ArtistInfo

Mr. Lucky & The Gamblers

Band, 1964-1967 US, Newport, Oregon
Rock

"The band originated in Newport, Oregon as "The Blazers". In 1964, the bass player and business leader, Bud Garrison, persuaded Mike Parker to endorse a name change to "Mr. Lucky and the Gamblers" (Mr. Lucky was a popular TV character at the time). They performed in the Portland area and in various towns along the Oregon coast. Before long, they attracted the attention of Tom Mix, a local dee-jay, and Hal Bronson, the manager of a popular teen club called "The Chase". Mix and Branson formed their own record company to promote the act. The first result was a recording of New Orleans, which became a local hit in the Portland area. In late 1965, Garrison and Parker changed the line-up by merging with a Portland group called The Rogues, consisting primarily of Graziano, Gunter and Maitland. By now, the band had perfected a harsh garage / punk sound and evolved as one of the major dance circuit attractions in the Northwest. On New Years Day, 1966, they shared a concert bill with Don and The Goodtimes at Portland's Oriental Theatre. Don Galluci and the lads were so impressed with Mr. Lucky and The Gamblers that they helped seal a record deal for them with Jerry Dennon's Panorama label. Two regional hits resulted: Take A Look At Me (a really catchy punker tune, written and produced by Bob Holden and Don Galluci (of Don and The Goodtimes)), and Alice Designs (LSD Signs), which was produced by Bob Holden and written by Tandyn Almer of Along Comes Mary fame. Alice Designs, is an upbeat, California style commercial pop tune, complete with background harmony. On the flip side of the 45, is You Don't Need Me, a Union Gap style brass-pop tune written by Bob Holden. Early in 1967 Mike Parker left the band and was replaced by Greg Perry on keyboards. Jim Dunlap (formerly of Gentleman Jim and The Horsemen) came in on vocals. In July 1967, after the band split, Dunlop, Graziano, Maitland and Perry formed The Sound Vendor. Mike Parker joined a local blues band, Carl Wilson joined Merrillee Rush and the Turnabouts and Jeff Hawks became a member of Don and The Goodtimes. In the late eighties Norm Smith became the State Representative from Tigard, Oregon and Greg Perry later played for Johnny and The Distractions." -Denny Randall, March 2001 Jim Dunlap ~ Vocals Bud Garrison ~ Bass Jim Graziano ~ Drums Alan Gunter ~ Guitar Jeff Hawks ~ Vocals Dave Maitland ~ Guitar Mike Parker ~ Keyboards Gregg Perry ~ Keyboards Denny Randall ~ Saxophone Willy Reinen ~ Guitar Norm Smith ~ Drums Carl Wilson ~ Guitar Len Hansen ~ Manager