Did You Ever Get A Ticket To Ride?

Just as we were completing our 8th grade year at the old junior high, the Beatles song "Ticket To Ride" hit number one on the Billboard charts on May 22, 1965.  The fine print on the record label indicated that it would be included in the upcoming film Eight Arms to Hold You. There never was a Beatles film by that name. John Lennon wrote a tune called "Help!" that became the film's title song.

Most of us probably recall the band "The Ride."  Was the Beatles song the inspiration for their name?  That is highly unlikely.  What is not highly unlikely is that tomorrow, the Ride will be inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association (http://southdakotarockandrollmusicassociation.com/ and http://southdakotarockandrollmusicassociation.com/2014/ride.htm.) Unofficially, it's the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but for legal reasons, cannot call itself a Hall of Fame.  Cleveland, Ohio, has first dibs on that moniker.  Also being inducted is Cheryl Ladd (nee Stoppelmoor) from Huron, who graduated in that fine year 1969 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheryl_Ladd and http://southdakotarockandrollmusicassociation.com/2014/cherylladd.htm).

The Register had a nice article about The Ride recently.   According to the paper, the band officially formed in 1969 with members Doug Lund, Bill Williams, Bob Kenny, Gordon Johnson, and Stan Lorenz.  Stan, of course, was in our class (he was my driving partner in driver's ed our sophomore year with Mr. Keller), while the others were a year behind us.  Doug is listed as being from Volga, but he may have gone to grade school in Brookings.  He is pictured with the 7th grade in the 1965 annual, but his photo is not in the 1966 annual (a follower of this blog informed me that his family lived west of Brookings, but moved to Volga in 1966.  His older sister  married  Doug's brother in 1962.  This follower also sent the pictures below; they are the ones that appeared in the Register article). Bob Kenny, on the other hand, is not in the 1965 annual, but is shown in the 1966 annual.  My recollection is that he came here from California, and was one of the early sidewalk surfers (skateboarders) in town.  For some reason, I picture him skateboarding on the courthouse sidewalk across from our house. Sadly, he passed away in 2011.
I believe Gordon's dad was chemistry professor at SDSU.  Did his mother work at the Bug Lab north of town near Sunnyview?  My summer job there, thanks to Jim Kortan, whose mother was employed there,  helped pay my way through college.  When Billy Williams was in grade school, did he break both of his legs at the same time?  I seem to remember him out on the playground at Central walking stiff-legged for a time.

Stan appears to have been in the group for only a short time (did he get drafted or enlist?), and was replaced by Terry Rathbun, an SDSU student from Huron.  According to the article, The Ride would fill in at Hort's if the scheduled band was unable to perform (were some of the band members underage, or was that overlooked because they were singing, strumming, and drumming?).  They also played frequently at the Showboat in Lake Benton.  They won a battle of the bands in Sioux Falls, and opened for the Roarin' Red Dogs that same evening.  The also cut a 45 that year at the IGL Studio.  This studio was inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association in 2010.

From 1969 through 1972, they played extensively throughout Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota.  In early 1972, some personnel changes occurred.  Williams, Kenny, and Johnson were replaced by Lonnie Schumacher, Greg Shelden, and Todd Finnie (his dad worked at the post office, where I had part-time job from from January, 1968 through August, 1968.  He was very patient and pleasant with me as I learned how to sort and cancel mail).  Schumacher was later replaced by Mike Rieger, who had played with the Outer Limits and Cavaliers(the Cavaliers were inducted in 2010, and the Outer Limits in 2013).  In late 1972, Jim Wright (Georgia's brother?) replaced Rathbun.  Their travels were no longer limited to the surrounding states.  They played in such eastern venues as Boston; Schenectady, NY; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Washington, DC; as well as appearing in St. Louis.  Perhaps the last time they played together was at the 1989 Brookings Summer Festival, whose dates coincided with our 20 year reunion.  A number of us saw and heard them perform that Saturday afternoon.

About a year and a half ago (Jan. 2, 2013), B. E. D. had an informative and wonderful post about some of the bands that were forming during our high school days (http://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2013/01/its-been-quite-while-since-i-checked-in.html#comment-form).  He seems more knowledgeable about The Ride than the author of the Register article.

Congratulations to The Ride on their induction into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association.  They join such notables as Bobby Vee, Myron Lee and the Caddies, Marlys Roe and the Talismen, The Fabulous Flippers, The Roarin' Red Dogs, The Castaways, and many others who were a large part of the music scene in this area in the 50's and 60's.

Do you remember any of these young men?  Doug Lund (singer/percussion) is in the center; upper right is Terry Rathbun (drummer) of Huron, Bob Kenny (guitar) is lower right; Gordon Johnson (keyboards) is lower left; and Billy Williams (bass guitar) is upper right.

From left to right is Todd Finnie (keyboards), Jim Wright (drums), Doug Lund (lead singer), Mike Rieger (bass guitar), and Greg Shelden (lead guitar) of Lake Preston 

Many thanks to one of our followers for the following link of their performance at their induction:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clcRpJsHjVk&feature=youtu.be

This summer?

Hey,

I've been a bit distracted, and paying less attention than I should. Isn't there supposed to be a "45th" gathering this year?

Diane Sturdevant's Mother Passes Away

Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to Diane (Sturdevant) Rolof on the passing of her mother, Verna Sturdevant.   (http://rudesfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/RudesF1/obit.cgi?user=1277267Sturdevant).  Mary Moulton's mother (http://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2011/05/memorial-service-for-irene-moulton.html#comment-form and http://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2011/04/mary-moultons-mother-passes-away.html#comment-form), Diane's mother, and my mother were all born in Faulkton, SD, within a few years of each other, so they socialized somewhat.  My mother and Mrs. Sturdevant especially saw each other quite frequently, as they were both active at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.  Before my oldest brother moved away after college, he worked for  Mr. Sturdevant.   He generally referred to him as "Sturdy."  There was a rumor around our household that he studied better at "Sturdy's" than at our house because my other brothers and I played so noisily and probably fought so much that he was not able to concentrate sufficiently.  Communication was not our family's strong suit. The Sturdevants lived on 5th St. near Hillcrest, and I remember walking by their house in the summer as we made our way to the swimming pool. 

Diane's two older twin brothers Bob and Bill graduated in 1967, and were in the last class to graduate from the "old" high school.  After Bill joined the Army, he was sent to Vietnam.  Sadly, he lost his life defending our country (http://thewall-usa.com/info.asp?recid=50450). 

After my folks were married in 1935, they lived in Miranda, SD, a small hamlet near Faulkton. My eight older siblings were born there. Miranda might have been comparable to Bushnell back then.  I don't even know if there is anything left of the town now.  Our family moved here in 1949, so I never had the privilege(?) of living there.  When family members reminisced about life before 1949, two of the names frequently mentioned were Huss, Mrs. Sturdevant's maiden name, and Bowar, the in-laws of her sister.  If my mother were still alive, she would be about the same age as Verna's sister Irene Cordts, who, according to  the relatives, is still mentally sharp at the age of 103.   At the visitation, one of Verna's nephews (Chuck Huss?) had some interesting stories.  He was recalling some hunting expeditions with cousin Bob Sturdevant  near Faulkton.  He was also a student at SDSU in the mid-late 60's, and had some colorful recollections of the good times and experiences at Hort's. 

The basketball coach at Madison when we were in high school was named Jim Cordts.  No one at the visitation seemed to know if there was a connection between him and Mrs. Sturdevant's older sister Irene. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Diane and her family at this difficult time.