Underbeats
The top local dance band with vocal harmonies like no other! One of the most successful 1960s Minnesota groups.
History
1962 – 1969
1962: The band gets together with members from North Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center. The lineup is: Jim Johnson on guitar, Russ Hagen on guitar and lead vocals, Doni Larson on bass guitar and Bob “Duke” Duane on drums. The band practices in Doni Larson’s basement in Brooklyn Center and they learn to play Chuck Berry songs and also more obscure Blues and R & B songs.
1963: Russ Hagen leaves the band to enter the military service and Ray Berg joins on guitar, with Jim taking over the lead vocals. The band plays their first job at Chisago City Civic Center, with Russ who is home on leave. Bob also leaves the band for military service after the first job and Rod Eaton becomes the new drummer. This version of the band plays their first job at Bill’s Roller Rink in Anoka. The band starts playing the local teen clubs, ballrooms and roller rinks (including the Bloomington Rink) and quickly build a strong fan base.
1964: The band meets George Garrett, who records numerous 45’s with the band for his labels, Garrett, Bangar and Twin Town. The bands first 45, “Foot Stompin’” becomes a big hit on the local radio stations. “Foot Stompin” was originally recorded by a Los Angeles R and B group called The Flares.
1965: Tommy Nystrom, from The Accents, replaces Rod Eaton on drums and also does vocals.
1966: Ray Berg leaves the band to get married and is replaced by Enrico Rosenbaum, from The Escapades, recruited by Jim Johnson. The Underbeats become one of the top local dance bands and have numerous songs on the local radio stations.
1966: Jim Johnson is drafted and serves in Vietnam. Prior to leaving for the army, Johnson hires Wally Walstead (from Wilmar) to play guitar and James Walsh (from The Hot Half Dozen) for vocals. Walsh also plays keyboards. The line-up now is Doni Larson, Enrico Rosenbaum, Tom Nystrom, James Walsh and Wally Walstead. The band continues to gain popularity. This version of the band is together until Jim Johnson returns from the service in September, 1968.
1967: Jim Johnson comes home on leave and the band records another 45: “Footsteps” written by Jim Johnson and “Find This Woman” written by Pete Steinberg. The record is produced by Pete Steinberg and released on the Stature label. For this recording the band is called Calvin James and The Haymarket Riot.
The group records a 45 for the local Metrobeat label: “It’s Gonna Rain Today”, written by Enrico Rosenbaum, with James Walsh on lead vocals. The B side is a cover version of “The Sweetest Girl in the World.” Jim Johnson is not on this 45.
1968: Jim Johnson rejoins the band and Wally Walstead leaves. Now the band has four of the top lead singers in town and become known for their vocal harmonies. The band is considered by many to be the top local dance band in the twin cities area.
The band’s final 45 is released: Darkness and You’re Losing Me, both songs written by Jim Johnson and Enrico Rosenbaum. This 45 is on the local Pip label, run by Ira Heilicher.
November, 1968: The band decides to relocate to Los Angeles, California. With Steve Freeman (a friend of Enricos from high school) as manager, the band gets a steady job at Gezzarris, a popular dance club on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. The band is given an official new name by the club owners and local fans, The Groovy People.
1969: Tommy Nystrom leaves the band to return to Minnesota and is replaced by Jay Epstein, a drummer from Winona. The Underbeats change their name and become Gyspy. Doni Larson is credited with the name change, based on the bands lifestyle (“look at us, we are living like gypsies”). After much success over the bands eight years, The Underbeats era comes to an end and the Gypsy era begins.
Update:
A number of unreleased songs by the band, including live performances surface over the years. Four songs were released as part of a compilation album that features local bands that recorded at Dove Recording Studio: “Love to You”; “Don’t You Lie to Me”; “Wishes Don’t Come True” and “Fate of a Fool”.
In 2004 The Underbeats were inducted into the Rock Country Hall of Fame at the Medina Ballroom.
Photos (Click a photo to see it full-screen, then click the arrows to see the next one.)
