The Weeds were the best Conn group back then, they had Bobby Dudeck on bass and vocals and Bobby was a monster at coping anyones sound. He just passed away a few years back living with his wife on a farm in Conn. Two amazing people living on their own being blind is an amazing story. Easily one of the best musicians/vocalists ever.
Sherri Shack was another good spot I knew that family very well, Sheri became a nationally known go go dancer and the Miller family was very talented.
Also the Pit in New Haven and the Apple in Milford and Trapaziod in North Haven the Mod Scene in Milford (I think) were all popular for a few years. I worked all those places with the Fudge, Rascals, Pilgrimage, Lee Michaels, Chosen Few, NAIF, the Wild Weeds! I worked with the Weeds a few times on drums before they were known as the Weeds I just can't think what they were called then. Their drummer had broken his arm and their agent knew mine. I'm thinking they were the Phinious Band, something silly like that HA! Big Al and the Captain were all good guys and the B3 Ray was one of the best B3 players around back then.
I forgot about my towns hottest spots. Hungry Charlies was the biggest but places like Sonny & Vives, Mr. Rays Cafe, Talk of the Town, and the world famous Monterey Cafe' where Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan & Timpani Five, Ella Fitzgerald and on & on &on major stars performed there. New Haven was the pre New York City review area. If it worked in New Haven in would work in any major city on the North East Seaboard. The New England circuit was the best in the country at one time.
The franchise rooms came in and I took advantage of them, places like the Coral Cables where you can book in for 5 to 7 days with full accomodations beat the crap out of one niters back then.
New Haven had excellant players back then and lots of orginal groups like Tri Power who became Jasper Wrath, I used them alot with my Herdd band in college/mixer concerts. They were excellant musicians and hard working people. The drummer Jeff Cannata is still recording and was a very inovated musician.
The premier groups when I was starting were the Duke the Dutchess & the Magnifciants, a 8 piece horn band with two fronts. Then there was Bobby Bennet and the Realms, the best soul band in New Haven for years! There were rock groups also like the Shags, Sonics (Bobby White) and oldies groups the Premiers (Roger Koob) Five Satins (Freddie Paris). Good times, good money and alot of experienced gained from that environment back then.
I had great teachers that taught me how to conduct business along with the performance end of the equation. I used to sneak into St. Pauls church on Sat nites just listen to Bobby Buster play the B3 Hammond organ, then be at the Monterey by 11pm that same night. All of this was right down the street from my house and at 11 years old I'd be searching for the music hahahaha!! Thank god I wasn't born in Tampa!!
Doc.