The Echomen were formed in Cairns in 1963 with Rod Rumble on rhythm guitar, Peter Rappolt on lead guitar, Ken Lennon on drums and Charles Rappolt on bass. The band were one of the pioneers of surf music in Australia. producing a hit record called "Ski Run" in the summer of 1963. Peter and Charles Rappolt and a temporary member, an aboriginal named Johnny Forrester, were all involved in the writing and recording of the tune. Johnny Forrester has never been acknowledged by others as the first Aboriginal in Australia that was involved in the composition and performance of surf music in Australia.
Peter Rappolt also wrote a number of other tunes over the next two years of their recording contract with HMV records at EMI 301 studio. In 1964 the band played to an audience of 30,000 at Lane Cove. In 1964 vocalist Ann Reilly joined and they backed her on the single ''Lonely Sixteen'' released in the same year. In 1965 Reilly left The Echomen and joined The Dave Bridge Band being replaced by Lee Saunders and John Spence. The following year drummer Ken Lennon departed being replaced by Doug Gallagher and guitarist Rod Rumble was replaced by Des Gibson. The Echomen were resident band at the Charles Hotel in Chatswood for three years playing six days a week. Legend has it that during this period the hotel sold more beer across the bar than any other in the southern hemisphere. The Echomen disbanded in 1968.
Peter Rappolt and Ken Lennon are the only surviving members of the original Echomen. Charles Rappolt went on to become a member of Parliament in Queensland and soon after died due to tragic circumstances in 1999. Rod Rumble died in Cairns, Ann Reilly died in 2013 and John Spence died in 2017.
Members
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Rod Rumble (guitar) Peter Rappolt (guitar), Charles Rappolt (bass), Ken Lennon (drums), Ann Reilly (vocals), Lee Saunders (vocals), John Spence (vocals/guitar), Doug Gallagher (drums), Des Gibson (guitar)
''Board Walkin' / Strangers When We Meet'' 1963 HMV
''For Liz / Easter Bunny'' 1964 HMV
''The Bee / Hey, What's Wrong With Me'' 1964 HMV
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Rod Rumble (guitar) Peter Rappolt (guitar), Charles Rappolt (bass), Ken Lennon (drums), Ann Reilly (vocals), Lee Saunders (vocals), John Spence (vocals/guitar), Doug Gallagher (drums), Des Gibson (guitar)
SINGLES
''Ski Run (#38) / Snowbound'' 1963 HMV''Board Walkin' / Strangers When We Meet'' 1963 HMV
''For Liz / Easter Bunny'' 1964 HMV
''The Bee / Hey, What's Wrong With Me'' 1964 HMV
''Lonely Sixteen / Turn To Me'' [with Ann Reilly] 1964 HMV
''I Would Never Be (Ashamed Of You) / The End Of The Beginning'' 1965 HMV
References
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
''I Would Never Be (Ashamed Of You) / The End Of The Beginning'' 1965 HMV
References
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
Was with 26 Fld Bty. 7 Field Regiment RAA at Willoughby in those years. We often went to the Charles at Chatswood to listen to the band. Had to tickle up John Spence on one occasion for being a smartarse but other than that a good time was always had by all. We remember Lee Saunders very well and think of het when some of the songs of the times are played on radio
ReplyDeleteThanks for that info. Cheers
DeleteJohn Spence was my father, and he probably deserved that "tickle up" you dished out 😉
DeleteJohn Spence was my father. He played guitar and sang in this band, he was a member of The Ding Dongers prior to The Echomen and went on to join Col Joye and The Joye Boys in the early 1970's. He left to pursue a solo career in the late 1970's and performed clubs regularly on the North Coast of NSW around Coffs Harbour and Grafton from 1980 until a few years before his death from cancer in 2017.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for sharing that
DeleteJohnny Forrester was my dear daddy, my love, my life, gone too soon due to a horrific back injury, poor, poor soul xoxo ;) I have to listen to a video of him every night, to remember the experiences I've had, he helped me with the bad experiences and the good memories ;) I love him very dearly and miss him every time i see a father and daughter together. rest easy daddy
ReplyDelete