Recordings
Big Hits of Mid-America Volume 1
Best of Metrobeat
Free Flight
Top Teen Bands Volumes 1, 2, 3
The SOMA Story
Footstompin’ / Route 66
Foot Stompin’– From the All the Singles CD
Route 66 – From the All the Singles CD
Annie Do The Dog / Sweet Words of Love
Annie Do The Dog – From the All the Singles CD
Sweet Words of Love – From the All the Singles CD
Little Romance / Broken Arrow
Little Romance – From the All the Singles CD
Broken Arrow – From the All the Singles CD
Our Love / Jo Jo Gunne
Our Love– From the All the Singles CD
Jo Jo Gunne– From the All the Singles CD
Book of Love / Darling Lorraine
Book of Love – From the All the Singles CD
Darling Lorraine – From the All the Singles CD
I Can’t Stand It / Shake It For Me
I Can’t Stand It – From the All the Singles CD
Shake It For Me – From the All the Singles CD
It’s Gonna Rain Today / Sweetest Girl in The World
It’s Gonna Rain Today– From the All the Singles CD
Sweetest Girl in The World – From the All the Singles CD
Footsteps / Find This Woman
Footsteps – From the All the Singles CD
Find This Woman – From the All the Singles CD
You’re Losing Me / Darkness
You’re Losing Me – From the All the Singles CD
Darkness – From the All the Singles CD
Bobby’s Volume One
My Girl – From Bobby’s Vol. One
Gypsy Woman – From Bobby’s Vol. One
Hello Stranger – From Bobby’s Vol. One
I’ll Be There – From Bobby’s Vol. One
It’s Alright – From Bobby’s Vol. One
Bobby’s Volume Two
It’s Not Unusual – From Bobby’s Vol. Two
Sweet Soul Music – From Bobby’s Vol. Two
Beauty’s Only Skin Deep – From Bobby’s Vol. Two
Lonely Too Long – From Bobby’s Vol. Two
Just One Look – From Bobby’s Vol. Two
Collectables
Tonights The Night – From Collectables
All The Singles
Footstompin’ – From All The Singles
Sweet Words of Love – From All The Singles
It’s Gonna Rain Today – From All The Singles
Bandtree
| Jim Johnson Lead Guitar / Vocals (1962-1969) |
The Underbeats Gypsy The Steamers Calvin James |
| Russ Hagen Rhythm Guitar / Vocals (1962-1963) |
The Underbeats Dave Brady & The Stars Willie (Murphy) & The Bees |
| Doni Larson Bass Guitar / Vocals (1963-1969) |
The Underbeats Gypsy DJ Rogers Dancer Blue Gil’s Calvin James |
| Bob “Duke” Duane Drums (1962-1963) |
The Underbeats |
| Ray Berg Rhythm Guitar / Vocals (1963-1965) |
The Del Gardo’s The Underbeats |
| Rod Eaton Drums / Vocals (1963-1965) |
The Young Lords Jazz Group The Underbeats The Lancers TC Atlantic Choir Crystal Dave Mark Syndicate M.G. Ruppert Rock Club Trio |
| Tom Nystrom Drums / Vocals (1965-1969) |
The Accents The Underbeats Jumbo Triva F Troop The Hi Tops Stagebrush Ringer Alfalpha Males |
| Enrico “Rico” Rosenbaum Rhythm Guitar / Vocals (1965-1969) |
The Escapades The Underbeats Gypsy |
| Loren “Wally” Walstad Lead Guitar (1966-1968) |
The Defiant’s The Underbeats The Chicagoans John Stafford & The Entertainers Jumbo Los Tres Bossmen Five O Nine Zoo Allison Bristow Norm Stratton (‘Stormin’ Norman) Ron Lee and The Expressions Fever Dom and the Domino’s |
| James Walsh Keyboards / Vocals (1966-1969) |
The Hot Half Dozen The Underbeats Gypsy Free and Easy James Walsh Gypsy Band Jumpstreet Killer Hayseeds |
Where are they now?
- Jim Johnson
- Jim passed away at age 76 on September 26, 2019.
- Russ Hagen
No longer active in music, Russ lives in Florida. - Doni Larson
- Retired. Living in Minnesota.
- Bob Duane
No longer active in music, otherwise unknown. - Ray Berg
No longer active in music, Ray lives in Minnesota. - Rod Eaton
No longer active in music, Rod lives in Minnesota. - Tom Nystrom
Tom passed away at age 60 on May 22, 2004. - Enrico “Rico” Rosenbaum
Rico passed away in 1979. - Loren “Wally” Walstad
Passed away at age 67 on September 3, 2014 - James Walsh
Keyboards / Vocals with Gypsy and Midas Touch.
Interview
Listen PART ONE – Time = 19:58
Listen PART TWO – Time = 20:14
Listen PART THREE – Time = 19:25
Listen Part FOUR – Time = 24:32