Syndicate of Sound
Encyclopedia
The Syndicate of Sound was an American garage band
that existed between 1965 and 1970. Originally from San Jose, California
, the band had an edgy style that some critics have considered to be a forerunner of psychedelic rock
.
) (guitar, keyboards); and John Duckworth (b. November 18, 1946, Springfield
, Missouri
?) (drums). The group was formed from the combination of two teen bands, (The Pharaohs and The Aristocrats). The Syndicate of Sound rapidly became popular in the San Jose area, and the next year won a "Battle of the Bands" competition against about 100 groups including The Golliwogs
(later Creedence Clearwater Revival
). The prize was a recording session with Del-Fi Records
, but the resulting single "Prepare For Love" was unsuccessful.
Baskin and Gonzalez continued to write new material, and came up with "Little Girl
", which the band recorded for Hush Records in San Francisco in January 1966. It became a regional hit after San Jose radio stations latched onto it, attracting the attention of executives at Bell Records in New York, who released it nationally and offered the group a contract for an album. Replacing Ray with guitarist Jim Sawyers, they wrote and recorded the LP in three weeks, and began a national tour appearing with other hit acts such as the Young Rascals, the Yardbirds, and the Rolling Stones. "Little Girl
" reached the US national pop charts in June 1966, peaking at # 8.
In an attempt to sustain their success, the band released three more singles, but none charted. Duckworth was then drafted, other members began to drop out, and the group disbanded in 1970. Baskin worked as a studio musician and arranger in Hollywood before turning to country music later in the decade.
"Little Girl" was later recorded by other artists, including Dwight Yoakam
and English pseudo-punk group The Banned
- an offshoot of prog-rock
band Gryphon
- who reached the UK charts with it in 1977. The American punk group the Dead Boys included a live version on their 1977 debut album Young, Loud and Snotty
. "Hey Little Girl", renamed "Hey Little Boy", was also covered by Australian band Divinyls
in 1988 on their Temperamental
album. R.E.M. played the song as part of its early live sets. The song was also recognised by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Museum, where it is on permanent rotation. In 1990, Baskin, Gonzalez and Duckworth reformed the band, which continues to perform occasionally. In 2005, Larry Ray rejoined the band.
In 2006, the Syndicate of Sound was in the first class of inductees into the San Jose Rocks Hall of Fame.
Garage band
The term garage band can refer to:* A band that performs garage rock* GarageBand, audio production software published by Apple Inc.* GarageBand.com, a website that helps publicize emerging bands...
that existed between 1965 and 1970. Originally from San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, the band had an edgy style that some critics have considered to be a forerunner of psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
.
History
The band originally comprised Don Baskin (born October 9, 1946, Honolulu) (vocals, guitar); Bob Gonzalez (b. February 14, 1947, San Jose, California) (bass); Larry Ray (b. September 12, 1945, San Francisco) (guitar); John Sharkey (b. June 8, 1946, Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
) (guitar, keyboards); and John Duckworth (b. November 18, 1946, Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
?) (drums). The group was formed from the combination of two teen bands, (The Pharaohs and The Aristocrats). The Syndicate of Sound rapidly became popular in the San Jose area, and the next year won a "Battle of the Bands" competition against about 100 groups including The Golliwogs
The Golliwogs
The Golliwogs were an American rock band that eventually became Creedence Clearwater Revival.The band started out, in 1959, as an instrumental trio called The Blue Velvets. The original line up was John Fogerty , Stu Cook , and Doug Clifford...
(later Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
). The prize was a recording session with Del-Fi Records
Del-Fi Records
Del-Fi Records was a record label based in Hollywood, California and owned by Bob Keane. The label's first single released was no 4101 "Caravan" by Henri Rose released in 1958; however, the label was most famous for signing Ritchie Valens. Valens' first single for the label was "Come On Let's Go"...
, but the resulting single "Prepare For Love" was unsuccessful.
Baskin and Gonzalez continued to write new material, and came up with "Little Girl
Little Girl (Syndicate of Sound song)
"Little Girl" is a popular song recorded by the California group Syndicate of Sound, and written by Don Baskin and Bob Gonzalez of the band. It reached the US national pop charts in June 1966, peaking at # 8....
", which the band recorded for Hush Records in San Francisco in January 1966. It became a regional hit after San Jose radio stations latched onto it, attracting the attention of executives at Bell Records in New York, who released it nationally and offered the group a contract for an album. Replacing Ray with guitarist Jim Sawyers, they wrote and recorded the LP in three weeks, and began a national tour appearing with other hit acts such as the Young Rascals, the Yardbirds, and the Rolling Stones. "Little Girl
Little Girl (Syndicate of Sound song)
"Little Girl" is a popular song recorded by the California group Syndicate of Sound, and written by Don Baskin and Bob Gonzalez of the band. It reached the US national pop charts in June 1966, peaking at # 8....
" reached the US national pop charts in June 1966, peaking at # 8.
In an attempt to sustain their success, the band released three more singles, but none charted. Duckworth was then drafted, other members began to drop out, and the group disbanded in 1970. Baskin worked as a studio musician and arranger in Hollywood before turning to country music later in the decade.
"Little Girl" was later recorded by other artists, including Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor and film director, most famous for his pioneering country music...
and English pseudo-punk group The Banned
The Banned
The Banned are a fictional band in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The storyline aired in 1986 and although it was considered to be a failure on-screen, it nevertheless became a successful part of the serial's extensive merchandising industry that year, as it spawned two Hit singles in the UK Music...
- an offshoot of prog-rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Gryphon
Gryphon (band)
Gryphon were a British progressive rock band of the 1970s, best known for their unusual Medieval sound and instrumentation.-Career:Multi-instrumentalist Richard Harvey and his fellow Royal College of Music graduate Brian Gulland, a woodwind player, began the group as an all-acoustic ensemble that...
- who reached the UK charts with it in 1977. The American punk group the Dead Boys included a live version on their 1977 debut album Young, Loud and Snotty
Young, Loud and Snotty
Young Loud and Snotty is the debut studio album of the American punk band Dead Boys. It was recorded and released in 1977 on Sire Records, with Genya Ravan serving as producer.-Track listing:...
. "Hey Little Girl", renamed "Hey Little Boy", was also covered by Australian band Divinyls
Divinyls
Divinyls were an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980 and featuring vocalist Christina Amphlett and guitarist Mark McEntee. As the focal point, Amphlett performed on stage wearing a school uniform and fishnet stockings, often using an illuminated neon tube as a prop and displaying...
in 1988 on their Temperamental
Temperamental (Divinyls album)
Temperamental is the third album by Australian band Divinyls, released in 1988 by Chrysalis Records. Three singles were lifted from the album – "Back to the Wall"/"Fighting" , their cover of Syndicate of Sound's "Hey Little Boy"/"Para Dice" and "Punxsie"/"Victoria" .Rehearsals began in Los...
album. R.E.M. played the song as part of its early live sets. The song was also recognised by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
Museum, where it is on permanent rotation. In 1990, Baskin, Gonzalez and Duckworth reformed the band, which continues to perform occasionally. In 2005, Larry Ray rejoined the band.
In 2006, the Syndicate of Sound was in the first class of inductees into the San Jose Rocks Hall of Fame.