Chancellors
Local band with two 45’s on the Soma label
Contents:
History
Photos
Recordings
Bandtree
Where are they now?
Interview
History
The Chancellors
January, 1962: Dan Holm is sixteen years old and a sophomore at Southwest High School in Minneapolis. He lives in South Minneapolis (4110 Upton Avenue South) and is a self-taught guitar player having learned to play on a Montgomery Ward acoustic archtop he received as a Christmas present in the prior year. Dan and fellow classmate and guitar player Steve Adams (who lives across the street from Dan) start playing music together. Dan observes a local band play for an event at his school, The Tempest Trio which consists of three students from Washburn High School (Dave Maetzold, Greg Maland and Richard Luke). Dan inquires how much the band is getting paid for the job and is informed they are making forty-five dollars. Dan and Steve decide the time is right to start their own band and another student at their school, John Hughes signs on as a drummer. John lives at 4601 Xerxes Avenue South.
The new trio has three places they practice: at the Holm residence in the basement; the Adams residence in Steve’s bedroom; or the Hughes residence in the basement. The group comes up with a band name, The Continentals.
April 6, 1962: The Continentals play their first official job, at a “sock hop” at Southwest High School. The group plays in between “sets” of the disc jockey spinning 45’s. The new band takes in thirty dollars for the night, playing on rented equipment (two Gibson SG Standard Guitars, two Gibson Amps, and a drum set). Like many local bands in the early 1960’s The Continentals play mainly instrumentals with an occasional vocal song mixed in. Among the songs on their playlist are:
“Harlem Nocturne” by The Viscounts
“Tequila” by The Champs
“Malaguena” by Dick Dale
“Tico Tico” by The Andrew Sisters
“The Stroll” by The Diamonds
“Ghost Riders in the Sky” by Vaughn Monroe
“Rumble” by Link Way
“Perfidia” by The Ventures
“Sleep Walk” by Santo and Johnny
“Memphis” by Lonnie Mack
“Hey Bo Diddley” by Bo Diddley
“Morgan” (German song)
“Walk Don’t Run” by The Ventures
Spring, 1962: The band plays for numerous private parties and dances held at various venues around town including: St. Michael’s Church; Southwest High School; St. Louis Park High School; Anoka High School; Susan B. Anthony Junior High School; Camden Hall; and the Basilica Church.
May 3, 1963: Tom De Biaso, a student at De La Salle High School joins the group on bass guitar. The Continentals are now a four piece band as follows:
Dan Holm on guitar
Steve Adams on guitar
Tom De Diaso on bass guitar
John Hughes on drums
The group continues to play at private parties and for various dances held at schools or churches.
October, 1963: Steve Adams and Tom De Biaso leave the band. John Hughes has moved from Minneapolis to St. Louis Park and attends St. Louis Park High School and knows a student, David Rivkin, who is a guitar player and singer. John lives at 3819 Glenhurst Avenue and David lives at 3725 Glenhurst Avenue. David Rivkin joins the band. Mike Judge lives in Richfield and attends Richfield High School and plays guitar and sings. Mike Judge joins the band after his band (Mike and The Shadows) comes to an end. Dan Holm decides to switch from guitar to bass guitar and buys a Fender Precision Bass Guitar and a Fender Bass Amp from Rollie Williams Music on Excelsior Boulevard.
The four band members try to come up with a new band name as they discover there is another band in the Twin Cities called The Continentals. David Rivkin looks at a 45 he has and notes the name of the record label: Chancellor. The new band name is The Chancellors with a new lineup as follows:
Mike Judge on rhythm guitar and vocals
David Rivkin on lead guitar and vocals
Dan Holm on bass guitar and vocals
John Hughes on drums and vocals
The band now practices in the basements of the homes of Dan Holm, John Hughes, or David Rivkin.
Ira Heilicher and Dick Shapiro start up a new agency to manage, book, and produce records for local bands. The company is called Path Productions. Dick Shapiro hears about The Chancellors from David Rivkin and stops by a pep rally at St. Louis Park High School where the band is playing. Ira goes to
Camden Hall and checks out the band. Dick and Ira decide to sign the band to their new company. Path Productions had signed only one band prior to The Chancellors, the Val Dons.
Dick and Ira are eager to sign a second band, as The Val Dons were unable to play a scheduled job and Dick and Ira had to round up some of their friends at the last minute to join them on stage to fill in for The Val Dons. Dick and Ira were not musicians and did not want to go through that experience again.
