Pecos / Gold Dust
A four-piece band rides the wave of popularity in country rock music, with vocal harmonies.
History
1976 – 1977
February, 1976: John Thompson calls Denny Johnson to find out if he is interested in starting a new band, as his current band (Big John J & B) is coming to an end. Denny Johnson was not in a band at the time and accepts the offer. Denny contacts a longtime friend, Rick LiaBraaten, who played drums with Thundertree and Rick signs on with the group and locates Gary Cutter, who joins on lead guitar. The four-piece band begins rehearsals.
The band Pecos comes together in Denny Johnson’s home studio (later known as Sunrise Sound) with following line up: Gary Cutter on lead guitar and vocals; John Thompson on rhythm guitar and vocals; Denny Johnson on bass guitar and vocals; and Rick LiaBraaten on drums and vocals.
Due to the popularity of country music at this time and the large number of local clubs that featured country bands, the name Pecos is chosen, in order to have a better chance of being hired by the clubs that featured country bands. In addition to country songs, the band plays a wide variety of popular hits at the time.
March, 1976: Following brief a period of rehearsals, the new band plays its first job, a four night stint at Will’s Place in Elk River (now Broadway Bar and Pizza on Highway 10) on March 17, 18, 19 and 20.
The band plays at the following venues: Will’s Place (Elk River); Zeik’s Lounge (Elk River); The Windjammer (Clearwater); City Zoo (Zimmerman); Dezeil’s Supper Club (Anoka); Greenhaven Country Club (Anoka); The Hofbrau (Blaine); Norm and Mike’s (Minneapolis), the Tempo Bar (Minneapolis); the Launching Pad (Moundsview); Mr. Bob’s (Crystal); The Bethel Inn (East Bethel) and the Holiday Inn (Anoka). The band booked most of their gigs and Chuck Arthur from Chuck Arthur talent obtained a long term booking for the group at the Hofrau.
September 1976: Rick LiaBraaten leave’s the band and is replaced by John Adolphson on drums and the band decides to change their name to Gold Dust, due to the new band member.
January 1977: John Adolphson leaves the band and is replaced by an old friend of Denny’s, Lance Dunkirk on drums who had played with Denny in Winterwood (version two). The band returns to their original name, Pecos, as the band had developed good relationships with club owners using the original band name and the name Pecos made the band easy to book.
October 1977: Lance Dunkirk decides to return to Loveland, Colorado and Pecos comes to an end.
November 1977: John Thompson, Denny Johnson and Rick Liabraaten decide to start a new band called Sunrise with Mike Comer joining the group on lead guitar and vocals.
Photos (Click a photo to see it full-screen, then click the arrows to see the next one.)
Recordings
Will’s Place
Muscrat Love – from Will’s Place CD
3rd Rate Romance – from Will’s Place CD
Rhinestone Cowboy – from Will’s Place CD
Slow Dancin’ – from Will’s Place CD
If You Wanna Get To Heaven – from Will’s Place CD
We Had It All – from Will’s Place CD
Let Your Love Flow – from Will’s Place CD
Good Hearted Woman – from Will’s Place CD
The Windjammer
Shake Your Money Maker – from The Windjammer CD
All I Have To Offer You Is Me – from The Windjammer CD
Down By The River – from The Windjammer CD
Heard It In A Love Song – from The Windjammer CD
I Ain’t Got No Home – from The Windjammer CD
New Ray of Sunshine – from The Windjammer CD
The Right Time of The Night – from The Windjammer CD
Rockin’ Me Baby – from The Windjammer CD
Bandtree
Pecos 1976 to 1977
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John Thompson Rhythm Guitar / Vocals 1976 to 1977
Winterwood
Big John J & B
PECOS
Gold Dust
Sunrise
JT Silverstar
Thompson & Tolson
Honky Tonk Angels
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Gary Cutter Lead Guitar / Vocals 1976 to 1977
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PECOS
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Denny Johnson Bass Guitar / Vocals 1976 to 1977
Jokers Wild
Flash Tuesday
Mojo Buford Band
Lexy Johnson Band
Bazooka
Carrion
Bullet
Christopher
Cookiefoot
Denny Johnson Group
Winterwood
PECOS
Gold Dust
Sunrise
Grand Avenue
Crow featuring Dave Wagner
JT Silverstar
Jynx
The Bowery Boys
The Dick Tracy Band
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Rick LiaBraaten Drums / Vocals 1976 to 1976
The Transgressor’s
Good Idea
Thunder Tree
The Hombres
Showcase
PECOS
Sunrise
Denny and the Tornado’s
The Artisan
Main Street
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Lance Dunkirk Drums / Vocals 1977 to 1977
Bobby and The Shy Guys
The Starliners
Winterwood
PECOS
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Where are they now?
Pecos 1976 to 1977
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John Thompson Rhythm Guitar / Vocals
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?….. Playing in Honky Tonk Angels in Las Vegas
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Gary Cutter Lead Guitar / Vocals
Active in Music No
Doing What ?.. … passed away March 3rd, 2004
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Denny Johnson Bass Guitar / Vocals
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?……. Studio Session Work – Re-Mastering and Band History
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Rick LiaBraaten Drums / Vocals
Active in Music No
Doing What ?.. ….. Living in Minnesota
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Lance Dunkirk Drums / Vocals
Active in Music Unknown
Doing What ?……. Living in Colorado
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- Interview
picture
Interview PART ONE
audio