Who's Who
The Sonobeat Family tree
Bands, combos, duets, and solo acts
All the acts (bands, combos, duets, and solos) known to have recorded with Sonobeat during the period 1967-1976.
indicates a commercial or song demo release on 45 RPM and/or LP. indicates a restored and remastered digital reissue on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other music download and streaming services worldwide.
Adobie Flatz
Al & Alec
Austin Blues-Rockers
Base
Bill Miller Group (Cold Sun)
Jim Chesnut
Conqueroo, The
Contraband
Country Nu-Notes
Helmer Dahl
Allen Damron
David Flack Quorum, The
Don Dean
Jess DeMaine
Rick Dinsmore
Fast Cotton
Genesee
Geneva and Her Gentlemen
Georgetown Medical Band
Arma Harper
Roy Headrick
Jeannine Hoke
Cody Hubach
James Polk and the Brothers
Kingfish
Larry Boyd and Group
Lavender Hill Express
Lee Arlano Trio
Leo and the Prophets
Jean Manor (Jean and the Rollettes)
Vince Mariani
Mariani (featuring Eric Johnson)
Michael Stevens IV, The (backs other Sonobeat acts)
Michele Murphy
Nasty Habit
Fran Nelson
Herman Nelson
New Atlantis
Ohio Express, The
Pall Rabbit
Paul New and the Crew
Tom Penick
Phoenix
Pleasant Street Band, The
Plymouth Rock
Ray Campi Establishment
Ronnie and the West Winds
Royal Light Singers, The
Rex Sherry
Shiva’s Headband
South Canadian Overflow
Joyce Spence
Sweetarts
Synthesis
Thingies, The
Tommy Hill and the Country Music Revue
Unidentified band
Unidentified duet
Unidentified female singer
Unidentified male singer
Tom Van Zandt
Vita
Wali and the Afro-Caravan
Whistler
White Light
Wildfire
Bill Wilson
Johnny Winter
Bach-Yen
Gary York and Evelyn
Don “Skipper” Young (Collections)
The Michael Stevens IV
Who were these guys?
During 1967 and ’68, The Michael Stevens IV was the house band in The Embassy Room at The Club Seville in the Sheraton Crest Inn overlooking Austin’s Town Lake (now known as Lady Bird Lake). Oddly, the band also appeared at The Club Seville as The Kings IV. Which name the band used on any given night seems to have depended on who was playing bass. When it was Mark Chaney, the band was billed as The Michael Stevens IV; when John McIver was on bass, they were The Kings IV.
As The Michael Stevens IV, the band backed touring acts appearing at The Club Seville, including Stanton & Peddie, Grady Wilson, Cathy Carter, Patty James, and Sylvia Price. And the band provided able backing for Sonobeat’s recordings of solo artists Don Dean, Fran Nelson, and Bach-Yen but never recorded under its own name. It’s no coincidence that the combo backed Don Dean and Bach-Yen on Sonobeat recordings, since Don managed The Club Seville and introduced Sonobeat to Bach-Yen, who performed on multiple occasions at the club. So, in a way, The Michael Stevens IV also was Sonobeat’s “house band”. The band featured Phoenix, Arizona-native Michael Stevens (who was attending The University of Texas for a doctorate in music) on piano, vibes, and trumpet, Mark Chaney on bass violin, Waco, Texas-native Billy West (a government major at The University of Texas) on drums, and Waco-native Ike Ramirez (a Baylor University business major) on trumpet.
Originally formed by Baylor University students (they regularly trekked 200 miles round trip from Waco to Austin for gigs) and led by pianist Michael Hanson until 1967, when he passed the ivories to Michael Stevens, The Michael Stevens IV a/k/a The Kings IV wasn’t just The Club Seville’s house band. When hotel management changed in 1968, cutting back the number of live acts The Club Seville booked, the band moved on to regular gigs at The Loser’s Club, The Chart Room, The Torch, and Dominque’s, all then downtown Austin hotspots, and even made occasional trips to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to perform at the Sheraton Western Skies, most often under the name The Kings IV. The quartet performed on August 11, 1967, at the sixth annual Austin Aqua Festival; the performance preceded the Rio Noche Night Lighted Water Parade on Town Lake, ironically enough, in the shadow of the Sheraton Crest Inn.
