The Challengers (band)
The Challengers | |
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Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Genres | |
Years active | 1962–1970 |
Labels | Sundazed, Fantasy, Teichiku Records (Union) |
The Challengers were an instrumental
Overview
The band was formed out of the pioneer surf band called
Early years
During their peak years, from late 1960 to Summer 1963, The Bel-Airs had two drummers who played gigs with the band alternately, original
The year before The Bel-Airs breakup, Richard Delvy left The Bel-Airs to form a new band called The Challengers. He brought in bassist Randy Nauert and keyboardist Jim Roberts who had played with The Bel-Airs.[2] Delvy later brought in guitarist Art Fisher who had played with The Bel-Airs during the recording of The Challengers third album On The Move. Delvy also recruited Glenn Grey (lead guitar), Don Landis (rhythm guitar) and Nick Hefner (saxophone). They played at many high schools and many local dances and clubs. They eventually earned enough money to rent a recording studio, "World Pacific" to start recording. In about three and a half hours, they had an album titled Surfbeat.[3] Saxophonist Nick Hefner played on only one track.
Surfbeat was released in January 1963 on Vault Records and quickly went up the charts. Just months earlier, The Beach Boys released a vocal single called "Surfin' Safari". Some months before The Challenger's Surfbeat release, surf music icon Dick Dale's first album Surfers' Choice was released. Surfbeat contained songs that were early influences on surf rock, including songs first recorded by The Fireballs and Duane Eddy. In the early years Rick Griffin contributed cartoons of the band that appeared on their albums and a fan oriented "Challengers Band Cartoon Book". He later became well known for his work creating psychedelic poster art later in the 1960s.
The original group released a second album titled Lloyd Thaxton Goes Surfing With The Challengers with the benefit of being associated with the popular teen television show host Lloyd Thaxton.
Years of success
The Challengers moved on and continued to record albums. During the recording of their third album On The Move,[4] Hefner, Grey, Roberts and Landis all left the band. Richard Delvy and Randy Nauert remained. Art Fisher and Ed Fournier filled two guitar spots and Phil Pruden came in on saxophone. Delvy, Fisher and Fournier also contributed to song compositions for the group.[5]
In 1964, they released their hit album K-39. The title track became a big hit and is one of their best known songs.
In addition, The Challengers produced some tracks for the car and hot rod music scene that was gaining popularity in the US on the heels of the surf craze. Delvy could see a music trend coming and capture it at just the right time.[9] Although primarily an instrumental band, the group added vocals to the following albums as all band members could also sing:[10]
At The Teenage Fair
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Challengers A Go Go
Light My Fire With Classical Gas
In the mid to late 1960s, as music changed, so did The Challengers. They began recording more pop-oriented music, like an instrumental version of "
A 1973 greatest hits release of the band was fittingly titled Where Were You In The Summer Of '62?.
Later years and reunion
The Challengers were seen in a few of 1980s surf band reunion concerts. Richard Delvy always kept in contact with his bandmates. His surf band history was extensive and he maintained his friendships with his former Bel-Airs guitarist Paul Johnson (PJ and the Galaxies) and Eddie Bertrand (Eddie & the Showmen). In 1992 a local surf company owned by Brad Jennings (The Early Sixties Company) signed an exclusive contract with Richard Delvy to reproduce the Challengers band LP covers and Rick Griffin artwork for tee shirts and surf related products. That successful relationship is still going on today through Richard's estate.
In 1994, after 24 years without new recordings, The Challengers reunited with some new members to release the album New Wave produced by band leader and founder Richard Delvy. Paul Johnson graciously joined the group to play guitar and composed. Art Fisher played guitar on "Mr. Moto", Ed Fournier contributed a new song he wrote and Richard Delvy plays drums on the new tracks. It was released on compact disc on the independent label Atmospheres. Richard Delvy died on February 6, 2010, ending his lifelong influence on music in the Los Angeles area.[12] Bassist Randy Nauert died on February 7, 2019.[13][14]
Selected discography
The Challengers | |||
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Year | Album (Label) | ||
1963 | Surfbeat (Vault LP-100; reissue: Sundazed 6029) | ||
1963 | Lloyd Thaxton Goes Surfing With The Challengers (Vault LP-101; reissue: Sundazed 6030)
| ||
1963 | On The Move (Surfing Around The World) (Vault LP-102; reissue: Sundazed 6031) | ||
1964 | K-39 (Vault LP-107; reissue: Sundazed 6032) | ||
1964 | The Challengers Go Sidewalk Surfing! (Triumph TR-100; reissue: Sundazed 6091) | ||
1965 | At The Teenage Fair (GNP Crescendo 2010) | ||
1965 | The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (GNP Crescendo 2018) | ||
1965 | Surf's Up! The Challengers On TV (Vault LP-109) | ||
1966 | California Kicks (GNP Crescendo 2025) | ||
1966 | Billy Strange & The Challengers (GNP Crescendo 2030) | ||
1966 | Wipe Out! (GNP Crescendo 2031) | ||
1966 | Challengers A Go Go [live] (Vault LP-110) | ||
1967 | 25 Greatest Instrumental Hits (GNP Crescendo 609) 2-LP | ||
1968 | Light My Fire With Classical Gas (GNP Crescendo 2045) | ||
1970 | Vanilla Funk (GNP Crescendo 2056) | ||
1994 | New Wave (Atmospheres ATD-101) |
Compilations
- Challengers' Greatest Hits (Vault LP-111, 1967)
- Where Were You In The Summer Of '62? (Fantasy F-9443, 1973) reissue of Challengers' Greatest Hits
- The Best Of The Challengers (Rhino RNLP-053, 1982)
- Killer Surf! The Best Of The Challengers (GNP Crescendo 2229, 1994)
- Tidal Wave! (Rarities, Alternate Versions & Unissued Cuts) (Sundazed 11024, 1995)
References
- ^ "The Challengers". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "Amazing Interview". vimeo.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "Surfbeat". nauert.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "On The Move". youtube.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "The Best Surf Music Bands Ever". surfertoday.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "K-39". youtube.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "Surf's Up! TV Show". youtube.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "Remember The Surfer Stomp?". ocregister.com. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "The Challengers". rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "The Challengers Secret Agent Man". youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "The Challengers Posts". facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "Surf-rock pioneer Richard Delvy dies at 67". www.reuters.com. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "Randy Nauert Paddle Out". shackedmag.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
- ^ "Malibu residents are returning to rebuild after the Woolsey fire". rollingstone.com. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
External links
- The Challengers At Facebook
- The Challengers At Randy Nauert
- The Challengers At Sundazed Music Inc.
- The Challengers At Last FM