The Smoke Ring (band)
Encyclopedia
The Smoke Ring was a rock band from Norfolk, Nebraska
active in the 1960s. It was formed from two previous regionally popular rock and roll groups, Little Joe & the Ramrods and The Strollers. They had strong regional success but charted only one national hit, 1969's "No, Not Much
".
, "B.B. Limbo" b/w "Yogi Twist", released on Soma Records
; a second recording session, in Minneapolis, yielded "Somebody Touched Me", "Hurtin' Inside", "Oop Poo Pa Doo", and "We Belong Together". The Ramrods split up over a disagreement, at which time discussions with members of The Strollers picked up.
s, and regularly toured the Midwest, opening for Dickie Lee, Rufus Thomas
, The Shangri-Las
, Bobby Vee
, and The Everly Brothers
. Soon after meeting Thomas and Lee, they booked time at Sun Studios and recorded the single "No, Not Much
", a cover of a 1950's hit by The Four Lads
. The local disc (released on Goldust Records) was picked up for national distribution by Buddah Records
, and the tune saw nationwide success, becoming a hit in several major metropolitan areas in the U.S. and climbing to #85 on the Billboard Hot 100
early in 1969. A second single on Buddah, "Portrait of My Love", missed the charts, and a full-length that had been recorded was shelved; it has yet to see release. The group appeared on American Bandstand
in 1969 following the single's success. Later in 1969, Certron Records released their single "High on a Rainbow" b/w "First Reaction", which also did not chart but was a regional success. During this time, the group's wardrobe consisted of tuxedo
s fitted with bell bottom trousers. They disbanded in 1972; that same year, Little Joe Hupp released a locally-produced full-length, Heavy Metal Whale, under the name The Smoke Ring, which did not feature any of the band's previous members. Some of the members (including lead vocalist Tommy Shaw
) continued under the name MSFunk in 1973, basing themselves out of Chicago
.
The group was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame in 1995, and has occasionally reunited for regional concerts since then.
The Group still plays in concerts, several times at the Divots Concert series as opening acts to Chicago and others (2008)
Played at Nebraska Rocks (2009) (2010) http://www.divotsconcertseries.com/2010/july_concerts.html - still based in Norfolk Nebraska with many of the same members.
The Band, who Joe Hupp had released "Heavy Metal Whale", featured Garth Fundis (original member) as the recording engineer on the 45, who also played rhythm guitar and tambourine on the recording. This song "Heavy Metal Whale" was recorded in Nashville. All of the following union members: featured Ralph "Ralphie" Goldheim on vocals, organ, piano. Scotty Hastings on vocals, drums and flute. Mike Mckern on vocals, drums and steel drum. Joe Lalich "Jody Ray" on vocals and bass. Mike Smith on vocals and guitar.
three days. Six months later, the band moved to Memphis, soon hired Tommy Shaw, and not long after that changed their name to MSFunk. MSFunk members later became members of Toto
, The Ides of March, Styx
, Damn Yankees
, Le Roux, and Shaw Blades
.
The Strollers
The Smoke Ring
Transition to MS Funk
Norfolk, Nebraska
Norfolk is a city in Madison County, Nebraska, United States, 113 miles northwest of Omaha and 83 miles west of Sioux City at the intersection of U.S. Routes 81 and 275. The population was 24,210 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Nebraska. It is the principal city of the...
active in the 1960s. It was formed from two previous regionally popular rock and roll groups, Little Joe & the Ramrods and The Strollers. They had strong regional success but charted only one national hit, 1969's "No, Not Much
No, Not Much
"No, Not Much" is a popular song published in 1955. The music was written by Robert Allen, the lyrics by Al Stillman.This song is an example of being rejected from the lover, stating that the lover does not get the pleasure, the thrills, and the satisfaction from his mate, stating that this was...
".
Little Joe & the Ramrods
"Little Joe" Hupp, (guitar, piano) founded this group in the early 1960s, and had some success playing throughout the Midwestern United States. They recorded a single in OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, "B.B. Limbo" b/w "Yogi Twist", released on Soma Records
Soma Records
Soma Records may refer to...*Soma Records , an American record company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota best known for issuing recordings by The Fendermen and The Castaways...