Individuals
All individuals (210) known to have recorded with Sonobeat as part of a band, combo, or duet or as a solo act during the period 1967-1976. Regrettably, missing from the Sonobeat archives are the last names of Al & Alec and members of their band, the last name of Evelyn of Gary York and Evelyn and the names of the three backing musicians on their recording, the names of four unidentified acts and their members, and the names of members of Adobie Flatz, Kingfish, Paul New and the Crew, and Vita.
indicates the most number of appearances in different acts (two-way tie) and indicates the second most number of appearances (eight-way tie). indicates an individual we’ve confirmed as deceased.
Abston, Jim • Georgetown Medical Band
Alexander, Perkins • Royal Light Singers, The
Alford, Emery • David Flack Quorum, The
Arlano, Andy • Lee Arlano Trio
Arlano, Lee • Lee Arlano Trio
Arnold, Leonard • Lavender Hill Express and Phoenix
Bakondi, Chuck • South Canadian Overflow
Barnett, Jerry • Shiva’s Headband
Becker, Larry • Ronnie and the West Winds
Blum, Thom • Synthesis
Borth, Frieda • Austin Blues-Rockers and Contraband
Boyd, Larry • Larry Boyd and Group
Brown, Bob • Conqueroo, The and Kingfish
Brown, Jim • Lavender Hill Express (guest instrumentalist on Country Music's Here to Stay)
Brown, Leo • Jean Manor (Jean and the Rollettes)
Browning, Misty • Fast Cotton
Bullock, Jimmy • Mariani
Caldwell, Reginald • James Polk and the Brothers and Jean Manor (Jean and the Rollettes)
Campi, Ray • Ray Campi Establishment
Chambers, Robert • Royal Light Singers, The
Chaney, Mark • The Michael Stevens IV (backing band for Don Dean, Fran Nelson, and Bach-Yen)
Chesnut, Jim • solo act and Herman Nelson song demo album
Clark, Jay • Ray Campi Establishment
Cline, Chuck • Pleasant Street Band, The
Cobb, Rick • Georgetown Medical Band
Cole, Bob • Thingies, The
Dahl, Helmer • solo act
Dalton, John • Thingies, The
Damron, Allen • solo act
Davidson, Joe Don • Pall Rabbit
Davies, Al • Austin Blues-Rockers
Dean, Don • solo act
Dean, Richard • Genesee
DeMaine, Jess • solo act and Tommy Hill and the Country Music Revue
DePenning, Layton • Genesee and Lavender Hill Express
Dinsmore, Rick • solo act
Dodge, Rick • Georgetown Medical Band
Dolan, Donnie • Plymouth Rock and South Canadian Overflow
Dorman, Bill • Whistler
Dow, Dwight • Fast Cotton and Sweetarts
Dry, Gary • Nasty Habit
Duffie, Leotis (“Duffy”) • Geneva and Her Gentlemen
Earthman, Don Ray • Royal Light Singers, The
Ellis, Leo • Leo and the Prophets
Ellis, Travis • Leo and the Prophets
Erickson, Donnie • New Atlantis
Fariss, Eddie • Larry Boyd and Group
Flack, David • David Flack Quorum, The
Ford, Doke • Austin Blues-Rockers
Franklin Jr., Willie • Royal Light Singers, The
Galbraith, Mike • Sweetarts
Galindo, Danny • Base, Fast Cotton, and New Atlantis
Gammage, Ernie • Base, Fast Cotton, Sweetarts
Gant, Jeff • Georgetown Medical Band
Garrett, Jenkins • Whistler
Garrison, Rodney • Phoenix
Garrott, Bob • Country Nu-Notes
Gebert, Ralph • Contraband
Gentry, Larry • Tommy Hill and the Country Music Revue
