Aardvarks
Early rock band with one 45 on the Bell record label
Contents
History
The Aardvarks
(and The He-Too’s)
1961 – 1965
Late, 1961: A new band forms in the basement of the Balabon house in Brooklyn Center. The original band members are: Gene Balabon on lead guitar and lead vocals; his brother Jim Balabon on drums and lead vocals; Gary Hall on rhythm guitar and lead vocals; and Tom Dorholt on bass guitar. Gene and Jim do the majority of the lead vocals.
Gene, Jim and Gary go to the dictionary in search of a name for the new group and quickly come upon Aardvark, which they all endorse as the new band name.
The band plays for dances at Brooklyn Center High School and some out of town ballrooms and armories. The band plays songs by Buddy Holly, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, The Ventures, and other popular bands at that time.
1962: Tom Dorholt leaves the band and is replaced by Dave Waggoner on bass guitar, who eventually sings lead vocals on a number of songs. The first job with Dave is for a Sadie Hawkins dance at Brooklyn Center High School. The band plays various out state venues, most located to the North and West of Minneapolis, including Kimball, Glenwood, Pequot Lakes, Pine River and Brainerd.
1963: The band records their first (and only) 45, at a basement studio, with one microphone, in Northeast Minneapolis. The A-side is “Josephine” (Fats Domino), with both Gene and Jim on lead vocals and the B-side is “Reminiscing” (Buddy Holly), with Jim on lead vocals. 150 copies of the record are pressed on the local Bell label. Bill Diehl promotes the record at concerts and also gets the A-side some airplay on WDGY.
The band records four songs at the original Dove Recording Studio, in St. Louis Park. None of the songs from this session are released.
1963/1964: Booking agent David Anthony goes to check out the band at one of their rehearsals and decides to book the band.
Early, 1964: With the arrival of The Beatles and the British Invasion to the USA, the band adds numerous Beatles songs to their song list, with Jim doing the lead vocals. In addition, a number of Rolling Stones songs are added, with Dave doing the lead vocals. The band begins to wear matching British style outfits for their jobs.
Early, 1965: David Anthony convinces the band to change names and The Aardvarks become The He-Too’s.
Fall, 1965: The He-Too’s decide to go their separate ways and the band comes to an end. David Anthony puts a new band together, who become the second version of The he-Too’s.
UPDATE:
2010: Dave Waggoner reports his acetate of the four songs recorded by the band at Dove, deteriorated after being played numerous times and was discarded. Jim Balabon reports that he has no tape or acetate of these four songs.
Photos
Recordings
Listen
Josephine – 45 Record
Reminiscing – 45 Record
Bandtree
The Aardvarks_____________BAND TREE
Aardvarks / The He-Too’s
1961 to 1965
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Gene Balabon Lead Guitar / Vocals 1961 to 1965
The Elgado’s
The Aardvarks
The He – Too’s
Jokers Wild
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Gary Hall Rhythm Guitar / Vocals 1961 to 1965
The Aardvarks
The He – Too’s
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Jimmy Balabon Drums / Vocals 1961 to 1965
The Aardvarks
The He – Too’s
___________________________________________________________________
Tom Dorholt Bass Guitar 1961 to 1962
The Aardvarks
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Dave Waggoner Bass Guitar / Vocals 1962 to 1965
The Aardvarks
The He – Too’s
Jokers Wild
The South 40
Crow
Jack Daniels Band
Crow featuring Dave Wagner
Whiskey River
Crosscut
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Where are they now?
Aardvarks / He-Too’s Where Are They Now ?
The Aardvarks / The He-Too’s
1961 to 1965
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Gene Balabon ……………………….. Passed Away In 2005
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Jimmy Balabon …………………….. Retired, living in Minnesota
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Tom Dorholt …………………………. Passed away on May 21, 2010
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Gary Hall ……………………………… Retired, living in Missouri
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Dave Waggoner……………………… Lead Singer for Crow, living in Arizona
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Interview
Interview 25:41 Minutes