Sunrise
Club dance band (1977-1979)
Browse [Artist] Details:
History
October, 1977: The country rock band Pecos breaks up and the bass player from the band, Denny Johnson, comes up with a plan to put together a commercial show group to play the lounges and hotels, doing a wide variety of music and generating a good income. The band Sunrise comes together with Denny Johnson on bass guitar and vocals; Rick LiaBraaten on drums and vocals; John Thompson on Rhythm guitar and vocals and Mike Comer on Lead Guitar / keyboards and vocals. John Thompson, nicknamed Big John, could sing everything from Elvis to Creedence Clearwater and Merle Haggard to The Doobie Brothers. Mike Comer was known as a guy who knew more songs than anyone. The name of the band goes back to 1975 when Denny played in the band Winterwood at The Strawhouse, where one of the popular drinks was Tequila Sunrise. After a brief period of rehearsals, the band plays the Holiday Inn circuit and other lounges throughout the upper midwest.
April, 1978: Rick LiaBraaten accepts a job offer to play drums with Denny and The Tornado’s who had an on going gig at the Shorewood Inn in Fridley where they played for years. Rick leaves the band and is replaced by Dan Fashing on drums. Dan was an old friend of Mike’s.
Mid-Summer, 1978: Denny has the idea of adding John Richardson to the group in order to have five singers and expand the variety of songs. John joins the band and the band’s stable of songs grows. With John added to the band, the band now performs songs by Eddie Money, The Bee-Gee’s, Kenny Rogers, Foreigner, Bo Diddley and even The McGuire Sisters. The band becomes well known for their various song medleys, including Elvis, The Beatles and Disco.
February, 1979: John Thompson leaves the band to go to Las Vegas.
April, 1979: Dan Fashing leaves the band to return to his former band.
Denny, Mike and John R. carry on as a four piece, using a number of drummers.
August, 1979: Sunrise comes to an end. John Richardson joins Monterey. Mike Comer forms a new band called Grand Avenue, Denny Johnson joins for a while. In January, 1980, Denny leaves the band to focus on his own recording studio called Sunrise Sound.
Update:
In 2011, Denny Johnson recalls that during the entire time span of Sunrise, there was not one disagreement or one argument in the band over anything. Denny says Sunrise was “a very happy band.”
Photos – Click on Photo’s to Enlarge
Arrows Left & Right
CDs
Baby Baby Fallin’ in Love – from CD One
Listen What The Man Said – from CD One
Deseree’ – from CD One
Ain’t No Sunshine ( When She’s Gone) – from CD One
Sangria Wine – from CD One
My Sweet Lady – from CD One
Marguerittaville – from CD One
Your Mama Don’t Dance – from CD One
The End Is Not In Sight
Heard It In A Love Song
Let Your Love Flow
Low Down
Are You Ready For The Country
Burnin’ Love
Neil Diamond Medley
This Time You Gave Me a Mountian
Suspicious Minds
Long Train Runnin’ – From Late August CD
Devil or Angel – From Late August CD
Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance – From The August 78 CD
Bottle Of Red Wine – From The August 78 CD
Happy Anniversary – From The “WILD” At The Matador CD
Heart of a Saturday Night – From “Wild” At The Matador CD
Beatles Medley ( 6-songs )
More Than a Woman
Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance
I Wouldn’t Wanna Be Like You
Burn’in Love
Up Against The Wall You Red Neck Mother
Tush
Love Me – From Live At The Matador
oh Darlin’ – From Live At The Matador CD
Who’s That Lady – From Live At The Matador CD
CC Rider – From The Live At The Matador CD
Bandtree
Sunrise BAND TREE
Sunrise 1977 to 1979
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John Thompson Rhythm Guitar / Vocals 1977 to 1979
Winterwood
Big John J & B
Pecos
Gold Dust
SUNRISE
JT Silverstar
Thompson & Tolson
Honky Tonk Angels
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Mike Comer Lead Guitar / Keyboards / Vocals 1977 to 1979
The Jagsmen
The Casualties
The Sir Raleigh’s
Marauders
Apricot Brandy
American Way
Moxie
Highway 35W
Royal
SUNRISE
Grand Avenue
Splash
Midnight Flight
Beatles Forever
Mendota Life
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Denny Johnson Bass Guitar / Vocals 1977 to 1979
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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Dan Fashing Drums / Vocals 1977 to 1979
Johnny’s Hot Six
Special Care
Ruby and the Fever’s
Sai Hik Picalla
Shortcake
Danny’s Reasons
SUNRISE
Uptown Manhattan
Shaker
Will Sumner and Tropic Zone
617 Band
Boday
The Sam Cooke Tribute Band
Moon Dogs
Sugartree
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John Richardson Lead Guitar / Vocals 1978 to 1979
Knights of Day
Cold Steel
Wild Kingdom
Jerome Nalla
Apricot Brandy
Reflections
Clouds
Butterfoot
Strait Up
Jeffery BC
Energy
Pulse
Blackjack
SUNRISE
Monteray
Crow featuring Dave Wagner
The Ryder Band
Silver Rose
Dick Tracy
Big City
Flyers
Common Ground
Legacy
Monarc
Artisan
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Rick LiaBraaten Drums / Vocals 1977 to 1977
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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Where are they now?
Sunrise Where Are They Now ?
Sunrise 1977 to 1979
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John Thompson Rhythm Guitar / Vocals
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?….. Playing in Honky Tonk Angels in Los Vegas
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Mike Comer Lead Guitar / Keyboards / Harmonica / Vocals
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?.. … Jobbing in Florida
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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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Dan Fashing Drums / Vocals
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?……. Jobbing in Minnesota
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John Richardson Lead Guitar / Vocals
Active in Music Yes
Doing What ?……… Playing in Artisan
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Interview
(interview here)