Gypsy
From a dance band to a concert band… The Underbeats relocate to Los Angeles and become Gypsy
History
Gypsy
(and The James Walsh Gypsy Band)
1969 – 1979
1969: Gypsy evolves from The Underbeats, one year after the band left Minnesota for Los Angeles. The original lineup is Jim Johnson on guitar and vocals, Doni Larson on bass guitar; Jim Walsh on keyboards and vocals; Enrico Rosenbaum on guitar and vocals and Jay Epstein on drums. The band is managed by Steve Freeman, a high school friend of Enricos. The band gets a steady job playing at The Whiskey A Go Go, on the Sunset Strip.
1970: The band releases a self titled double album on the Metromedia label and has two national hits, Gypsy Queen and Dead and Gone. The album receives extensive airplay in St. Louis, Missouri. The 45 of Dead and Gone contains a shorter version than the album version. Gypsy is the third rock band to release a debut double album; the first band was The Mothers of Invention (1966), the second band was Chicago Transit Authority (1969). The band continues to play The Whiskey and various venues and concerts across the country.
1971: Doni Larson leaves the band and is replaced by Willie Weeks on bass guitar. Jay Epstein leaves the band and is replaced by Bill Lordan on drums. The band releases a second album on the Metromedia label, In the Garden.
1972: Randy Cates (from Texas) replaces Willie Weeks on bass guitar. The band records their third album, Antithesis, released on RCA Records.
1973: With the same lineup as the third album, the band records their fourth album, Unlock the Gates, also on RCA Records.
Mid-1970: The band continues to play across the country as the band is faced with personnel changes, management and record company problems.
1975/1976: A new version of Gypsy records one 45 for the DORE’ label. The two songs, Magic in My Life and Don’t Stop for Nothin’ are both written by Jim Johnson, who also sings lead vocals on both songs. This version of Gypsy is Jim Johnson on lead vocals and guitar, James Walsh on keyboards and vocals, Lewis Derrey on bass guitar and vocals, Stan Kipper on drums and vocals and Chico Perez on percussion. The songs are recorded at Devonshire Studios in North Hollywood and are produced by Terry Furlong, executive producer is Dave Mancini, and the engineer is Jerry Hudgins. Both songs are later recorded by The Fifth Dimension, produced by Jimmy Webb and included on their second album and also released as a 45. Jim Johnson records a second version of Magic in My Life with James Gadson on drums and Chuck Rainey on bass guitar, produced by Michael Stewart. This version is never released.
Enrico Rosenbaum, along with Jim Johnson and various studio musicians’ record a number of songs written by Enrico, including Dance Marango, none of which are ever released.
July 9, 1977: Gypsy plays a concert at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The lineup is: Jim Johnson, Enrico Rosenbaum, Randy Cates, Stan Kipper and Barry Kaye (on keyboards).
1978: James Walsh forms the James Walsh Gypsy Band and they release a self-titled album on RCA Records. The album is recorded at Cookhouse Studios in Minneapolis and Creation Studios in Bloomington. The album continues the tradition of Gypsy artwork on the front cover (by Alfons Mucha) from the 1970 album. A 45 from the album, Cuz It’s You, Girl, receives airplay in various national markets. The band is James Walsh on lead vocals and keyboards, Richard Jorgensen on horns and vocals, Deone Johnson on horns and vocals, Scott Fronsoe on bass guitar and vocals, Todd Hansen on horns and vocals, Jim Behringer on lead guitar and vocals, Bob Jones on lead vocals, guitar and keyboards and Ernie LaViolette on drums and percussion.
1979: The James Walsh Gypsy Band records a second album at the renowned Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield, Alabama. The album features the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, the Tower of Power horn section and the Bee Gees string players. The album is produced by James Walsh, along with Barry Beckett and Jimmy Johnson (both are members of the famous Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, also known as The Swampers). The album is never released.
Update
James Walsh carries on with Gypsy, with Bob Jones and Stan Kipper, along with newer members. The band plays live several times a year to devoted fans in Minneapolis and they also continue to play in St. Louis, Missouri, where the band has had a strong following ever since the 1970 album was released.
