Rick's Continentals

Rick's Continentals (originally known as The Continentals) was a southern rock and roll band. This Mississippi band was prominent during the mid-1960s, best known for their hits "Live It Up" and "I Don’t Know". The group's home was Meridian, Mississippi. They were active throughout the southeast in concerts, private bookings and television broadcasts from 1965 to 1968. They performed Southern-style rock and roll, pop, classic rock, instrumentals, soul and classic standard music. Rick's Continentals Band^[2] was contemporary with groups like Paul Davis and the Endless Chain, David and the Giants, John Fred And The Playboys and The Jagged EDJ. The band recorded with Paul Davis and George Soule^[3] on their first two records and toured with Jimmy Ellidge^[4] performing his great hits.

Rick’s Continentals band members

(1964–1967)
Stan Suire — lead guitar
Ray Vaughn — rhythm guitar
Rick Spence — lead vocals
Bob Minnis — bass guitar
Darrell Ross — drums
Richard Coard — producer and manager

Band members

(1967–1969)
Stan Suire — lead guitar
Ray Vaughn — bass guitar
Al Mayo — drums and percussion
Ray Hair — drums and percussion
Glenn Johnson — keyboard and lead vocals
Wanda Magee — lead vocals
Notes: During the 68-69 period, the band’s name changed to "The Flower Generation". The Flower Generation performed locally in East Mississippi and West Alabama during 1968-1969. There are no recordings attributed to them during that period.

Band history, popularity and successes

Their hit song "You Can Live It Up" played throughout the country gaining considerable popularity in the southeast and the northeast US. "Live It Up" reached No. 67 on the nation's Top 100 Billboard charts and remained in the top 100 for 7 weeks.^[5] In other regional locations in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida panhandle and Louisiana, "Live It Up" reached No. 1 on these local area Top 40 Tunedex surveys (the most requested songs) and remained in the Top 40 listings for weeks.^[1] Under the management of Rip Cord, the group became popular performing in concerts, radio and television broadcasts throughout Mississippi and other southern areas. They were the featured entertainment for the Junior Miss America Pageant in 1967. Their second hit, "I Don't Know", backed by Who Are My Friends, featured Paul Davis playing organ for the group on his first record recording. Paul Davis released his first two songs on the RAP label a few weeks later, "It's Over My Head" and "I Gotta Find a Way". George Soule was instrumental in Rick's Continentals recording and music productions playing drums on one of the band's recordings and producing another record. In 1967 Richard Cord, the band's manager, announced in a press release that he was in contract negotiations with Capitol Records for their acquisition of Rick’s Continentals song "Live It Up" and there was promise that the group would land a contract with this music giant. The contract with Capitol Records never materialized. The group however did make several promotional recordings for marketing distribution. During this popular period, the band traveled and played throughout the south playing college concerts and performing with other notable recording artists. The band appeared at many record autograph and promotional events in which they autographed copies of their records for their fans.

Discography

The groups recorded the following songs:

"Live It Up"
"Cold Lonely Winter"
"I Don’t Know" (with Paul Davis and George Soule)
"Who Are My Friends" (with Paul Davis and George Soule)
"Money"
"Do You Wanna Dance"
"House of the Rising Sun"
"Summertime"
"WipeOut"

Notes: The Singles "I Don't Know" and "Who Are My Friends" were produced by George Soule.

The CD release in 2009 includes all above songs remastered.

Other recorded sound tracks included album-length promotional tapes for marketing and audition distribution recorded on the RAP Records label and WTOK TV Studios, Meridian, Ms.

References

1. 1 2 "Rick's Continentals", Meridian, Mississippi band, The Southern Garage Bands Website, retrieved August 21, 2011  External link in |publisher= (help)
2. ↑ Ray Vaughn (no year). Band History, The Ricks Continentals Website, retrieved January 28, 2010
3. ↑ Edd Hurt (April 2007). George Soulé. Perfect Sound Forever retrieved January 29, 2010
4. ↑ "Artists: Jimmy Elledge", The Ponderosa Stomp Artists & Events, Ponderosa Stomp Website, retrieved May 28, 2010  External link in |publisher= (help)
5. ↑ "Rick's Continentals", Researching the Local & Regional U.S. Rock Groups of the 1960s, The 60's Garage Bands Website, retrieved August 21, 2011  External link in |publisher= (help)

External links

• Rick's Continentals on Mississippi Music Artists.com
• The Continentals
• Rick's Continentals Band on Reverbnation
• 60s Garage Bands
• Music News Magazine
• Southern Garage Bands
• Last FM