Anchorage Band Memories

Music dear to our hearts.

Pictured above are the Heartbeats. Left to right are John (Raphael), Eddie, and Raul, the Apostol brothers. In the front is Emerson Crivello.

A big thank you to Anchorage DJ Ron Moore, the Coke Show, the Heartbeats, and their hit song “Anne” for the fun audio introduction to this edition of the Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club.

Note:

You can hear the entire song “Anne” at the end of the article voiceover above.

Who were your favorite Anchorage bands?

Did you play in an Anchorage band?

Anchorage, Alaska, was blessed with a lot of musical talent, both teens and adults. And the music they gave us is dear to our hearts.

The teen bands played at teen nightclubs and dances, while the Anchorage club scene had its own bands and entertainers.

So how does an Anchorage teen band come together?

There are many ways, but here’s how the Heartbeats began, as told by John Apostol.

“On February 9, 1964, after watching the Beatles’ debut appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. We were so inspired and motivated by the Fab Four's music that night and couldn’t seem to stop talking about them.

My brother Eddie, half joking, said to Paul (Raul) and me, “Let’s create a band for our enjoyment,” but at that time, none of us knew how to play any musical instruments.

That summer, my brother Eddie worked and saved all his hard-earned money and bought us the musical instruments we needed from the Sears catalog. He bought me my first electric guitar, an amp, and a guitar chord book. He bought Paul a drum set, and he bought an electric bass guitar and amp for himself, and then he asked us to learn how to play the instruments he gave us.

And that’s how we got started.”

BONUS

You can enjoy the whole story of the Heartbeats.

Take a look at In John’s Own Words: The Pulsating Heartbeats and enjoy.

But our story begins long before the Heartbeats

Pictured above are the KFQD Serenaders. Photo courtesy of Gary Smith.

In the 1930s, the KFQD Serenaders band was formed by Gene Smith, who is the dad of Gary Smith. Gary is a contributor to Anchorage Memories. KFQD radio was the first radio station in Anchorage and Alaska, and KFQD featured local music talent.

The Five Pages

Pictured above in 1963 are the Five Pages. Photo courtesy of Gary Smith.

In the 1960s, The Five Pages were performing all over town. They included Don Huhndorf on guitar, Gary Smith on guitar, Cradoc (Dick) Bagshaw bass, Bob Smith (Brother) on sax, and Ceasar Romero on drums. The singer was Fred Bibbler.

Yes, You Can Share This Edition

And when you do, your friends and family will send you on a one-week, all-expenses-paid stay at the most expensive hotel in the world… well, it could happen.

The First Band to Play at the Royal Pad

Pictured above is Blain’s paint store in Spenard.

The second story of Blain’s paint store in Spenard was home to the teen nightclub known as the Royal Pad.

Anchorage radio DJ Ron Moore was known as the “Royal Coachman,” and still is, by the way. For that reason, his teen nightclub (pictured above) was called the Royal Pad, and his car was the Royal Coach.

The first band to perform at Ron Moore’s Royal Pad was a group called The Von Essex's, which included Jackie Goodman on piano, Gary Smith on guitar, Fred Johnston on bass, and Darryl Smaw on vocals.

Plenty of Teen Bands

Do you remember the Arsons? They were a popular Anchorage teen band in the 1960s.

In the photo above is the Blue Chip Stock.

The Blue Chip Stock was a popular Anchorage teen band in the 60s.

Skip Conte, the keyboard player for Blue Chip Stock and the Heartbeats, went on to co-write the hit song “Ride Captain Ride.”

The Outlaws were a 1960s Anchorage teen band.

If memory serves, Gary Sloan (pictured above) was the lead singer.

BONUS

Dean Forbes played guitar for Mother’s Apple Pie and Baseball Band. Dean was interviewed by Anchorage Memories some years ago.

Take a look at Dean Forbes and Mother’s Apple Pie and Baseball Band and enjoy.

The Heikes Family band was based in Eagle River. They also played the Alaska State Fair.

BONUS

Author Sandy Heikes tells the story of her family's band.

Take a look at The Heikes Family Band and remember.

The Anchorage Music Scene

Because of limited space, we were barely able to scratch the surface here.

Remember Burgundy Rose, G. Morgan S. and the Jets, Fantastic Zoot, and Albatros? And we remember the Chandels, the Gatormen, the Johnson Brothers, the Nomads, the Prophets, and the Quarrymen just to name a few.

How about the house band at the Pines called The Pacesetters, and another was Family Tradition?

And “Johnny Collinsworth and the Country Capers Music Variety Show”

Some time ago we wrote about the Anchorage music scene on Anchorage Memories.com. And since then, many band members have sent us comments about the local teen bands and the many nightclub bands. It’s a great read.

BONUS

You’ll love these memories.

Take a look at The Anchorage Music Scene and remember when.

Connect with Mike and Mary

What wonderful memories of the bands and musicians we enjoyed in our town. We can almost hear the music again. How about you? Now listen to the audio and enjoy the entire Heartbeats song, “Anne.”

Do you have a comment?

You can also reply to this email.

Or, you can Contact Us right here.

Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Anchorage, Alaska Memories Club