; a second recording session, in Minneapolis, yielded "Somebody Touched Me", "Hurtin' Inside", "Oop Poo Pa Doo", and "We Belong Together". The Ramrods split up over a disagreement, at which time discussions with members of The Strollers picked up.
The Strollers
The Strollers had originally formed in 1959 and played mostly local events into the early 1960s. Among its members were Little Joe's brother, Bob Hupp. In 1965 the group lost its drummer and decided to merge with Little Joe & the Ramrods into one group, which they would rename The Smoke Ring in 1966.The Smoke Ring
Their first national release was the single "That Girl Was My Girl" on Mala Records in 1966. Starting in 1967, they expanded their lineup to include more brass instrumentBrass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
s, and regularly toured the Midwest, opening for Dickie Lee, Rufus Thomas
Rufus Thomas
Rufus Thomas, Jr. was an American rhythm and blues, funk and soul singer and comedian fromMemphis, Tennessee, who recorded on Sun Records in the...
, The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las
The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 they charted with often heartbreaking teen melodramas, and remain best known for "Leader of the Pack" and "Remember ".- Early career :...
, Bobby Vee
Bobby Vee
Robert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:...
, and The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
. Soon after meeting Thomas and Lee, they booked time at Sun Studios and recorded the single "No, Not Much
No, Not Much
"No, Not Much" is a popular song published in 1955. The music was written by Robert Allen, the lyrics by Al Stillman.This song is an example of being rejected from the lover, stating that the lover does not get the pleasure, the thrills, and the satisfaction from his mate, stating that this was...
", a cover of a 1950's hit by The Four Lads
The Four Lads
The Four Lads is a popular Canadian male singing quartet. In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the group earned many gold singles and albums. Its million-selling signature tunes include "Moments to Remember," "Standin' on the Corner," "No, Not Much," "Who Needs You," and "Istanbul."The Four Lads makes...
. The local disc (released on Goldust Records) was picked up for national distribution by Buddah Records
Buddah Records
Buddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
, and the tune saw nationwide success, becoming a hit in several major metropolitan areas in the U.S. and climbing to #85 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
early in 1969. A second single on Buddah, "Portrait of My Love", missed the charts, and a full-length that had been recorded was shelved; it has yet to see release. The group appeared on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
in 1969 following the single's success. Later in 1969, Certron Records released their single "High on a Rainbow" b/w "First Reaction", which also did not chart but was a regional success. During this time, the group's wardrobe consisted of tuxedo
Tuxedo
A tuxedo is a type of semi-formal dress for men.Tuxedo may also refer to:-Places:Canada* Tuxedo, Winnipeg, Manitoba, a city neighborhood** Tuxedo , a provincial electoral district in Manitoba...
s fitted with bell bottom trousers. They disbanded in 1972; that same year, Little Joe Hupp released a locally-produced full-length, Heavy Metal Whale, under the name The Smoke Ring, which did not feature any of the band's previous members. Some of the members (including lead vocalist Tommy Shaw
Tommy Shaw
Tommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums....
) continued under the name MSFunk in 1973, basing themselves out of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
The group was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame in 1995, and has occasionally reunited for regional concerts since then.
The Group still plays in concerts, several times at the Divots Concert series as opening acts to Chicago and others (2008)
Played at Nebraska Rocks (2009) (2010) http://www.divotsconcertseries.com/2010/july_concerts.html - still based in Norfolk Nebraska with many of the same members.
The Band, who Joe Hupp had released "Heavy Metal Whale", featured Garth Fundis (original member) as the recording engineer on the 45, who also played rhythm guitar and tambourine on the recording. This song "Heavy Metal Whale" was recorded in Nashville. All of the following union members: featured Ralph "Ralphie" Goldheim on vocals, organ, piano. Scotty Hastings on vocals, drums and flute. Mike Mckern on vocals, drums and steel drum. Joe Lalich "Jody Ray" on vocals and bass. Mike Smith on vocals and guitar.
