The Chargers (band)

The Chargers
From left to right: Ron Kinscherf, Steve Barone, Curt Dorey, Steve Nelsen and Tony Morgan.
Background information
Origin	Wenatchee, Washington, United States
Genres	Garage rock
Years active	1966 (1966)-1969 (1969)
Labels	Julian
Past members	Larry Roller Tony Morgan Curt Dorey Steve Barone Ron Kinscherf Don Sandstorm Ron Nelson

The Chargers were an American garage rock formed in Wenatchee, Washington, in 1966. The group recorded one single, the Beatlesque "Taxi", which had been a regional success and remains a highly-collectible piece in its original format. Live favorites of the Washington teen scene, the Chargers recorded three additional compositions in preparation for a follow-up release, but went unreleased. Get Hip Records has issued those songs years later when the band's music resurfaced.

With the three-year surge of popularity of the Beatles, Larry Roller (lead vocals), Tony Morgan (drums, vocals), and Curt Dorey (bass guitar, vocals) formed the three-piece version of the Chargers in 1966, which began as a cover band playing renditions of the Fab Four's songs. In need of a lead guitarist, the group enlisted Steve Barone of the Hustlers, who they had competed against in a battle of the bands. Although Roller was praised as a capable lead singer, he was dismissed from the Chargers for not sharing payments to purchase musical equipment. Plucking members from the local group the Undertakers, the Chargers completed their line-up with the inclusion of Ron Kinscherf (rhythm guitar), Don Sandstrom (vocals), and Steve Nelson (keyboards). Progressing in the same vein as early pop-oriented Beatles music, all five members contributed to the group's bright vocal harmonies.

Another garage band hailing from Wenatchee was Billy and the Kids, a group of pre-teens who recorded the two singles "Say You Love Me" and "When I See You". A rivalry between the two bands fueled each other's popularity, dividing Wenatchee's "town loyalty" between the west side (The Chargers) and the east side (Billy and the Kids). The Chargers, however useful the rivalry was, had a much more expansive touring territory than their competitors, performing in Yakima, Bridgeport, Spokane for any teen gathering the group could manage. Late in 1966, the band was victorious in a talent show at Pioneer High School, earning first-placed prize: a recording session with Julian Records. Almost immediately thereafter, the group traveled to Spokane to cut their debut single with record producer Don Bernier.