steve walker,mabe filled in.But Ed bjorem? "BJ"is a friend of ours.Charlie,I;m certin you know Ed well.Me and BJ used to jam occasionally.Great boogie woogie keyboard player.It's been many years.I knew Bob hoyapotabee jr.also,I remember him saying his dad played guitar.Take care.

Yeah Jerry,I used to watch Steve Walker when he was the bass player with Amazing Grace. It was at the old Juniper Lounge, near the end of the casino by the 4 seasons restaurant. Strangely, I used to watch the group called Expression there, also. I ended up working with Bob Kelly from that group when expression disbanded and he started the Kelly And The Kid Band, years later. And Then eventually I ended up with Steve Walker's band, where I am working still.(I took over when BJ left the band.)Ed, I probably know you too;perhaps by face better than by name. I've been in Tahoe nearly 40 years now and have had lots of different jobs where I have met so many locals. I don't know Robert or Tony Roberg as being the guitarist in Weathermacher. But the band had a history before me. When I joined the band it was already an established group with the members I previously wrote about. Their bassist before me was Ben Bolt, I believe.
Does anyone out there remember a Tahoe band from the early 70s called Space Family?? I only really knew Jeff, The bassist, but wonder what ever became of the other members. Jeff died of brain cancer about 20+ years ago in Las Vegas.

Hey Guys! Charlie emailed this thread to me. Hey Jerry, correct me if I'm wrong, but you have to be the Jerry Kramer who went to school with Jim Hughes and my old partner Rusty. Jim's dad Chuck Hughes has subbed for our drummer on the Tahoe Queen in the not too distant past. Also, Eddie, I believe we met at some time or other. I sure remember your brother Steve. We did some gigs together, like the one in Truckee where Steve had a broken foot and drummer David Gould had a broken arm, and with both playing it added up to ONE drummer! BJ Bjorum is still in Tahoe. We still play together a bit and see each other often. Yes, I agree, those were some simple, wonderful times in Tahoe!

Hi Steve,you'd remember me if you saw me,you too charlie.Me and my brother steve still do gigs once in a while when my regular drummer can't play...i see dave gould sometimes also,he's giving drum lessons and plays guitar in a band.Tell Eddie[BJ]that Eddie says hi.Me and steve had a couple bands in tahoe,the first was called "CROSSWINDS" and then we teamed up with Dave Shorey and Eddie Ottensteen[who died in a car wreck last year]and we were called "ALIAS" so that might help you guy's remember me.Sounds like everone is well...Back to Jim Burgett,i;m going fishing with his brother in law in the morning...Jim is doing reeealy well....Carlie,Tony was in that band somewhere,mybe he played rythem for Bob,i'll ask him..take care.

Didn't mean to call you carlie charlie,Why does it show everyone living in the wrong place?I live in Citrus Heights.

Hey Eddie, good to hear from you. Next time you see Dave Gould, please tell him I said "Hi". I talk to BJ every other week or so, I'll pass on your "Hi" to him.
Best, Steve