The Loved Ones

The Loved Ones Band was organized in 1965 during members school term at West Memphis Sr. High and Marion Ar. High School.Members of the band had already played in several bands starting in Jr. High as marching band members and just individual interest in playing for a piece of the door and renting buildings if gigs weren’t available at the time.The Beatles were invading America and getting all the "chicks" after them.We pursued a similar avenue but wasn’t near as succesful by any means.One member ,Gary Taylor had been playing drums with a group called "The Constellations" in 1963 and met the late Tommy Jay Rasico at a talent show (singing Mack The Knife)in West Memphis Jr High to form after the first band,Tommy Jay & The Escorts;playing all over the midsouth area for teen dances and a few clubs.They backed up early stars such as Charlie Rich(later known as "The Silver Fox,(Behind Closed Doors) that was recording for Sun Studio before their time and the late Jumpin’ Gene Simmons’also from Sun Studio(rockabilly tunes) and Hi Records doing songs like" Haunted House"on local TV dance stations that George Kline(Elvis’s friend) was host.Eventually Taylor resigned because of school problems and went into short depression until The Loved Ones were formed after a short stint with Barry Nix’s "Phychos"..A gusty ,mellow high school choir crooner,Don Christain gave rock a try and The Escorts former bass player,Ronnie Mason; jumped in and Jim Butler ;a secluded high strung and defined for perfection guitarist;taking two hours sometimes to tune up and Ronnie Whitten;known for his talented guitar playing just standing around,watching us play at dances;joined us(he looked like Harpo Marx(HA)but great guitar player as well as electric piano.We were so loved at the time by the girls,we named ourselves "The Loved Ones".The only problem was,everyone was dancing to Beatle and soul songs and we were playing "Byrds,Cream,Jimmy Hendrix,Zombies" and other famous wild groups.The Zombies redemed us a little.We played several times at a club called the" Bitter Lemon".It was a folk type club and everyone gave us a boostful cheer and clapping after we did "Eight Miles High" by the Byrds.During a break,I passed a table with some guy jeering us and said his band was better than ours.Come to find out,he managed The Guilliteens which was a fabulous three man group.This was Elvis’s favorite garage band.I think he was a bit envious!Son ,after that we were named top band at the 60s’ Club in Memphis because The Guilliteens disbanded because of manager trouble in Hollywood.Finally our group went our seperate ways with Taylor playing for "The Chasers" in Memphis and Jim Butler,Ron Mason started Crazy Horse ,and Cardboard Box doing their wild rampage.Christain chose a career in local acting in plays .Ronnie Whitten drifted off to the Marines while playing some with the late Tommy Jay before his adventure.Taylor wound up with Nobdy Else ,later became BLackOak Arkansas...early 70s’...During 2000;Taylor found old reel to reel tapes of The Loved Ones and the band was started back up with the original members in 2002.Whitten later dropped out doing studio work in his home...Today we play for a few festivals and contemplating a new CD and hiring roadeys to carry our heavy equipment.(HA)..The bottom line is;it was a heck of a ride all those years and the music will never die!..Our advice to other Garage Bands is to never give up.Do what you Like.learn to live that lifestyle if thats what you want.Oh yea,thank God for the gift of music....Your friends in music...THE LOVED ONES