Now booked by Path Productions, The Chancellors play at more venues including:
The Marigold Ballroom (Minneapolis)
The Prom Center (St. Paul)
The Bel Rae Ballroom (Moundsview)
Danceland (Excelsior)
Mister Lucky’s (Minneapolis)
Marian KC Hall (Bloomington)
The Lion’s Den (St. Paul)
Schlief’s Little City (Mendota Heights)
Bobby’s (Mendota Heights)
Dayton’s Top Ten Club (Minneapolis).
The play list for the band expands and includes songs by The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Animals, The Who, The Mamas and Papas, The Rascals, The Rolling Stones, The Troggs, The Righteous Brothers, The Grassroots, The Temptations, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Richie Valens, Sam Cook, Barry McGuire, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Surfaris, and other popular recording artists.
November 22, 1963: On a dark day in United States history (JFK assassination) the band plays a job that night at Camden Hall.
Ira wants the band to put out a 45 on the Soma label which is owned by Heilicher Brothers.
October 13, 1964: The Chancellors record two songs at Kay Bank Recording Studios.
“Little Latin Lupe Lu” (The Righteous Brothers, 1963)
“Yo Yo” (an original song written by Mike Judge)
Late, 1964: Soma Records releases a 45 with “Little Latin Lupe Lu” on the A-side and “Yo Yo” on the B-side. In Canada the record is released on the Apex label. David Rivkin sings lead on the A-side and Mike Judge sings lead on the B-side.
December 26, 1964: “Little Latin Lupe Lu” enters the WDGY Tiger Survey Chart at Number 32.
January 2, 1965: “Little Latin Lupe Lu” enters the KDWB charts at Number 29 and goes up and down on the charts for a number of weeks.
January 23, 1965: The record hits Number 1 on the WDGY charts and stays at the top position for three weeks.
The record also makes the Top-40 play lists in Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, and St. Louis. In Kansas City the song hits Number 1.
With a local and regional hit record, Path Productions is able to book the band in more venues and for fifty percent more money.
The band travels to Kansas City via a commercial airline. When they arrive in Kansas City they travel by limousine to the venue, complete with a police motorcycle escort.
The Chancellors also travel to Chicago and Wisconsin for band jobs.
At a show at Dayton’s Top Ten Club in downtown Minneapolis, the band is on stage getting ready to play when a large group of impatient fans break the locked doors to get inside the eight floor auditorium.
May 12, 1965: The band returns to Kay Bank for another recording session and record the following songs:
“So Fine” (The Fiestas, 1959)
“I’m A Man” (Bo Diddley, 1955)
“Charlie Brown” (The Coasters, 1959)
“I Can Tell” (Bo Diddley, 1962)
“Surf Beat” (The Challengers, 1963)
June, 1965: The band releases their second 45 on the Soma label with “So Fine” on the A-side and “I’m A Man” on the B-side. On the A-side, all four members sing in harmony. On the B-side, David Rivkin sings lead vocals.
June 5, 1965: “So Fine” enters the WDGY charts at Number 32 and peaks at Number 8 on July 17, 1965. The record is on the WDGY charts for seven weeks.
KDWB also plays the record and once again the record gets airplay in numerous Midwest markets.
The Chancellors are included on a compilation album of local bands released on the Soma label called “The Big Hits of Mid America Volume 2.” On the album are the four songs from the two 45’s.
October 8, 1965: The Chancellors play for a homecoming dance at Hopkins High School.
May 7, 1966: The band plays at a Symphony Ball held at Southdale Shopping Center in Edina. Among the dignitaries in attendance are Hubert H. Humphrey and his wife Muriel. A photo of David Rivkin and John Hughes taken at the event is published in the local paper on May 12, 1966. The photo caption reads: BAND WITH A BEAT – St. Louis Park members of “The Chancellors” are David Rivkin and John Hughes.
May 16, 1966: John Hughes leaves the band and enters the military service. Ron Butwin joins the band on drums. The new lineup is as follows:
Mike Judge on rhythm guitar and vocals
David Rivkin on lead guitar and vocals
Dan Holm on bass guitar and vocals
Ron Butwin on drums
Summer, 1966: David Rivkin leaves the band and joins The Stillroven. Ralph Burger joins the band on lead guitar. Ron Butwin leaves the band and Jim Farragher joins the band on drums. The new line-up is:
Mike Judge on rhythm guitar and vocals
Ralph Burger on lead guitar
Dan Holm on bass guitar and vocals
Jim Farragher on drums
Bruce Bartl joins on keyboards (one month after the new line-up).