MSFunk
Smoke Ring guitarist Keith Goins put together the last version of The Smoke Ring in September 1971. At that time, all he had left was drummer Danny Keller, so he nearly had to start from scratch. Lindy Gallaher (bass player from "Isaac" in Kansas) was the first to arrive, along with Colin Keefe (trumpet and lead vocals) and Mike Ragatz (trombone) from another regionally-based horn band, "The Chancellors". Lindy suggested two other members from "Isaac": Robert Orr (keyboards and trombone) and Larry Stewart (trumpet, sax, and flute). The new players moved into Kings Ballroom (owned by band manager Joe Hupp) and put an entire show together inthree days. Six months later, the band moved to Memphis, soon hired Tommy Shaw, and not long after that changed their name to MSFunk. MSFunk members later became members of Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
, The Ides of March, Styx
Styx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
, Damn Yankees
Damn Yankees (band)
Damn Yankees was an American hard rock supergroup.-History:The band was formed in 1989, consisting of Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Ted Nugent of The Amboy Dukes and a successful solo career, and Michael Cartellone...
, Le Roux, and Shaw Blades
Shaw Blades
Shaw–Blades is an American musical duo/group formed by Tommy Shaw of Styx and Jack Blades of Night Ranger, both of whom played in the supergroup Damn Yankees. It is an informal duo which has produced two albums between other projects, 1995s Hallucination & 2007s Influence, the latter of which...
.
Members
Little Joe & the Ramrods- Little Joe Hupp - guitar, piano
- Doug Spiedel
- Mike Sund (1944–1985)
- Leland Grieves
- Dino Reeves
- Terry Zobel
- Larry Young
- John Schrad
- Gene Hammerlun
The Strollers
- Chuck Asmus - drums, vocals
- Pat Wead - guitar, vocals
- Jerry Benjamin - guitar
- Bob Hupp - bass, vocals
- Jim Casey - guitar
The Smoke Ring
- Jerry Benjamin - drums, guitar (1966–1967)
- Tom Benjamin - drums (1966–67)
- Jim Casey - saxophone, guitar ('66-'69)
- Dave Dohren - trumpet ('66-'70)
- Bob Hupp - guitar ('66-'69)
- Little Joe Hupp - keyboards ('66-'68)
- Nick Hupp - bass ('66-'70)
- John Schrad - saxophone ('66-'68)
- Chuck Asmus - drums, vocals ('66-'68)
- Roger Volk - drums ('68-'71)
- Greg "Bosco" Goodman - keyboards ('69-'71)
- Ron McClure - trumpet ('68-'69)
- Mike "Pinky" Semrad - trumpet and guitar ('68-'69)
- Steve Dahl - vocals
- Jon Hischke - saxophone
- Garth Fundis - vocals
- Keith Goins - guitar, vocals ('70-'72)
- Colin Keefe - vocals, trumpet ('71-'72)
- Danny Keller -drums ('71-'72}
- Tommy ShawTommy ShawTommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums....
- guitar, vocals ('72} - Lindy Gallaher - bass {'71-'72}
- Robert Orr - keyboards, trombone, vocals {'71-'72)
- Mike Raggatz - trombone ('71-'72)
- Larry Stewart - trumpet, sax ('71-'72)
Transition to MS Funk
- Keith Goins - guitar, vocals ('72-'74)
- Danny Keller - drums ('72-'73} {'75-'76}
- Lindy Gallaher - bass ('72-'76}
- Colin Keefe - lead vocals, trumpet ('72-'74)
- Robert Orr - keyboards, vocals, trombone ('72-'76)
- Larry Stewart - trumpet, flute, sax, vocals ('72-'74)
- Chaz Baker - trombone, vocals, electric piano ('72-'75)
- Tommy ShawTommy ShawTommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums....
- guitar, vocals ('72-75) - Fergie Frederiksen - vocals ('75 -'76)
- Mike Borch - drums ('73-'75)
- Richie Mayer - guitar, vocals ('75-'76)
- Bobby Piatt - vocals ('75-'76)