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The majority of the information and history below was largely compiled by Louisa Smith. Yes indeed, the Great Pretenders have been around for some time now. Starting on 12/31/1970, New Years Eve...with the Kingsmen Car Club Party. At this time they had no name but History was in the making. Charlie Hollis, Ron Smith & Richard Booth had worked together in short-lived bands as "Nordlund Quid" and "The Edwin E. Badgley Memorial Glide Band." Jerry Roslie came up from California to play keyboards. Rick Nordquist, a Seattle native, played bass guitar. Several months later they decided to try their practice band in a club atmosphere. By this time Mary Roslie had replaced Richard Booth on drums. In Tacoma the Circle Cabaret allowed them to play on a Sunday afternoon. One of the very few patrons listening to the band was organizing a rally. He needed a band to open the festivities & was impressed enough to ask the band to perform. His instinct was correct...the band opened the Jane Fonda-Don Sutherland Rally at the Sports Arena on 38th Street that August. They played twice as long as they were scheduled & exited with a "Standing O". In September of 1971 the band finally picked a name and it was "The Great Pretenders". They were now playing at Baldy's in Milton five nights a week. Phil Janssen the owner of Baldy's suggested the idea of wearing Tuxedos as their band uniform which is still worn by the band to this date. The five nights a week grind soon lessened to four and finally the band moved across the street to the "Stove Inn" as a weekend band. The band soon moved on to the "Black Knight" in N. Puyallup. Mary Roslie was replaced on drums by Mike Dauer. Next to join the band in '72 was a member from Edwin E. who played organ & 12 string and his name was Frank "Arlo" Emerson. Frank came in to relieve Rick Nordquist. When Rick returned in '73 Frank shifted to the saxophone full time. In the spring of 1973 the band moved once more. This time they would end up at the Firwood Tavern. In May Richard Booth returned to play drums. Later that year Penny Capps (Anderson) & Becky Middleton added vocals to the band as "The Combettes". Charlie Hollis was known as Captain Comb. Becky left and Penny remained on until 1976 when the entire group disbanded. In 1978 the band re-grouped with Jim Boggs on bass guitar & Eddie Petersen on keyboards. Brad Cyrier joined on rhythm guitar & vocals. Charlie Hollis, Ron Smith, Richard Booth & Frank Emerson were back from the original band. Early in 1981 Ed Petersen decided to call it quits as the keyboard player. Jim Boggs recruited Jeff Morgan to "sit in" which he did for the next seven years. Morgan added a synthesizer & a 2nd Leslie organ speaker and soon added his vocal ability. The band continued at the Firwood & also played at the Red Roof Pub in 1982. Two years later in the summer of '83, the Great Pretenders once again announced they were quitting show business. They now had families, kids & things to do & places to go, or so they thought. One music-free summer proved to be very long & too boring. By fall they were talking music again. Brad & Richard had already joined another band & Jim Boggs was unavailable. Jamie Reno became the drummer and Kenny Parypa, a well known bass guitar player from the Uptown Country Boys & the Skyboys became the next member. By this time the boys in the band decided on just two weekends a month. This way they would have more time for family. Since 1983 the GP's have had several personnel changes & even played at Marlene's Galaxy for a stint, and returned to the Firwood. Kenny Parypa left the GP's in June of 1989 for a new job at Boeing, which conflicted with his availability on weekends. Regretfully, Kenny Parypa died in an automobile accident later that summer. Tom Brain joined the band on bass guitar in June of 1989 after Parypa left. He is the current bass player, unique with his 5-string bass and his superb vocal ability. Jeff Morgan left the band in 1988. Doug Skoog joined the band at that time playing keyboards and performing vocals. Doug remained with the band until 1993, when Ed Petersen rejoined from the 1978 vintage version. Frank "Arlo" Emerson opted for retirement after 19 years of commuting from North Seattle in 1991. Rich Howes became a GP when Frank left. Rich's saxophone is prominent on the GP's Anthology CD. In April of 1991, Lead Guitar player Ron Smith suffered a serious cut on a finger and was sidelined for several months. During his recuperation Tom Brain tapped an old friend from a previous band to fill in. Steve Cavanaugh was so well received he stayed on after Ron's recovery, giving the band the added dimension of two guitars and two distinct styles. Rich Howes left the band just after the release of our 1996 Anthology CD, and was replaced by Art Shore. Art played several different varieties of saxophone, and sang as well. You can hear Art's vocals as well as Charlie's and Tom's on several songs at http://www.pnwbands.com/greatpretenders.html on the www.pnwbands.com web. Jamie Reno had had enough and decided to leave in about 1998, and was replaced by drummer Billy Barner. Billy had been tapped by Tom and Steve from a side project they were working on. Billy brings a decidedly different feel to the band, hot and in the pocket. Art Shore left the band in 1999 and was replaced by Jere Knudtsen. Jere also plays a number of different saxophones, and brings a new vocal style to the band. At this same time, Brad Cyrier also rejoined the band performing vocal duties. Ed Peterson left the band in 2000 and Steve Vincent joined as the current keyboard player. Steve had previously played in a band with Jere Knudtsen. Tom Brain had enough in 2005, and Dan Mohler joined on bass. Billy Barner bowed out in 2006 and Mike Scruggs joined on Drums. Thus, the current lineup for the Great Pretenders is as follows: Charlie Hollis - Vocals Ron Smith - Guitar, Bass Vocals Steve Cavanaugh - Guitar Steve Vincent - Keyboards Dan Mohler Bass, Vocals Mike Scruggs - Drums, Vocals Brad Cyrier - Vocals Jere Knudtsen - Saxophone, Vocals Bruce Anderson - Sound Will Cyrier - Lighting |
Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005 The Great Pretenders
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