The Rhythm Dukes was a short-lived band featuring Jerry Miller and

Don Stevenson Don Stevenson (born October 15, 1941, Seattle, Washington) is the American drummer and a singer and songwriter for Moby Grape, a band which was formed in San Francisco in 1966 and continues to perform occasionally today. History Don Stevenson fi ...

of Moby Grape, subsequently joined by Bill Champlin, of the Sons of Champlin, and later of Chicago.

History

In the late summer of 1969, following the release of ''

Truly Fine Citizen ''Truly Fine Citizen'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band Moby Grape. It was released on July 30, 1969, by Columbia Records. After completing the album, the band went on hiatus until 1971 when they reunited with Skip Spence and Bob M ...

'', Moby Grape's last album for

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

, Jerry Miller and Don Stevenson joined with John Barrett (bass) and John "Fuzzy" Oxendine (drums) to form The Rhythm Dukes. Don Stevenson played guitar, rather than drums. It is speculated that he left the band shortly after its formation for that reason, preferring to remain a drummer.Profile of The Rhythm Dukes
www.bay-area-bands.com. The band came together at Jerry Miller's initiative, at a time when the future of Moby Grape was uncertain. Moby Grape members had been shocked by Bob Mosley's abrupt departure to join the Marines, shortly after the release of '' Moby Grape '69''. This added to uncertainties that commenced at the time of the 1968 departure of Skip Spence from the band, as the result of a six month involuntary psychiatric committal during the course of recording '' Wow/Grape Jam''. The recording of ''

'' in 1969 had been similarly strained, in that

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

had imposed a three day limit on recording time, thus demonstrating little support for Moby Grape's future. The band lived together in Santa Cruz and, following Stevenson's departure, was joined by Bill Champlin on organ and vocals. The future of Champlin's band, The Sons of Champlin, was at that time uncertain, similar to the situation which Miller and Stevenson had faced. Champlin, along with Miller, became the group's principal songwriters. The Rhythm Dukes shared the stage with such artists as Albert Collins, Lee Michaels, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Canned Heat, The

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, Folk music, folk, country music, country, jazz, bluegrass music, bluegrass, ...

and

Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys Cat Mother and The All Night Newsboys was an American musical group, originally formed in New York and later based in Mendocino, California, most active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. History Cat Mother and The All Night Newsboys was co-foun ...

, generally being second-billed. They recorded one album in 1970, which saw release in 2005 as ''Flashback''.Details of the band and the CD release are accessibl
here
www.rhythmdukes.com. The CD is artist-distributed directly. See als

www.bay-area-bands.com. The band existed from 1969-1971. Despite Columbia's attitude towards Moby Grape, Miller was still subject to contractual obligations to Columbia, which were disruptive to Rhythm Dukes commitments. Champlin consequently left the band, to continue with the Sons of Champlin. Miller, Barrett and Oxendine continued the band for a short period thereafter, with such musicians as guitarists Russell Dahneke and Ned Torney, the latter being a founding member of the Chocolate Watchband. Miller would later rejoin Stevenson and the other original members of Moby Grape to record ''

20 Granite Creek ''20 Granite Creek'' is the rock band Moby Grape's fifth album. After recording their last album for Columbia Records, '' Truly Fine Citizen'', the band went on hiatus until 1971 when they reunited with Skip Spence and Bob Mosley and recorded thi ...

'', (1971), which effectively ended The Rhythm Dukes. Champlin would continue playing and recording with The Sons of Champlin for the balance of the 1970s, prior to commencing a solo career and later joining Chicago.

Discography

*2005 ''Flashback'' (Website distribution; recorded 1970)

References

External links

Rhythm Dukes Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhythm Dukes, The 1969 establishments in California Musical groups from California