Gertz, Carl • Tommy Hill and the Country Music Revue
Gilbert, Stanley • Nasty Habit
Grassel, Doug • Ohio Express, The
Green, Richard • Lavender Hill Express (string arranger and harpsichord on Visions and Trying to Live a Life) and Bach-Yen (string and horn arranger)
Greenwood, Chuck • Georgetown Medical Band and Pall Rabbit
Grimmit, Steve • Pall Rabbit
Guinn, Edward • Conqueroo, The
Haeuser, Robert • White Light
Haeuser, Russell “Rusty” • White Light
Hansen, Steve • Contraband
Harmon, Tom • Phoenix
Harper, Arma • solo act
Harrell, David • Base
Harrison, Frank • Plymouth Rock
Haywood, Rod • Leo and the Prophets
Headrick, Roy • solo act
Hemphill, Clay • Pall Rabbit
Hendershott, Debby • South Canadian Overflow
Hickman, Danny • Leo and the Prophets
Hill, Henry • Ray Campi Establishment
Hobren, Michael • White Light
Hoelscher, Kenny • Plymouth Rock
Howland, Bill • Rex Sherry
Hoke, Jeannine • solo act
Hubach, Cody • solo act
Hudgins, Ronnie • Pall Rabbit
Inmon, John • Genesee, Plymouth Rock, and South Canadian Overflow
Jackson, Marva • David Flack Quorum, The
Jamison, Danny • Wildfire
Jennings, Donald • James Polk and the Brothers and Jean Manor (Jean and the Rollettes)
Johnson, Eric • Base, Mariani, and Pall Rabbit
Joseph, Yvonne • James Polk and the Brothers
Kaigler, Kukla • Pall Rabbit
Knippa, Tim • Ronnie and the West Winds
Knott, Bruce • Ohio Express, The
Kolb, Bill • Mariani
Leatherman, Ronnie • Base
Levy, David • Austin Blues-Rockers
Lewis, Ray • Wali and the Afro-Caravan
Lisenheimer, Alan Lee • Nasty Habit
Love, Randy • Wildfire
Lowrey, Les • Paul New and the Crew
Lupo, Don • Georgetown Medical Band
Lynn, Janet • Country Nu-Notes
Lyon, Johnny • Country Nu-Notes
Manor, A.J. • Jean Manor (Jean and the Rollettes)
Manor, Jean • Jean Manor (Jean and the Rollettes)
Marcellus, Gordon • Thingies, The
Mariani, Vince • solo act and Mariani (group)
Martin, Donny • Wildfire
Maxwell, Teresa • James Polk and the Brothers
McArthur, Benny • Tommy Hill and the Country Music Revue
McDaniels, Steve • Contraband
McDonald, Donnie • Ronnie and the West Winds
McGarrigle, Tom • Bill Miller Group (Cold Sun)
Meade, Jay • Base, New Atlantis, and Don “Skipper” Young (Collections)
McLaughlin, Paul • Country Nu-Notes
Miller, Bill • Bill Miller Group (Cold Sun)
Miller, Larry • Thingies, The
Mings, Jim • New Atlantis and Don “Skipper” Young (Collections)
Mings, Martha • Don “Skipper” Young (Collections)
Moore, Robert • Wali and the Afro-Caravan
Murphy, Michele • solo act
Murray, J. • Wali and the Afro-Caravan
Nance, Ronald • Wali and the Afro-Caravan
Nelson, Fran • solo act
New, Paul • Paul New and the Crew
Nunn, Gary P. • Genesee, Georgetown Medical Band, and Lavender Hill Express
Nye, Larry • Contraband
O‘Brien, Derick • Austin Blues-Rockers
O‘Haver, Greg • Pleasant Street Band, The
O‘Malley, Scott • Pleasant Street Band, The
Parker, Kenny • Shiva’s Headband
Patton, Hugh • Bill Miller Group (Cold Sun)
Peal, Darrell • Mariani
Penick, Tom • solo act
Perskin, Spenser • Shiva’s Headband
Perskin, Susan • Shiva’s Headband