Late Summer, 1967: Dan Holm leaves the band and joins the 21st Century Band who play at the Hotel Dibbo in Hudson, Wisconsin. Dan plays with the band for three years and then moves to Ohio. The Chancellors hire a replacement and play out the jobs that already booked.
Late, 1967: The Chancellors come to an end.
June, 1971: Dan Holm returns to Minnesota and starts a new version of The Chancellors with the following line-up:
Dan Holm on lead guitar and vocals
Cheri Thorne on lead vocals
Jerry Harvieux on bass guitar
John Hughes on drums and vocals
The band goes through some changes in the line-up over the course of one year.
June, 1972: The final version of The Chancellors comes to an end.
Chancellors Song List
“La Bamba” by Ritchie Valenz (lead vocals: David)
“We Can Work It Out” by The Beatls (lead vocals: David and Dan)
“Walkin’ The Dog” by Rufus Thomas (lead vocals: David)
“Hey Bo Diddley” by Bo Diddley (lead vocals: David)
“Perfidia” by The Ventures (instrumental)
“Pipeline” by The Chantays (instrumental)
“Tossin’ and Turnin” by Bobby Lewis (lead vocals by Dan)
“Miserlou” by Dick Dale (instrumental)
“Surfin’ USA” by The Beach Boys (lead vocals: all)
“Little Deuce Coupe” by The Beach Boys (lead vocals: all)
“Shutdown” by The Beach Boys (lead vocals: all)
“Hang on Sloopy” by The McCoys (lead vocals: all)
“Do You Wanna Dance” by Bobby Freeman (lead vocals: all)
“Fun, Fun, Fun” by The Beach Boys (lead vocals: all)
“Come and Go with Me” by The Del-Vikings (lead vocals : Mike)
“Barbara Ann” by The Beach Boys (lead vocals: all)
“Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen (lead vocals: Dan)
“Shop Around” by The Miracles (lead vocals: David)
“Gloria” by Shadows of Knight (lead vocals: David and Dan)
“Surfin’ Duck” by The Chancellors (lead vocals: all)
“Hey Jude” by The Beatles (lead vocals: David)
“Little Bitty Pretty One” by Thurston Harris (lead vocals: all)
“Lollipop” by Millie Small (lead vocals: all)
“We Gotta Get Out of This Place” by The Animals (lead vocals: David and Dan)
“409” by The Beach Boys (lead vocals: all)
“In My Room” by The Beach Boys (lead vocals: all)
“Surfin’ Safari” by The Beach Boys (lead vocals: all)
“My Generation” by The Who (lead vocals: David)
She’s So Fine” by The Chiffons (lead vocals: all)
“Mama Said” by The Shirelles” (lead vocals: David and Dan)
“Charlie Brown” by The Coasters (lead vocals: all)
“On Broadway” by The Drifters (lead vocals: all)
“Poison Ivy” by The Coasters (lead vocals: all)
“Papa Oom Mow Mow” by The Rivingtons (lead vocals: David and Dan)
“Let’s Have a Party” by The Rivieras (lead vocals: Mike)
“Shake, Rattle and Roll” by Bill Haley and The Comets (lead vocals: Mike)
“Good Golly Miss Molly” by Little Richard (lead vocal: David)
“Bonie Maronie” by Larry Williams (lead vocals: John)
“I Like Peanut Butter” by The Marathons (lead vocals: John)
“Tonight’s the Night” by The Shirelles (lead vocals: all)
“Suzie Q” by Dale Hawkins (lead vocal: Mike)
“Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry (lead vocal: David)
“(Turn on Your) Love Light” by Bobby Bland (lead vocals: David)
“Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry (lead vocals: Dan)
“California Dreaming” by The Mamas and Papas (lead vocals: all)
“Monday Monday” by The Mamas and Papas (lead vocals: all)
“Good Lovin’” by The Rascals (lead vocals: David and Dan)
“Splish Splash” by Bobby Darin (lead vocals: Dan)
“Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis (lead vocals: Dan)
“Little Latin Lupe Lu” by The Righteous Brothers (lead vocals: David and Dan)
“So Fine” by The Chiffons (lead vocals: all)
“YoY o” by The Chancellors (lead vocals: Mike)
“I’m a Man” by Bo Diddley” (lead vocals: David)
“Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran (lead vocals: all)
“Wild Thing” by The Troggs (lead vocals: all)
“Hey Joe” by The Leaves (lead vocals: David)
“Summertime” by Billy Stewart (lead vocals: Mike)
“Under the Boardwalk” by The Drifters (lead vocals: all)
“Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers (lead vocals: Mike)
