The "original" NuBeats!

Elsewhere on this blog, you'll find a photo of  "The NuBeats" band after it developed from this "original" crew. But here's the picture of the original Nu Beats. Thanks to Bryce Rissser for submitting this photo (click on picture for larger image) and for including this caption: "L-R in front: Gerry  Norgaard (kneeling), Kenny Babcock on drums, Grover Peterson (sax). L-R in back: Bryce Risser (white guitar) Mike Mikkelson (our "manager"), Don Dawkins (in striped shirt--he was techinical man), and Tom Stine." Note the "diaper" as part of their logo; it's on the drum and on their matching shirts!

Bryce adds: "This must have been taken in the old KOVC studio in the Rudolph Hotel building (Blogmeister's note: I believe he's right); the clue is the old microphone in the upper right corner of the picture. I received the picture from Tom's daughter, Katie, just recently and thought our schoolmates might get a kick out of seeing it. 

Blogmeister's note: We've learned that Bryce has been asked so speak at the late Tom Stine's induction into the Valley City State University Music Department Hall of Fame on Sept 18th. They've asked him to highlight Tom's pre-VCSU music career and Bryce says "I'm very honored to be part of this tribute to Tom."

Thanks, Bryce and Katie for this excellent contribution to our Hiliners61 blog. To hear the interview I did with Bryce last April, click here. NOTE:  The interview references a photo of the NuBeats, but it's not this one. There's another photo and post elsewhere on this blog and to see it click here. To hear the original recording of the NuBeats' "Carlotta" 45 r.p.m. record, click here. Listen to the flip-side of that record, another instrumental called "Spring Fever," by  clicking here.  Suggest you "right-click" on those links and then select "open in new window" so you can easily return to the main part of the blog. Also, audio files work best if you save them to your desktop and then listen to them there. - Larry Gauper

NOTE: We received a message from Derik Olson, Cook, MN, a researcher who happens to own a mint copy of the NuBeats' record. He said: "Bryce indicated the owner of the Soma (recording studio) was Amos B. Alexander. His name was actually Amos Heilicher. He owned the Soma label, but not the recording studio. That was owned by Vernon Bank. It was named after his wife, Kay."  Thank you Derik for this information.  Bryce passed away in 2016 at the age of 73. - LG 2-15-2019