The original
Regents of Tacoma are often heralded as
the best 60's band in the Puget Sound area
of Washington that never cut a record. A
later version of the band did secure a
recording contract with Etiquette Records
of Tacoma, WA, and recorded a few songs
for them before they finally broke up in
early 1967. The original members of the
Regents were Dave Roland (drums), Rich
Liebe (lead guitar), Billy McPherson (sax
and other wind instruments), Sam Carlson
(bass), and Richard Rossiter (rhythm
guitar and trumpet). The band formed with
the original members in the autumn of
1963. Personnel: Influences: Equipment:
Rehearsal
Space: Band
Vehicles: Fashion
Statement: Best
Gig: Gig
from
Hell!: Last
Gig: The
Regents Left: The Regents hamming
it up in a photo booth. Right: The Regents,
clockwise from top; Sammy Carlson, Below: The Regents,
packin' em in
Dave, Billy and Rich are in
Washington, Richard is in Colorado, while Sammy resides in
Georgia. For even more info about The
Regents including latest news about the band visit their
website at: Also check our Sammy's website
devoted to Pacific northwest Bands: Information contributed by Sammy Carlson |
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Lots has happened since I first submitted the Regents page to My First Band. We have been getting together annually for fun, gigs and having a blast. In 2000 we played out at a club in Puyallup, Washington for a private event. Then in 2002 we gathered to join in on the festivities at Meadow Music Fest in Washington along with a couple dozen other bands. We didn't bother to practice or have a set list and went on for three straight hours. Sadly, we lost one of the band member to cancer in 2002. Terry Bailey was our front man during our last two years of the band. He did get to get back on the stage a few months before he died, opening for Starship in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. Early in 2003 I found the last of our singers, Sue Isekite (McNulty). She was as excited as I was to be 'found. She joined the old band to play our first public gig in Washington since the 1960's and that was at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, WA for the Louie Louie Festival. We went on just before the Kingsmen. We had all the original band except for Dave Roland (drums). Dave couldn't make it, so we enlisted Raoul Rossiter, the son of our rhythm guitar player, Richard Rossiter, to beat the drums for us and what a pleasant surprise that was. Raoul is one killer drummer!!!! Sue was back on stage with us and backing her up were two band daughters… Traci (Rich Liebe's daughter), and Heidi (Sue's daughter). The front line was all originals… Billy McPherson on Saxophone and Keys, Richard Rossiter on rhythm guitar, Rich Liebe on lead Guitar and of course yours truly, Sammy Carlson on bass. We started out with a few instrumentals then brought up the girls. The night before we only got in about 2 hours practice plus 6 hours of socializing, laughing and eating. The people putting on the event messed up a little bit by putting us on a side stage. We drew all but about 100 people out of the stadium so when the Kingsmen started they had no audience. They were all over dancing to and singing along with The Regents. Another thing the promoters of the event failed to take advantage of was that our little Susie Isekite, unknown to us until 2002, had taken top female vocalist in Star Search in the late 1980's. She had a great but brief career in music then gave it up to go home to take care of her ailing parents. One thing that never left here was her voice. She showed that to the people at Cheney Stadium. She was noticed afterwards as the Wailers had her singing with them for several months afterwards until she decided to spend more time at home with the grandkids. The soundman was so engrossed in listening to us and answering audience inquiries about the band that the sound board recorder did not get turned on. Fortunately, there was a small hand held recorder in the audience that captured the event including the voices of people in the audience talking about us. Clips and some full songs from that little tiny recorder can be found at http://theregents.net/wavs.htm On that page are also some clips from MM2K3, a musicians reunion gathering that was held the following week. 2004 was the planned musician gathering at Lake Cushman, and for 2005 we were invited to bring all our old music buddies and our band to play at the Feast at Forks in Washington. That will be our 2005 gathering for the band, along with the Epics, Gretchen Christopher's Sweet Sixteen (yes… the Mr. Blue, Come Softly to Me, Gretchen Christopher of the Fleetwoods), Solid Citizens (out of Vancouver, British Columbia), Ice Age (a surprise band made up of some well-known old NW musician), The Fabulous Bel-Airs, The Regents, The Rhythm Rockets (very early 1950's NW rock band) and many more. We had some interesting times at the 2003 gathering. Our lead guitar player and his daughter were late, so we had to start without him. Billy McPherson switched to lead guitar, we brought in Laurie Johnson of Blues Alliance on backing vocals, Steve Sarandos came in on Saxophone and Sonny Schaaf on keys. With this "New" band we started our set and were really rocking. Rich and Traci finally made it and without missing a beat, they joined in until we finished. Don't tell Rich, but I think Billy had a cooler version of Wailers House Party on his guitar. Not bad for a horn player! The Regents are a band again. After all these years we still feel as if we are more brother and sisters than just a few kids who were in a rock band together in the 60's. Now with the second generation of the Regents joining in, perhaps it will continue for a few more decades. Sound clips from 2003 are available at: http://theregents.net/wavs.htm and more of the story of the band can be found at http://theregents.net/us.htm
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Sam, Lauri, Heidi, Richard, Bill, Billy, Steve and Sonny The Regents @ Washington's Meadow Music Fest 30-31 August 2003 |
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