Crowfoot was an American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band, initially known as ''The Beau Gentry''. The original line-up featured

Russell DaShiell Russell DaShiell (born July 23, 1947) is an American guitarist who has recorded as a solo artist as well as playing in bands such as Crowfoot and the Don Harrison Band, and with Harvey Mandel, Phil Everly and Norman Greenbaum. Russell was also on ...

Doug Killmer Douglas "Doug" Killmer (July 18, 1947 – August 29, 2005) was an Americans, American blues and rock music, rock bass guitarist active from the 1960s to the late 1990s. He is sometimes credited as Douglas Kilmer or Doug Kilmer. He is best rem ...

and Rick Jaeger.

History

Crowfoot was an American band initially featuring

on guitar and vocals,

on bass and vocals, and Rick Jaeger on drums. The group originally formed in 1964 under the name ''The Beau Gentry'' as an

Indialantic, Florida Indialantic (officially incorporated as Indialantic-By-The-Sea, though the official name is seldom used in casual parlance) is a town in Brevard County, Florida. The town's population was 2,720 at the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the ...

-based high-school cover band. Eventually DaShiell began to write music and the band began to perform their own material. At that time the band also featured Lance Massey on guitar and vocals. They were discovered by manager Ken Adamany who arranged a successful 1966 tour through the US mid-west. On the strength of this tour, the band decided to relocate to the area and build upon the fan base they had established. In December 1968, DaShiell, Killmer and Jaeger decided to relocate again, this time to the San Francisco Bay area in the hopes that exposure in the burgeoning Bay area music scene would lead them to a recording contract. Lance Massey chose to settle in Wisconsin. The remaining band members formed a trio and renamed themselves ''Crowfoot'', performing all-original material. In California, DaShiell, Killmer and Jaeger found session work to help make ends meet. Of particular note was DaShiell's and Killmer's work on

Norman Greenbaum Norman Joel Greenbaum (born November 20, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter. He is primarily known for his 1969 song "Spirit in the Sky". Early life Greenbaum was born in Malden, Massachusetts. He was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household ...

's million-selling hit, "

Spirit in the Sky "Spirit in the Sky" is a song by American singer-songwriter Norman Greenbaum, originally written and recorded by Greenbaum and released in late 1969 from the album of the same name. The single became a gold record, selling two million copies f ...

", and DaShiell's and Jaeger's work with former

Canned Heat Canned Heat is an American band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. The group is noted for its efforts to promote interest in blues music and its original artists and rock music. It was founded by two blues enthusiasts Alan Wilson and Bob ...

guitarist,

Harvey Mandel Harvey Mandel (born March 11, 1945) is an American guitarist best known as a member of Canned Heat. He also played with Charlie Musselwhite and John Mayall as well as maintaining a solo career. Early life Mandel was born in Detroit, Michigan, a ...

. In 1970 Crowfoot signed with

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...

, but by this time Killmer was pursuing other projects and although Jaeger played drums on the self-titled album, Crowfoot had essentially become a solo act, with DaShiell writing, arranging, and playing both guitar and bass on the album. To support the album's release Ken Adamany set up a mid-west tour for Crowfoot, culminating with a showcase at the Bitter End in New York. Kirby, Fred (1970)
Talent in Action: Crowfoot - Bitter End, New York
, ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'', October 10, 1970, p. 43. Retrieved June 29, 2013 Guitarist Sam McCue, formerly with the

Everly Brothers The Everly Brothers were an American rock duo, known for steel-string acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing. Consisting of Isaac Donald "Don" Everly (February 1, 1937 – August 21, 2021) and Phillip "Phil" Everly (January 19, 1939 ...

and Milwaukee band The Legends,Eder, Bruce
Legends Biography
,

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

. Retrieved June 29, 2013 joined the band for the tour along with bass player Bill Sutton, with Rick Jaeger returning on drums. In 1971, Crowfoot recorded a second album, ''Find the Sun'', which was picked up by ABC/Dunhill Records. It featured DaShiell on guitar and vocals, Don Francisco on drums and vocals, and Sam McCue on guitar and vocals. Bill Sutton played bass on the sessions. The album brought comparisons with

Bread Bread is a staple food prepared from a dough of flour (usually wheat) and water, usually by baking. Throughout recorded history and around the world, it has been an important part of many cultures' diet. It is one of the oldest human-made f ...

and

Poco Poco was an American country rock band originally formed in 1968 after the demise of Buffalo Springfield. Guitarists Richie Furay and Jim Messina, former members of Buffalo Springfield, were joined by multi-instrumentalist Rusty Young, bassi ...

