Dave Myers and The Surftones

Dave Myers and The Surftones were a Southern California surf group who are most likely remembered for the few singles they recorded in the 1960s which include their cover of The Revels hit "Church Key" and their time at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa, California.

Dave Myers and The Surftones
OriginSouthern California, United States
Years active1962 (1962)–1963 (1963)
LabelsImpact, Del-Fi
Past membersDave Myers
Bob Hurtly
Bob Morosco
Jon Curtis
Johnny Miller
Bob Colwell
Ross Van Kliest
Dennis Merrit
Bob Quarry
Johnny Curtis
Seaton Blanco

Group background

The Surftones were from Laguna Beach.[1] The majority of the group had majored in music at college. Myers himself was a multi-instrumentalist. As well as playing guitar, he played steel guitar, tenor sax, trumpet and bongos. Their lineup in 1962 consisted of Dave Myers on lead guitar, Jon Curtis on rhythm guitar, Johnny Miller on bass guitar, Bob Hurtly on saxophone, and Bob Morosco on drums.[2]

In 1962, Dave Myers and his group as well as another group called the Rhythm Rockers were regulars at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa, California. They became the house band at the venue, having taken over from Dick Dale and his band.[3][4]

Myers's father owned a store that was visited by Bob Hafner who was the partner of Tony Hilder. One day Hafner and Myers Sr. were having a conversation that got on to the subject of music. A short time later Hilder turned up. He came to one of their practice sessions and heard their version of "Church Key", a song he held the rights to.[5] They would end up having two singles released on Hilder's Impact label. They were "Moment Of Truth" bw "Frogwalk" . They also covered The Revels hit "Church Key" bw "Passion" as Dave Myers and his Surf-Tones.[6]

In late 1963, drummer Bob Callwell left the group. He was replaced by Ross van Kleist.[7] Also in late 1963, the group played at the Second Annual Surf Fair, held at the Santa Monica Auditorium. This live event was recorded live and released on the Impact label as Shake! Shout! & Soul.[8][9][10]

In 1964 Dave Myers and his group recorded a vocal single. After that he was playing instrumental music. In the mid-1960s, he recorded as the Dave Myers Effect, releasing an album called Greatest Racing Themes.[11] It was later released on the Carole label in 1968.[12] This album was produced by Larry Brown a/k/a Lawrence Brown who provided the music for the 1968 biker film, The Angry Breed.[13][14][15]

Venues

Other venues the group has played at include the San Clemente Ballroom.[16] They also played at the Harmony Park Ballroom in Anaheim, California at the request of Dick Dale. Dale, who had an almost unblemished attendance record, was unable to perform so he asked Myers and his group to fill in for him on that occasion.[17]

Later years

Their cover of "Church Key" is on the ultimate surf music playlist by SurferToday.com.[18] In the 1980s, a Southern Californian surf music band called Kerry & The Surftones had based their name on, or had on Dave Myers and The Surftones as inspiration for their name.[19]

Lineup

1962
  • Dave Myers ......... lead guitar
  • Bob Hurtly ........... sax
  • Bob Morosco ...... drums
  • Jon Curtis ........... rhythm guitar
  • Johnny Miller ...... bass[20]

Later
  • Dave Myers ......... lead guitar
  • Bob Colwell ......... drums
  • Ross van Kliest ... drums (replaced Bob Callwell)
  • Dennis Merrit ....... sax
  • Bob Quarry .......... piano
  • Johnny Curtis ...... rhythm guitar
  • Seaton Blanco ..... bass[21]

Discography
Singles
Title Release info Year Notes
"Moment of Truth" // "Frogwalk" Impact 20-IM
"Church Key" // "Passion" Impact 27-IMX
"Gear!" // "Let the Good Times Roll" Wickwire 13008 [22]
Albums
Title Release info Year F Notes
Hangin' 20 Del-Fi DFLP-1239 1963 LP [23]
Various artist compilation appearances
Title Appears on Release info Year F Notes
"Aqua Limbo"
"Laguna Limbo Luau"		 Surf's Up! At Banzai Pipeline Northridge Records NM101 1963 LP [24]

References
  1. Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock 'n' Roll's Last Stand in 60s Hollywood Domenic Priore Page 1966
  2. Surf & Hot Rod Music of the 60's: Collectors Quick Reference By R. Duane Cozzen Page 49 Dave Myers & The Surftones, This is the 1962 lineup of the original band.
  3. All Music Dave Myers, Biography by Richie Unterberger
  4. Southern California Surf Music, 1960-1966 By John Blair Page 88
  5. Surfin' Guitars: Instrumental Surf Bands of the Sxties By Robert J. Dalley Page 298
  6. 45Cat Impact (California) - Label Discography
  7. Surfin' Guitars: Instrumental Surf Bands of the Sxties By Robert J. Dalley Page 299
  8. Surfin' Guitars: Instrumental Surf Bands of the Sxties By Robert J. Dalley Page 299
  9. Surf Classics Shake! Shout! & Soul!
  10. Collectors Frenzy Shake! Shout! & Soul! w/lil Ray ULTRA RARE 60s surf music LP (Impact) Archived 2015-11-17 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Surf & Hot Rod Music of the 60's: Collectors Quick Reference By R. Duane Cozzen Page 48 Dave Myers & The Surftones, Albums (LP's)
  12. Billboard July 6, 1968 Page 13 GNP Crescendo Records Action Albums
  13. Artists Direct Greatest Racing Themes
  14. Discogs The Dave Myers Effect – Greatest Racing Themes
  15. Grindhouse Database The Angry Breed
  16. Swegles, Fred (August 1, 2012). "Resurrected San Clemente ballroom celebrates 75 years". Orange County Register.
  17. My First Guitar: Tales of True Love and Lost Chords from 70 Legendary Musicians By Julia Crowe, Andy Summers Dick Dale
  18. SurferToday.com The best surf songs of all time
  19. Sonicbids Kerry & The Surftones
  20. Surf & Hot Rod Music of the 60's: Collectors Quick Reference By R. Duane Cozzen Page 49 Dave Myers & The Surftones, This is the 1962 lineup of the original band.
  21. Surf & Hot Rod Music of the 60's: Collectors Quick Reference By R. Duane Cozzen Page 47 Dave Myers & The Surftones
  22. Surf & Hot Rod Music of the 60's: Collectors Quick Reference By R. Duane Cozzen Page 48 Dave Myers & The Surftones, Singles (45's)
  23. Surf & Hot Rod Music of the 60's: Collectors Quick Reference By R. Duane Cozzen Page 48 Dave Myers & The Surftones, Albums (LP's)
  24. Discogs - Various – Surfs Up! At Banzai-Pipeline
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