Over the years, various reissues of the Gypsy recordings are released on vinyl, cassette tapes and CD’s, by various record companies.
Dave Mueller, a big fan of the band, turns the basement of his home (in St. Louis, Missouri) into a “Gypsy Museum” with Gypsy recordings, photos, posters, flyers and other memorabilia. The rare items include reel to reel tapes of the band’s first album.
In 1984, a band with Jim Johnson, Stan Kipper and Brad Palmer (bass guitar) record an album (in New York) under the name The Steamers. Numerous songs from this album are used in various movie soundtracks.
In 2010, James Walsh releases The James Walsh Gypsy Band – Muscle Shoals 1979, as a double CD. This is the album recorded in 1979 that was never released.
Various unreleased recordings of Gypsy surface, in addition to some live footage of the band (with no audio).
A newly discovered live tape surfaces of the bands performance at “Super Jam 77” in St. Louis, Missouri at Busch Stadium and is made available on a CD.
In August, 2011, John Ulett, host of a Sunday morning radio show known as “KSHE Klassics” on KSHE in St. Louis, Missouri, began playing the most popular songs from the radio show. After 54 weeks of playing every song in alphabetical order (1,985 total) the songs were listed on the KSHE website and listeners were asked to vote for their favorite songs (up to 20 per person). In August, 2012, the top 95 songs were listed by the station. Gypsy had two songs on the list with “Dead and Gone” at Number 2 and “As Far As You Can See, As Much As You Can Feel” at Number 67. On the alphabetical list were: “Gypsy Queen (Part 1)”; “Tomorrow is the Last to be Heard”; “Don’t Get Mad (Get Even)” and “You Make Me Feel Like Livin'” (James Walsh Gypsy Band). Dave Mueller from St. Louis reports that Gypsy has been played on the air in St. Louis since their first album in 1970.
Photos – Click on photos for full screen – arrow to next
Recordings – Listen
Gypsy Queen Part 1 – Side A The 45 Single
Dead and Gone – Side B
As Far As You Can See – Side A The 45 Single
Here (In The Garden) – Side B The 45 Single
Day After Day – Side A The 45 Single
Lean On Me – Side B The 45 Single
Don’t Bother Me – Side A The 45 Single
Make Peace with Jesus – Side B The 45 Single
Need You Baby – Side A The 45 Single
Precious One – Side B The 45 Single
Magic In My Life – Side A The 45 Single
Don’t Stop For Nothin’ – Side B
Dead and Gone – Side A The 45 Single
Here in My Loneliness – Side B The 45 Single
Recordings
SuperJam 77
Newly-issued CD from the original master tapes
As Far As Intro – From Superjam 77 Live CD
Around You – From The Superjam 77 CD
Blind Man – From The Superjam 77 Live CD
Is That News – From The Superjam 77 CD
Crusader – From The Superjam 77 Live CD
Facing Time – From The Superjam 77 CD
Rogues Moon – From The Superjam 77 CD
Young Gypsy – From The Superjam 77 CD
Only This Money – From The Superjam 77 CD
Gypsy Queen – From The Superjam 77 CD
The Final LA Sessions
Soothe Me – From The Final LA Sessions CD
Joey – From The Final LA Sessions CD
Just Enough ( To Get Me By ) – From The Final LA Sessions CD
Rogues Moon – From The Final LA Sessions CD
Real World – From The Final LA Sessions CD
Stronger Now – From The Final LA Sessions CD
Killing Cure – From The Final LA Sessions CD
Ready For You– From The Final LA Sessions CD
Dance Marango – From The Final LA Sessions CD
Magic In My Life Version 2– From The Final LA Sessions CD
Run, Run, Run – From The Final LA Sessions CD
Woman Can’t Hide Love – From The Final LA Sessions CD
Bandtree
Gypsy
1969 to 1977
______________________________________________________
Jim Johnson Lead Guitar / Vocals 1969 to 1977
Underbeats
GYPSY
Steamers
Calvin James
_____________________________________________________________
Doni Larson Bass Guitar / Vocals 1969 to 1970
Underbeats
GYPSY
DJ Rogers
Dancer
Blue Gill’s
Calvin James
______________________________________________________
Enrico “Rico” Rosenbaum Rhythm Guitar / Vocals 1969 to 1977
Escapades
Underbeats