.Album Reviews: Crowfoot - Find the Sun
, ''

'', October 2, 1971, p. 48. Retrieved June 29, 2013 "Travel In Time" was released as a single from the album, featuring McCue on lead vocal, but with disappointing album sales the band ultimately decided to dissolve. Years later, in 1994, the original Crowfoot trio of DaShiell, Killmer and Jaeger reunited to record an EP, titled ''Mesenger''. It was released regionally on DaShiell's Aerial View label. After leaving Crowfoot, Jaeger became the regular drummer for

Dave Mason David Thomas Mason (born 10 May 1946) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic. Over the course of his career, Mason has played and recorded with many notable pop and rock mu ...

and he recorded with

Tim Weisberg Jules Timothy Weisberg (born January 1, 1943) is an American flutist, vocalist, and record producer. Career In school he wanted to play drums, but instruments were chosen in order of the students' last names, and when Weisberg got his chance, hi ...

, the

Pointer Sisters The Pointer Sisters are an American pop and R&B singing group from Oakland, California, that achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s. Their repertoire has included such diverse genres as pop, jazz, electronic music, bebop, bl ...

and the

BoDeans BoDeans is an American rock band formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin. BoDeans came to prominence in the 1980s. The band's sound encompasses multiple rock genres, including roots rock, heartland rock, and alternative rock. The band's biggest hit to da ...

amongst others. He also spent time in the early 1980s as the drummer for Mike Finnigan and The Right Band. Rick Jaeger died in 2000. Doug Killmer played on the

Otis Rush Otis Rush Jr. (April 29, 1934 – September 29, 2018) was an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter. His distinctive guitar style featured a slow-burning sound and long bent notes. With qualities similar to the styles of other 1950s art ...

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

-nominated song from 1976 " Right Place, Wrong Time", and

Rita Abrams Rita Abrams (born August 30, 1943) is an American songwriter, performer and writer. Her song "Mill Valley", recorded with children at the school where she was teaching, was released under the name Miss Abrams and the Strawberry Point Fourth Grade ...

' Grammy-Award-winning song, "Mill Valley". He was active in the San Francisco Bay Area music scene for over three decades until his death in 2005. Sam McCue lives and performs in the

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...

, Wisconsin area. Don Francisco went on to play with

Linda Ronstadt Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is a retired American singer who performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American ...

Kim Carnes Kim Carnes (; born July 20, 1945) is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she began her career as a songwriter in the 1960s, writing for other artists while performing in local clubs and working as a sess ...

and the California rock band

Wha-Koo Wha-Koo (originally called The Big Wha-Koo) was an American Rock music, rock band best known for their 1978 single, "(You're Such a) Fabulous Dancer", which peaked at #101 on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' and #10 on the Australian charts ...

. He died in 1998. Russell DaShiell relocated to the Los Angeles area and worked with musicians

Phil Everly The Everly Brothers were an American rock music, rock duo, known for steel-string acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing. Consisting of Isaac Donald "Don" Everly (February 1, 1937 – August 21, 2021) and Phillip "Phil" Everly (Januar ...

Bo Diddley Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, incl ...

John Sebastian John Benson Sebastian (born March 17, 1944) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and harmonicist who founded the rock band The Lovin' Spoonful. He made an impromptu appearance at the Woodstock festival in 1969Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Clearwater Revival, also referred to as Creedence and CCR, was an American rock band formed in El Cerrito, California. The band initially consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty; his brother, ...

member

Tom Fogerty Thomas Richard Fogerty (November 9, 1941 – September 6, 1990) was an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist for Creedence Clearwater Revival. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Biography ...

. He was a member of the

Don Harrison Band The Don Harrison Band were a 1970s American roots rock band that featured Don Harrison on vocals, guitar and keyboards, Stu Cook on bass and piano and Doug Clifford on drums and percussion. Stu Cook and Doug "Cosmo" Clifford were both former memb ...

from 1976 to 1977 which featured

Stu Cook Stuart Alden Cook (born April 25, 1945) is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work in the rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), for which he is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Career Cook, along with Doug Cliff ...

and

Doug Clifford Douglas Raymond Clifford (born April 24, 1945) is an American drummer, best known as a founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. After the group disbanded in late 1972 ...

, also former members of

Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Clearwater Revival, also referred to as Creedence and CCR, was an American rock band formed in El Cerrito, California. The band initially consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty; his brother, ...

. He continues to work and record in the Los Angeles area.

Discography

Albums

EPs

*''Mesenger'' (1994), Aerial View

Singles

*"California Rock'n'Roll", Paramount *"Groove Along"/"Love Is Everywhere", Paramount (promotional only) *"Travel In Time", ABC/Dunhill Records

Members

- guitar, vocals *

- bass guitar, vocals *Rick Jaeger - drums *Don Francisco - drums, vocals *Sam McCue - guitar, vocals *Bill Sutton - bass guitar

References

External links

Club Pop House - Beloit, WI - 1941-1973

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