Phelan, Karol • Herman Nelson song demo album
Pickard, Tim • James Polk and the Brothers
Placker, Jimmy • Country Nu-Notes
Podolnick, Jay • Mariani
Polk, Imogene • James Polk and the Brothers
Polk, James • James Polk and the Brothers
Poni, Sam • Lee Arlano Trio
Potter, Jerry • Genesee
Powell, Bill • Leo and the Prophets
Prellop, Larry • Ronnie and the West Winds
Prellop, Ronnie • Ronnie and the West Winds
Prichard, Charlie • Conqueroo, The
Proctor, Glenn • Joyce Spence
Rahman (a/k/a King), Wali • Wali and the Afro-Caravan
Ramirez, Ike • The Michael Stevens IV (backing band for Don Dean, Fran Nelson, and Bach-Yen)
Rarey, George • Contraband
Rawlins, Geneva • Geneva and Her Gentlemen
Rawlins, Lionel • Geneva and Her Gentlemen
Rector, Bobby • Base
Reed, Bob Tom • Shiva’s Headband
Reid, Mike • Base and New Atlantis
Reynolds, Cindy • Bill Wilson song demo album
Rice, Mickey • Country Nu-Notes
Richardson, Johnny • Fast Cotton and Georgetown Medical Band
Robinson, Linda • Whistler
Robinson, Roy • Whistler
Rodriguez, George • Tommy Hill and the Country Music Revue
Rogers, Chuck • Genesee
Schwartz, Eric • Nasty Habit
Schwertner, Johnny • Lavender Hill Express and Plymouth Rock
Shannon, Tommy • Johnny Winter
Shehorn, Bobby Lynn • South Canadian Overflow
Sherry, Rex • solo act
Siegel, Shawn • Shiva’s Headband
Simon, Steve • Pall Rabbit
Smith, Rick • Larry Boyd and Group
Snider, Bob • Georgetown Medical Band
Snider, Kim • Contraband
Spalding, Bob • Larry Boyd and Group
Sparks, Hugh • David Flack Quorum, The
Spence, Joyce • solo act
Steelman, Scott • Ohio Express, The and Synthesis
Stevens, Michael • The Michael Stevens IV (backing band for Don Dean, Fran Nelson, and Bach-Yen)
Storm, Gerry • Conqueroo, The
Sublett, Jesse • Nasty Habit
Sutherland, Stacy • Base
Swisher, Ernie • Thingies, The
Taylor, John • James Polk and the Brothers
Thompson, Sylvester • Royal Light Singers, The
Thompson, Theo • Royal Light Singers, The
Thornton, Randy • Sweetarts
Toungate, Craig • Nasty Habit
Trenchard, Bob • Mariani and Pall Rabbit
Tucker, Phil • Country Nu-Notes
Turner, Uncle John “Red” • Johnny Winter
Van Zandt, Tom • solo act, Fast Cotton, and Sweetarts
Walker, Cato T. • Fast Cotton
Walters, Eddie • Paul New and the Crew
Warner, Daniel • Synthesis
Waugh, Mike • Bill Miller Group (Cold Sun), Jim Chesnut, Herman Nelson song demo album, and Bill Wilson song demo album
Weaver, Phil • Thingies, The
Weisberg, Steve • Sweetarts
West, Billy • The Michael Stevens IV (backing band for Don Dean, Fran Nelson, and Bach-Yen)
Whitefield, Pat • Fast Cotton, Sweetarts, and Don "Skipper" Young (Collections)
Whitfield, George • Royal Light Singers, The
Wier, Rusty • Lavender Hill Express
Williams, Mike • Allen Damron
Williams, Tom • Pleasant Street Band, The
Wilson, Bill • solo act, Mariani, Herman Nelson song demo album, and Pleasant Street Band, The
Winner, Doug • Ohio Express, The
Winter, Johnny • Johnny Winter
Yaryan III, Jess • Lavender Hill Express
Yen, Bach • solo act
York, Gary • Gary York and Evelyn
Young, Don “Skipper” • Don “Skipper” Young (Collections)