the house that Koger built
But styles changed and so did the group. With a new attitude and a newfound affection for the music of the British Invasion, the Rhythm-Makers became The Individuals. And while they were just one of a million garage groups to organize in the wake of Beatlemania, The Individuals were one of the few to go beyond covering current hits and incorporate original material in their act. The songs were penned by Couch, Redd and newcomer Ronnie Vaughan.
Soulmasters performing at Danville’s 360 Drive-In during the Summer of 1967 The Individuals Newspaper Ad
The Individuals found steady – though not very lucrative – work at bowling alleys, dance halls, night clubs, and as the supporting act for recording artists who performed at venues like the Danville City Auditorium. Engagements included a shared bill with Danville’s Soulmasters at the T-Bird Country, dates at an old school converted to a dance hall known as the Oak Level Club in Halifax County and for the Liberty 4-H Club, Hupps Mill Bowling Alley in South Boston, the Skylark Club on Rt. 86 in North Carolina, and a three-day stint in 1967 on the main Grand Strand Stage at the Halifax County Fair.
Meadows left the band over “creative differences” and guitarist Ronnie Vaughan and bassist Tommy Redd took over the vocal chores. Redd sings lead on both sides of their 45. Moser stayed with the group through late 1967, when he was replaced on organ by Mike Oakes. One of Oakes’ first performances with The Individuals was in November 1967 at the Danville City Armory. They were originally known as the Rhythm-Makers, due to the band’s predilection for rhythm and blues music. Couch and his friends had an affinity for R&B and started jamming in his home. As word of the sessions grew, more people would stop by Ronnie’s house to listen. The guys soon realized they were on to something. The band graduated from basement practice sessions to the stage with their first performance at the American Legion Hall in South Boston on March 25, 1965.
Raven 2018 was released in August of 1967. The record received heavy airplay over WHLF in South Boston, boosted by Al Mapes, a blind deejay who featured the disc on his “1400 Club” show. “I Want Love” also made the playlist of a radio station in Brookneal,Va. WYPR in Danville picked up the record and even had the band in the studio on Industrial Avenue to promote the song. The band sold every copy and Couch still has the $108 invoice for a second pressing of the 45.
Johnny Cole, whose father owned local radio station WHLF, recalls the band performing at his school, Halifax Elementary. Instead of spinning nursery rhymes from a phonograph, The Individuals played “Get Off Of My Cloud” live as the kids walked from number to number, in hopes of winning the cake walk when the band stopped in mid-stride. While just a child, Cole remembers the moment as if it were yesterday.
The Individuals remained popular in the region, playing with other local bands like the Soulmasters and recording artists including Sam and Dave. Couch recalls one local gig around this time at The Danville Fairgrounds, home of the popular WDVA Barn Dance and a staple for country acts and rockabilly pioneers like the late Janis Martin. The Individuals were booked to play on a bill with several top soul bands. It wasn’t until the day of the performance that The Individuals realized they were the only white act on the bill. Undeterred, the band simply switched gears and reverted to their rhythm and blues roots, playing a 30-minute rendition of The Fantastic Johnny C’s “Funky Broadway” that brought the crowd to their feet.
By 1967, the band had grand aspirations and decided it was time to cut a record. Frank Koger worked a day job in the electronics department at K-Mart in nearby Danville but also moonlighted as a local record mogul, recording gospel, country, bluegrass, soul and the occasional garage band from Virginia, West Virginia or the Carolinas.
Home recordings from the period show a variety of styles ranging from the Buddy Holly-ish original “Come Back,” to a cover of James Brown’s 1959 hit, “Try Me.” The band also put its stamp on other current chart hits including “Pushin’ Too Hard,” “96 Tears,” “Mustang Sally” and “Little Black Egg.”
The deal was struck and the band agreed to pay Koger $250 to record, press and distribute 500 records. The Individuals would sell 200 through local department and five-and-dime stores like Leggett’s, Rose’s and J.J. Newberry’s. Koger, who had connections in Nashville, agreed to distribute the remainder to radio stations across the country.
Another original composition, “The Fire Is Out,” was planned as the follow-up to their initial release, but the song was never recorded and no rehearsal tapes of the song have been found.
Their fee was a modest $75, which barely covered the cost of guitar strings and drum sticks when split five ways. But Couch says they just loved playing, and “if we got paid, that was fine, too.”
sound of The Individuals. Meadows sang, played guitar and was also a songwriter, penning “Come Back” and “I’m Coming Home/Midnight Train,” both of which the band performed.
vocal, and Moser’s organ featured prominently in the mix. The flip side was slower with a fuzz guitar, no chorus, and a brief spoken recitation near the end. Interestingly, the version heard on disc was not the intended release, but an outtake. When the master tapes were sent to Nashville for pressing, Koger mistakenly sent an alternate version of “I Really Do,” not the take that the group intended for release. Since none of the studio’s original tapes survived, the best version remains lost.
The band entered Koger’s “House of Sound” in the summer of ‘67 to record two originals: “I Want Love” backed with “I Really Do” for Raven Records. Both songs were written by bassist Tommy Redd. The A-side was a straightforward, up-tempo rocker with solid drumming, a raving
Around this time, The Individuals shared a bill at the Danville City Armory with several local bands, including the Purple Haze Publication and Light Show, an aggregation led by Danville musician Truxton Fulton. Couch says the performance was an eye opener for The Individuals, who immediately gravitated to the psychedelic sounds that dominated AM radio during the summer of love. continued on page 42
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| JANUARY 2012 | Showcase Magazine 41