The Smoke Ring Norfolk, Nebraska 1965-1973    A combination of Norfolk, NE bands (The Strollers & Little Joe & The Ramrods) - in late 1965. First recorded at Sullivan Studio's in Oklahoma City, OK. Then started backing musicians like Dickey Lee, Bobby Wood, Tommy Roe, The Shangri-La's, and Rufus Thomas. Dickey Lee took us to Memphis, TN to record at Sam Phillips Recording Studio (2d home of SUN Records). Released "That Girl Was My Girl One Time" on MALA Records. Numerous sessions at Sam Phillips Studio, later produced "No Not Much" released regionally on Gold Dust Records, later leased to Buddah Records in New York after heavy local sales. Rose to Billboard Hot-100 about #75, and hit Top-50 on Record World and Cash Box Magazine. Hit #1 locally in Memphis, Boston, San Fransisco, Omaha, etc. Appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in March, 1969 with Tommy Roe. Members continued to evolve. Released "High on a Rainbow" on Certron in late 1969. Band continued till 1973 w/ name change to M.S. Funk (Tommy Shaw on lead)   Personnel: Little Joe Hupp - Keys Nick Hupp - Bass Bob "Tunda" Hupp - Guitar Jim Casey -Guitar/Sax Dave Dohren - Trumpet Chuck Asmus - Drums/Vocals Roger Volk - Drums/Vocals Mike "Pinky" Semrad - Guitar/Trumpet/Valve Trombone Jerry Benjamin - Drums Tom Benjamin - Drums Greg Goodman - Keyboards Ron McClure - Trumpet Jon Hischke - Sax Steve Dahl - Vocals Garth Fundis - Vocals Keith Goins - Guitar TOMMY SHAW - Guitar/Vocals Colin Keefe - Vocals Lindy Gallaher -Bass Influences: The Fabulous Flippers, RB Bands Setlist Sample: Our hits "No Not Much" & "Portrait of My Love" (Buddah Records), Various RB Covers. Equipment: Fender Amps, Matching Gibson Black guitars, Hammond B-3 Organ w/ Leslie, Sax, Trumpet, Valve Trombone, Trombone. Rehearsal Space: Hupp Brothers parents basement - Norfolk, NE. Band Vehicles: 1947 Blue Flex Bus + later "Yellow" the Truck. Fashion Statement: Through 1969- Matching Tux Outfits (various) - then moving to mismatched outfits of the day. Best Gig: Dick Clarks American Bandstand (March 1969) & The Cock-&-Bull Lounge (Memphis, TN) as we were #1 in Memphis at that time on WHBQ Radio ("No Not Much"- Buddah Records). Gig from Hell!: Roger Volk falling off his drums laughing at Tunda "Skylon-Ballroom" Hartington, NE. Last Gig: Band name changed to "M.S. Funk" in early 1973 in Muscle Sholes, Alabama. Comments: Info & photos of the band can be found at www.nebrocks.org        Where are they now? Fall, 2003 Tommy Shaw - lead singer with STYX, Garth Fundis - Record Producer in Nashville ("Trisha Yearwood, Garbage, Chrystal Gayle, etc), Little Joe Hupp - Booking Agent (Tulsa, OK- Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Clark, David Allen Coe, Carl Perkins), Jim Casey- Songwriter/Publishing-Nashville, Mike Semrad-Banker in Nebraska, Chuck Asmus & Tom Benjamin - school teachers in NE and Hawaii, Jerry Benjamin-ConAgra Exec (CA), Dave Dohren - 3M Exec in OR, Roger Volk - RespCare Specialist in NE, Bob Hupp - Realtor in NE, Nick Hupp (deceased-2002), Greg Goodman - musician in NE, Jon Hischke - Printer/Musician in NE, Steve Dahl - Booking Agent in Nashville.    Information contributed by Mike Semrad msemrad@anbf.com or mjsemrad@msn.com

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