GYPSY
_____________________________________________________________
James Walsh Keyboards / Vocals 1969 to 1976
Hot Half Dozen
Underbeats
GYPSY
Free and Easy
James Walsh Gypsy Band
Jumpstreet
Killer Hayseeds
Del Counts
Midas Touch
_____________________________________________________________
Jay Epstein Drums 1969 to 1971
Fred & Dave Heyer Combos
New World Congregation
Underbeats
GYPSY
Winona State Big Band & Les Fields’ Turkey River All Stars
Reality
Art Resnick Quartet
Manfredo Fest
Wayne Johnson Trio
Dean Granros Trio
Bianca’s House Band (Oklahoma City)
Barney Kessel Trio
Bill Carrothers
Mandala
Bruce Henry Band
Billy Shiell Quartet
Chris Lomheim Trio
Phil Aaron Trio
Laura Caviani Trio
Jay Epstein Trio
Chemistry Lab
Framework
Klezmerica
Maintime
Nate Brown Trio
Red Planet
Christine Rosholt
CounterClockWise
Impulso
BroncowVision
Firebell
Nancy Harms
Five by Design
_____________________________________________________________
Willie Weeks Bass Guitar 1972 to 1973
Mighty Golden Voices
Amazers
Mystics
Eric Mercury and Birth Right
GYPSY
Donny Hathaway
Rufus
Various National Acts
____________________________________________________________
Bill Lordon Drums 1972 to 1973
Valdons
Blue Notes
Amazers
Esquires
Mystics
Eric Mercury and Birth Right
GYPSY
Sly and The Family Stone
Robin Trower
Fortress
Chris Aaron
Dave Steffan Band
Charlie Souza
BLX (Bill Lordan Experiment)
____________________________________________________________
Randy Cates Bass Guitar / Vocals 1972 to 1977
GYPSY
Various Bands (TX)
____________________________________________________________
Stan Kipper Drums / Vocals 1974 to 1977
GYPSY
Steamers
One World
New Primitives
____________________________________________________________
Barry Kay Keyboards / Vocals 1977
GYPSY
_____________________________________________________________
Where are they now?
Gypsy 1969 to 1977
______________________________________________________
Jim Johnson Lead Guitar / Vocals
Active in Music No
Doing What ?………………….. Passed away on September 26, 2019
_____________________________________________________________
Doni Larson Bass Guitar / Vocals
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?……………………………………. Retired
_____________________________________________________________
Enrico “ Rico “ Rosenbaum Rhythm Guitar / Vocals
Active in Music No
Doing What ?………………… Passed away on September 10, 1979
___________________________________________________________
James Walsh Keyboards / Vocals
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?……………… Playing with Gypsy & Midas Touch
____________________________________________________________
Jay Epstein Drums
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?…………………. Playing with numerous jazz bands
____________________________________________________________
Willie Weeks Bass Guitar
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?……………….. Playing with various national artists
____________________________________________________________
Bill Lordon Drums
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?…………………… Playing on various recordings
_____________________________________________________
Randy Cates Bass Guitar / Vocals
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?………………………………. Jobbing in Texas
____________________________________________________
Stan Kipper Drums / Vocals
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?………. Playing with The New Primitives & Gypsy
___________________________________________________
Barry Kay Keyboards / Vocals
Active in Music Unknown
Doing What ?…………………………………………. Unknown
_______________________________________________________
Interview
Interview Part ONE – Time = 25:33
Interview Part TWO – Time = 25:40
Interview Part THREE – Time = 23:17
Interview Part FOUR – The Final – Time = 8:44
Doni Larson INTERVIEW Part ONE – 2-16-2019
Doni Larson INTERVIEW Part TWO – 2-16-2019
Glen Pace INTERVIEW 6-2-2019
Randy Cates INTERVIEW Part ONE – 10-14-2018
Randy Cates INTERVIEW Part TWO – 10-14-2018