The Jetzons
Encyclopedia
The Jetzons were an American New Wave
band based in Tempe, Arizona
. The group later relocated to Los Angeles
.
The band formed in 1981 after the demise of hugely popular punk group Billy Clone & The Same. Billy Clone folded due to the heroin overdose and death of bandleader Mike Corte. Former Billy Clone guitarist Bruce Connole
and bassist Damon Doiron performed briefly as The Burning Flamingos, before recruiting keyboardist Brad Buxer and drummer Steve Golladay to form The Jetzons.
In 1982 The Jetzons released the EP Made In America, to great critical and fan acclaim. Tracks were recorded at Cherokee Studios
in Los Angeles and Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA, as well as Pantheon Studios in Scottsdale, AZ. The record was released on Pan American Records.
The band was at the forefront of establishing the Tempe music scene that would soon come to national prominence by the signing of many area bands to major record labels.
“I remember when I first joined the band, someone said, "That's Robin. He's in a local group called the Gin Blossoms
-- they're almost as good as the Jetzons." Man, I remember hearing that and, at the time, just to be considered in the same breath as those guys was better than selling a million records. That's how important they were”. Robin Wilson
, singer, Gin Blossoms
After The Jetzons breakup keyboardist Brad Buxer went on to work with Mathew Wilder, The Temptations
, Smokey Robinson
, Stevie Wonder
and was musical director for Michael Jackson
for over 18 years. Bruce Connole
has led a long list of critically acclaimed bands including The Strand, The Cryptics, The Pearl Chuckers and The Busted Hearts. Buxer has joined Connole again as a member of both The Revenants and The Suicide Kings. In 2008, Connole and The Suicide Kings signed to Nashville
based label Oh Boy Records
. Oh Boy is home to artists including John Prine
, Steve Goodman
and Kris Kristofferson
.
The Jetzons catalog is now represented by independent label Fervor Records
.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band based in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
. The group later relocated to Los Angeles
Los 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...
.
The band formed in 1981 after the demise of hugely popular punk group Billy Clone & The Same. Billy Clone folded due to the heroin overdose and death of bandleader Mike Corte. Former Billy Clone guitarist Bruce Connole
Bruce Connole
Bruce Connole is an American singer, songwriter and musician originally from Phoenix, Arizona and now based in Nashville, Tennessee.Connole is known for his work as the leader of several influential bands in the Southwest United States including, Billy Clone & The Same, The Jetzons, The Strand, The...
and bassist Damon Doiron performed briefly as The Burning Flamingos, before recruiting keyboardist Brad Buxer and drummer Steve Golladay to form The Jetzons.
In 1982 The Jetzons released the EP Made In America, to great critical and fan acclaim. Tracks were recorded at Cherokee Studios
Cherokee Studios
Cherokee Studios was a recording facility in Hollywood, founded in 1972 and closed in August 2007 to make way for a new building, after 35 years of operation under the Cherokee name as a well-renowned studio...
in Los Angeles and Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA, as well as Pantheon Studios in Scottsdale, AZ. The record was released on Pan American Records.
The band was at the forefront of establishing the Tempe music scene that would soon come to national prominence by the signing of many area bands to major record labels.
“I remember when I first joined the band, someone said, "That's Robin. He's in a local group called the Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms is an American pop rock band formed in 1987, in Tempe, Arizona. They took their name from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms", referring to what appeared to be the actor's gin-ravaged nose, but was actually a skin condition known as rosacea...
-- they're almost as good as the Jetzons." Man, I remember hearing that and, at the time, just to be considered in the same breath as those guys was better than selling a million records. That's how important they were”. Robin Wilson
Robin Wilson
Robin Wilson may refer to:*Robin Wilson eco-friendly lifestyle expert*Robin Wilson , science fiction author and former president of California State University, Chico...
, singer, Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms is an American pop rock band formed in 1987, in Tempe, Arizona. They took their name from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms", referring to what appeared to be the actor's gin-ravaged nose, but was actually a skin condition known as rosacea...
After The Jetzons breakup keyboardist Brad Buxer went on to work with Mathew Wilder, The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
and was musical director for Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
for over 18 years. Bruce Connole
Bruce Connole
Bruce Connole is an American singer, songwriter and musician originally from Phoenix, Arizona and now based in Nashville, Tennessee.Connole is known for his work as the leader of several influential bands in the Southwest United States including, Billy Clone & The Same, The Jetzons, The Strand, The...
has led a long list of critically acclaimed bands including The Strand, The Cryptics, The Pearl Chuckers and The Busted Hearts. Buxer has joined Connole again as a member of both The Revenants and The Suicide Kings. In 2008, Connole and The Suicide Kings signed to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
based label Oh Boy Records
Oh Boy Records
Oh Boy Records is an independent American record label founded in 1984 by singer John Prine, his manager Al Bunetta and their friend Dan Einstein. The label has released more than 40 audio and video recordings by singer-songwriters Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Slick Ballinger, Shawn Camp, Dan Reeder...
. Oh Boy is home to artists including John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
, Steve Goodman
Steve Goodman
Steve Goodman was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. The writer of "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
and Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
.
The Jetzons catalog is now represented by independent label Fervor Records
Fervor Records
Fervor Records is an American independent record label based in Phoenix, Arizona. Since its origin in 1990, this netlabel has issued releases featuring a wide variety of artists and genres from the 1950s through the present.- Company history :...
.