“Since I Don’t Have You” by The Skyliners (lead vocals: all)
“Oh Donna” by Ritchie Valens (lead vocals: Mike)
“You Send Me” by Sam Cooke (lead vocals: Mike)
“Sleep Walk” by Santo and Johnny (instrumental)
“Just My Imagination” by The Temptations (lead vocals: David)
“As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones (lead vocals: David)
“Where Were You When I Needed You” by The Grassroots (lead vocals: all)
“Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire (lead vocals: Dan)
“Land of a Thousand Dances” by Cannibal and the Headhunters (lead vocals: all)
“Let the Good Times Roll” by Shirley and Lee (lead vocals: David and Dan)
“Let’s Dance” by Chris Montez (lead vocals: Dan)
“Money” by Barrett Strong (lead vocals: Dan)
“My Girl” by The Temptations (lead vocals by David)
“Wipe Out” by The Surfaris (instrumental)
“Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley (lead vocals: David and Dan)
“Get Together” by The Youngbloods (lead vocals: all)
“Heat Wave” by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas (lead vocals: David)
“Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Brian Hyland (lead vocals: Mike)
“Play with Fire” by The Rolling Stones (lead vocals: David)
“Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones (lead vocals: David)
“Surfer Girl” by The Beach Boys (lead vocals: all)
“Harlem Nocturne” by The Viscounts (instrumental)
“Tequila” by The Champs (instrumental)
“Surfer Joe” by The Surfaris (lead vocals: Mike)
“She Cried” by Jay and the Americans (lead vocals: all)
Update:
In 1975, “Yo Yo” by The Chancellors was included on a German record album called “Eagle 301” a compilation of American rockabilly songs.
In 1982, The Chancellors played a reunion concert at The Medina Ballroom. All four original members were there: Dan Holm; John Hughes; David Rivkin; and Mike Judge. Several other local bands from the 1960’s are also on the bill.
In 1988, “Yo Yo” by The Chancellors was included on a Belgium record album (vinyl) called “Inferno 101” which was reissued on a CD in 1996.
In 1998, The Chancellors were included on a double CD released by Plum Records called “The Big Hits of Mid America – The Soma Records Story.” On the double CD are “Little Latin Lupe Lu,” “Yo Yo” and “So Fine.”
In 2000, Beat Records (Sundazed Records) released three vinyl albums under the same name as the double CD: “The Soma Records Story.” On Volume 1 are “Yo Yo” and “Charlie Brown.” On Volume 2 are “I’m A Man” and “Little Latin Lupe Lu.” On Volume 3 are “I Can Tell,” and Surf Beat.” This series of albums are the first releases of “Charlie Brown,” “I Can Tell,” and “Surf Beat.”
On May 3, 2008, The Chancellors were inducted into the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame (formerly called Rock Country Hall) at The Medina Ballroom. Inducted were Dan Holm, John Hughes, David Rivkin, Mike Judge (deceased), and the band’s second drummer Ron Butwin. Playing at the event were Dan Holm, John Hughes, David Rivkin, and Kevin Bowe on rhythm guitar.
Written by Tom Campbell
Version 1. June 9, 2017
Version 2. July 1, 2017
Posted on website on July 23, 2017
Copyright by Thomas R. Campbell 2017
All Rights Reserved
All photo scans courtesy of John Hughes
No text or photos can be used without permission
Photos
(Click a photo to see it full-screen, then click the arrows to see the next one.)
Recordings
Little Latin Lupe Lu – Side A
Yo Yo – Side B
So Fine – Side A
I’m A Man – Side B
Band Tree
Dan Holm
Continentals
Chancellors
21st Century Band (WI)
John Hughes
Continentals
Chancellors
David Rivkin
Continentals
Chancellors
Stillroven
Mike Judge
Mike and the Shadows
Continentals
Chancellors
Where Are They Now ?
Dan Holm
Retired. Living in Iowa.
John Hughes
Retired. Living in Minnesota
David Rivkin
Working as a recording engineer and producer. Living in California.
Mike Judge
Passed away on July 11, 1996. Mike was living in Richfield, MN at the time of his passing.
Interview
Interview Part ONE – Time = 18:38
Interview Part TWO – Time = 17:45
Interview Part THREE – Time = 15:46