Carrion

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Carrion

1971

Late January, 1971: David Anthony, local booking agent guru, is contacted by the owners of a new club that is opening on the 494 strip in Bloomington, called Rodney’s and Mine.  The club is looking to find a new band to open their club.  David Anthony contacts Denny Johnson, who at the time, is working in a later version of Jokers Wild.  Denny decides to contact Chuck Edwards, a former band mate from Bazooka, who in turn, contacts Jimmy Lawrence, a former member of Dave Brady and the Stars and Danny’s Reasons.  Denny finds Steve Larson, who was currently playing with another band, and convinces him to join.  Also playing with Denny in Jokers Wild was Robby Belleville, who also decides to join the new band.

The new band comes up with the name Carrion and the original lineup is: Jimmy Lawrence (percussion and lead vocals); Denny Johnson (bass guitar and vocals); Chuck Edwards (lead guitar and vocals); Steve Larson (keyboards and vocals); and Robby Belleville (drums).  The band plays popular R and B/Funk dance music, featuring four-part vocal harmonies.

February 23, 1971: Carrion plays their first job at the St. Paul Hilton Ballroom, a high society/political fundraiser.

March 3, 1971: Carrion starts a six week engagement for the opening of Rodney’s and Mine in Bloomington.

April, 1971: After the engagement at Rodney’s and Mine, the band finds themselves without any local bookings.  David Anthony attempts to line up jobs for the band that are out of town, however, once the out of town club owners see the band photo, they turn the band down, due to the racial composition of the group.  Jimmy Lawrence leaves the band to join Rockie Robbins.  Steve Larson leaves to join another band.  Denny finds Rick Gilmore, a high school student, who plays keyboards/guitar and is a lead singer with another band.  Denny is impressed with Rick and offers Rick a job on keyboards and vocals with Carrion.

April – Mid-July, 1971: The band plays out of town bars and clubs (in Minnesota and Wisconsin), with original members, Chuck, Denny and Robby, along with Rick.

Mid-July, 1971: Chuck Edwards decides to leave the band and return to teaching music.  The members go their own ways and the band breaks up.

UPDATE:

A CD of Carrion playing live is made available.  The recording was made May 22, 1971, at the Bank Saloon in Rochester.  This is the final version of the band, with Chuck Edwards on guitar and lead vocals; Robby Belleville on drums and lead vocals; Denny Johnson on bass guitar and lead vocals; and Rick Gilmore on keyboards and lead vocals

Photos

Click  on  Photo’s  to Inlarge  and  see  slide  show

 

 

 

CDs

Bandtree

CARRION                             ___     BAND  TREE        

 

Carrion  1971

 

Jimmy  Lawrence                                                Dave  Brady and  The  Stars

Lead  Vocals                                                         Danny’s  Reasons

1971                                                                      CARRION

________________________________________________________________________

Chuck  Edwards                                                 Danny’s  Reasons

Lead  Guitar  /  Vocals                                           Bazooka

1971                                                                      CARRION

________________________________________________________________________

Denny  Johnson                                                   Jokers  Wild

Bass  Guitar  /  Vocals                                           Flash  Tuesday

1971                                                                      Mojo  Buford  Band

Lexy  Johnson  Band

Bazooka

CARRION

Bullet

Christopher

Cookiefoot

Denny  Johnson  Group

Winterwood

Gold  Dust

Pecos

Sunrise

Grand  Avenue

Crow  featuring  Dave  Wagner

JT  Silverstar

Jynx

The  Bowery  Boys

The  Dick  Tracy  Band

 ________________________________________________________________

Robby  Belleville                                                 Copperhead

Drums                                                                   Bazooka

1971                                                                      CARRION

Bullet

Christopher

Cookiefoot

Breezin’

Take  Four

You  Got  It

Tractor

Chiba

Steve  Clifford  Trio

CROW  featuring  Dave  Wagner

JT  Silverstar

________________________________________________________________________

Steve  Larson                                                      Danny’s  Reasons

Keyboards  /  Vocals                                             CARRION

1971

_______________________________________________________________________ 

Rick  Gilmore                                                      FreeWater

Keyboards  /  Vocals                                             CARRION

1971                                                                      Kiss  of  Rain

________________________________________________________________________ 

Where are they now?

Carrion____                   Where  Are  They  Now  ?       

 

Carrion  1971                                                                                

 ________________________________________________________________

Jimmy  Lawrence                                                Active  in  Music

Lead  Vocals                                                                  Unknown

Doing  What  ?……………………………………………………..   Living  in  Minnesota

 

 _______________________________________________________________

Chuck  Edwards                                                 Active  in  Music

Lead  Guitar  /  Vocals                                                    Yes

Doing  What  ?…………………………………………………….   Playing  in  California

 

________________________________________________________________

Steve  Larson                                                      Active  in  Music

Keyboards  /   Vocals                                                     Unknown

Doing  What  ?……………………………………………………..   Living  in  Minnesota

 ________________________________________________________________

Denny  Johnson                                                   Active  in  Music

Bass  Guitar  /  Vocals                                                    Yes

Doing  What  ?…………Studio  Session  Work  –  Re-Mastering  and   Band  History

 ________________________________________________________________

Robby  Belleville                                                 Active  in  Music

Drums                                                                             No

Doing  What  ?…………………………………………………….   Passed  away  in  1983

________________________________________________________________________

Rick  Gilmore                                                      Active  in  Musi

Keyboards  /  Vocals                                                      No

Doing  What  ?……………………………………………………   Passed  away  in  1993

 

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Interview

(interview here)