Here's a very weird Tonight Show oddity. Unfortunately, it's not the best of quality -looks like somebody filmed it off their TV with a camcorder, but the novelty makes it. The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1966 featuring the pre-teen garage rock band(!!!) Gary and the Hornets. As Johnny mentions in their intro, they recorded for the SMASH Records label. SMASH was also home to The Walker Brothers (featuring current college radio hero Scott Walker), Jay and The Techniques, James Brown and C&W novelty sensation Roger "King of the Road" Miller. Gary and the Hornets are less famous than all of those acts. They're a fine example of how something can not be that good and still be totally amazing!
That is something, right there.
ReplyDeleteIs there a bass playing somewhere off camera?
ReplyDeleteThe kid on the right is playing bass. I'm not sure what kind though, maybe a Hagstrom Concorde?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting the video! I'm Gary of the Hornets and I haven't seen it since we performed. It brought back such great memories! Bless you.
ReplyDeleteAwesome!! Love the drums!! And the guys were so cute!
ReplyDeleteThe bass player in Gary and the Hornets is acctually the father of Hawthorne Heights guitarist Casey Calvert
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