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General Assembly - Where Were They From?


Windlesoul

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Their cuts were produced by Jerry Tuttle.

Jerry started out as a recording artist (on Dot) in 1960 & moved on to cutting country, rockabilly & soul covers / soul sounding tracks on white groups / singers in the mid to late 60's.

He produced a version of "Harlem Shuffle" on the Fabulous Pack (who had been Terry Knights backing group; Terry Knight & the Pack) on Lucky Eleven in June 67.

The label was based out of Flint, Michigan and Terry Knight & the Pack had 5 or so 45's out on the inking in 66/67.

When their cover of "I (Who Have Nothing") was a big hit in 66, Cameo Parkway picked up the label for national distribution.

Knight toured all acoss the US on the back of that hit & in his backing band on that tour was Lou Ragland (in fact it was that job that got Lou back into the music biz after he had hung his guitar up for some months).

Tuttle also produced (& wrote for) Chuck Slaughter & Kay Tolliver who cut for Lucky Eleven in 65/66.

The label relocated to Nashville at the same time that Tuttle did. He seemed to go on to be in a weird country style band out of Nashville in the 70's called Tennessee Pulleybone (JMI / RCA).

Edited by Roburt
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I'm just about certain that General Assembly were from Nashville & I believe this is a picture of them ....

They seemed to be led by a guy called Larry Perigo.

Born in Nashville, TN. Larry Perigo started playing guitar at 9 years old and took up the violin while in 4th grade. He began a singing career in bands in 1963. He was later encouraged by a band member to give the saxophone a try. This resulted in him becoming a part of several local favorite bands throughout the 60‘s. In 1969 his band (The General Assembly Show) became a part of the Phil Harris Show in the main showroom at a Las Vegas hotel which featured the Harry James Orchestra and Frank Sinatra, Jr. This proved to be a great learning experience. After returning to Nashville he started The Headliners and they performed their first date on April 23, 1973 as a four piece band. It had immediate popularity in Nashville and was called to do another show with Phil Harris at the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans this time featuring the Pete Fountain Orchestra. The Headliners also did shows in a Las Vegas lounge.

post-22122-0-39162700-1359314061.jpg

Edited by Roburt
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Some of the above is guess work but as Roy Hepburn was another artist who had a 45 out on Desiree ("Loving Lies"), I checked up on his details.

He was from Nashville & was in a couple of groups from there in the 50/60's (The Sliders who cut for Decca in the 50's) & the Skipper Hunt Combo.

The Sliders would back visiting soul singers on gigs around Nashville in the 60's.

Here they are behind (well in front really) of Carla Thomas (Roy Hepburn is the drummer) ......

post-22122-0-40436900-1359317440_thumb.j

Edited by Roburt
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Was a big late Wigan play as far as I recall.

Booted in the UK on a red Demand label as Don Varner & General Assembly.

Always thought it sounded like a white garagey type thing - still one helluva crunchin' sound though.

It's the lovely looking blue issues ya don't often see about. post-1224-0-04999100-1359414761_thumb.jp

And to remind everybody what all the fuss is about.....

derek

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